Picking Up this 17-55 2.8 IS Tomorrow

Picking Up this 17-55 2.8 IS Tomorrow

  • Buy used

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • Buy new

    Votes: 4 66.7%
  • Total voters
    6
  • Poll closed .
saneproductions said:
A 5Dii body and two 16GB Sandisk extreme CF cards would run me $2760.

My T2i plus 17-40 plus three 8GB Sandisk SDHC cards are $1750 new. The most I could hope to get for that setup is $1550. If I go with the 5Dii body only and CF cards, that is $1200 out of pocket and I have no lens to cover the general range (except manual primes which would be better on FF, but not perfect for general photography). For that I need to get the 25-105 F4L IS kit for $800 more. So for $2000, I am at the same DOF (2.8 on APS-C is = to F4 on FF as far as DOF goes, range is 27-88 [17-55 x1.6] vs. 24-105) and my body will be obsolete very fast. I imagine I can get a much higher percentage of my money back by keeping the T2i. Since it is newer, I figure they will replace the 5D before a "T3i" comes out and the camera will remain hot. Also I will have a great lens to sell along with it (the 17-55 2.8 IS) that I didn't pay full retail for... Hard to argue with that logic, but I welcome you to critique my line of thinking. I have been struggling with this for months!
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Yes the money pit. Fortunately we are talking in thousands of dollars as apposed to tens of thousands a few years ago.
I guess the only real question is do you need it, or do you just want it. I bought the 24mm 2.8 prime because I needed it for one day on a 5D, (and of course I did want it.) Now that I have it, I don't really need it, or want it as much as the cash. What I still carry around daily is the 18-55 which covers 95% of what I need. For a real shoot I would still use support and all primes which is why I bought the 24mm 2.8 in the first place, so you might say I still need it, but that's a lot of beer money sitting in the little box looking at me.
In the case of the 17-55 2.8, it will be your most used lens 24/7 365.
If you really want to own it, better get a new one, or you may have to start a new thread about used lens buyers remorse.
 
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Oh man, you are scaring me with this buyers remorse stuff. I will keep thinking about it.

Thanks Michael!

As far as the money pit goes, forgot to mention the ideal setup for 5dii is the 24-70 2.8 and the 70-200 2.8 IS. I have a friend with this setup and it is great!

Set you back $3k though!
 
saneproductions said:
I will keep thinking about it.
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If I were you I'd wait for the next 5D which is what you really want. You already have a lot of good lenses to work with and a camera that will get you where you need to go till then.
As far as CF cards, they may opt for SD cards as they did with the 60D (we hope)
 
I have the Canon 17-55 f2.8 and I've also had the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 VC and I've used both extensively.

First I had the Tamron 17-50 VC, but I ended up selling it. The image and colors were pretty good, but the mechanics of the lens are terrible. The focus throw is extremely, extremely short and the focus ring feels extremely loose. I just didn't like the feel of the lens.

The Canon 17-55 is much better mechanically. Still a shortish focus throw, but about 2x as long as the Tamron and the focus ring has a nice damp feel.

As for the IQ, I think the Canon has a little richer colors; but not by much. The Canon is definitely sharper for stills, but for video it's not very noticeable.

The one thing that the Tamron does have over the Canon, and I believe this is because the Canon is a sharper lens; is that the Tamron has noticeably less aliasing. That's actually something to consider.

The Canon does have more aliasing on shots, especially when shot wide, whereas the aliasing on the Tamron is less noticeable.

Overall, just because of the mechanics, I like the Canon better. But it is a lot more expensive.
 
allahkaram said:
I have Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 for Canon EF

Best glass I've ever used...

Way cheaper than Canon and as well built and quality.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/423714-REG/Tamron_AF016C700_17_50mm_f_2_8_XR_Di.html

Hope it helps...
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I'd back this up - it's a wonderful lens for the money. You're literally gonna have to spend a thousand dollars more to get a lens substantially better. Even better, there's a $45 dollar rebate right now. $415 after rebate from B&H and other reliable retailers.

There are hundreds reviews of this lens and 95% of them are 4 out of 5 stars. I've owned them both and the Tamron is your best bet...

peace!
 
I just got this lens for my 17-40 F4L + $250. I think it is a really fair deal, my lens was perfect and this 17-55 is in great shape with hood. There are two small internal dust spots, but I can't see them in the pics. I also got a Sigma 30 1.4 for $310 from the guy. This was a great day~~
 
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