Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Sigma 24-70 2.8.

any thoughts? how is the lens overall?

tamron 17-55 2.8 VC or Non vc? is the lens any good?

There are a few incarnations of the 24-70 lens. I have the sigma 24-70 2.8 hsm.

I like the lens a lot. As always you have to make sure your copy is right. I bought mine used. It is fast and smart. No complaints here.

I read so many good things about the tamron 17-55 2.8, when I was ready to upgrade my kit lens I figured I'd get it. I went to Aden to pick up the new VC model, when I tested it out in store I wasn't impressed. Something about it but not sure what, the VC was shaky, the AF wasn't too bad but not great, overall didn't impress me. I know people that have it and love it, but I think I'm sticking with only Canon lenses.

I've been following some of the Tamron 17-50 VC threads on POTN.. and generally the reports haven't been too good. It's inconsistent. Some are soft, some are okay.. but none seem as good as the original non-VC version. Check out this review:

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/482-tamron_1750_28vc_canon

as far as I know VC version of Tamron is crap compared to non-VC

I have the non-vc version, and I love it.
I havent had a chance to try the sigma or the vc counterpart.

me too. I have the non-VC 17-50 2.8 Tamron and love it. Light, fast, and sharp.

However, I'm finally moving to the Nikkor 24-70 2.8 soon and may have to eat the Tamron for lunch because i'll be so poor from buying the "beast"!

I too was considering between 17-50mm vc / non-vc.

I went with the non-vc version, because
1) i didn't see the benefit VC brought me when I was using my 17-85 IS
2) The only reason I'm getting the tamron is because I could not afford the canon one. If I'm guna shell out another 200$ on the 17-50 vc, might as well pay $400 extra for a used canon 17-55mm

The tamron is a good lens, except for that WRRRRRRR noise it makes when it tries to focus.

I'm surprised Tamron hasn't jumped on the HSM/USM bandwagon.

Well, one is better suited for crop sensors (tamron) and the other for full frame. I'm assuming you have a crop camera, so the 24 - 70 sigma is going to start at only 38.4mm (canon) and 36mm (everyone else), which is not wide enough for most uses. If you're thinking of transitioning to full-frame down the line, then certainly the sigma would be a much better investment.

As others have mentioned, the copies can vary in quality. I've been lucky enough with a sharp non-hsm macro version, and when I need the most speed, it's great on my 5D. The focusing speed on the non-hsm version is actually quite fast. Not as instant as on my USM lenses, but fast enough that I don't really notice the difference. The build quality is absolutely superb. Beware though, that it uses a fairly non-standard (and obnoxiously expensive) filter thread of 82mm.

-phil

I know quite a few a700 users that have been very happy with the Tamron 17-50 (non VC obviously).