[Recovered Thread: 56949]

[twofruitz]

I have to order a lens tommorow for my 300d/Rebel but im having a hard time choosing. My primary focus for this lens is for standard people photos/portaits/indoor/natural, sports, and the occasional macro. Id shoot birds, surfers and sports if i had the sigma 135/400.

Im really into sharpness and colour, so i need something with pretty nice optics and some zoom.

Im really up for anything, i could replace my 18-55 with something like a 24-70 2.8 or i could keep it and get a 70-300 roughly.

My budget is $500-600 on AUSTRALIAN EBAY, which is about $300-400 on the american ebay.

This is what i have in mind.

Tamron AF18-200MM F/3.5-6.3 XR Di II
Tamron AF28-300MM F/3.5-6.3 XR Di
If i have to >>> TAMRON SP AF 28-75MM F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)

Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO
Sigma 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC
Sigma 135-400mm F4.5-5.6 ASPHERICAL

I dont think i can get a good canon lens for around that price, but am open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Hards80]

for your portraits, indoor and macro work, i would suggest getting the sigma 24-70 ex dg 2.8 first.. this is a wonderful lens w/ mtfs thatrival canons L versionand will be a great first lens for you to start your collection...

use this baby for a while.. and when finances allow, then look into getting a nice telephoto such as the sigma 135-400 or even better the sigma100-300 f4.0..

enjoy, dustin

[PeterP]

I agree with Hards80
One of these would be a good choice, they are both sharp and fast and well built, the Sigma may be faster at focusing if it has the HSM drive.
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO
TAMRON SP AF 28-75MM F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)

Your other choices in both the Tamron and Sigma lines are optically not so good, and fall into the consumer level of build quality.

Picking lenses, especially if you are interested in optical sharpness you should look in the Sigma EX line, or Tamron SP line, or Canon L line. Those are the upper end lenses in quality and optical performance.

Peter.

[bluwing]

Hi,

I don't have the lenses you have mentioned. I have the Sigma 28-70 2.8-4 and the Sigma 70-300mm Super Macro II NON APO version. I am also on a budget similar to yours. I bought mine from Cameta Camera. They are on eBay and also have a brick and mortar store. They are great people to deal with. Both lenses cost under $200.00. Both are sharp and to me fast focus.

This was taken using the 70-300mm.



bluwing