Tamron 17-50 / 17-35

ROCKMORE

ROCKMORE

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I've seen many reviews on the 17-50 f2.8, and other than a few suspected bad copies out there the lens looks like a sharp, low cost investment.
Has anyone had experience with the Tamron 17-35 f2.8 / F4? It looks like another option and designed for a FF camera. I have also read a few positive reviews, but no personal feedback from users.
I need wide a lens to fill the gap to my Canon 24mm f2.8 for my 60D.
 
I did a camera test on the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 compared to the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 yesterday at my dealer. Aside from the view they perform similar in terms of focus and color. The Tamron 17-35 is history. I went for the Tamron 17-50 for the range I need at the moment and the $366 price tag. It does say Made In Japan on the lens so it's not a Taiwan copy.
I may sell my Canon 24mm 2.8 and put the cash into the 11-16 f2.8. I've always been disappointed with the ultra cheapo focus ring on the 24mm, and I only focus it manually. Also after doing side by side resolution tests with the 24mm f2.8 against my former 18-55 kit lens and the new 17-50 Tamron, it's not adding anything unless I add a FF camera body.
I'm not really sure anymore about a 5D FF either. The APC-s format resolution will continue to be improved and low light focusing will definitely be a bigger challenge with the FF sensor. It cost me very little to sell the 550D and upgrade to the 60D. I think a better way to go will be when Canon introduces a mirror-less HD camera in the future that will accept PL lenses. Sooner or later it will happen.
 
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Congrats on the Tamron 17-50. You got the non VC version right? I have heard the non VC version is much sharper. I have not needed the IS on my 17-55 much because I am non sticks whenever possible. For stills IS hasn't helped me as much as you would think because things move :). Slow shutter can be a cool effect though.
 
Yes it"s the 17-50 non VC and it's very sharp. The weight combination of the 60D and the lens is heavy enough to keep steady without IS, and I'm generally at 17mm. I was used to handling of the 550D with the 18-55 which had very little mas. This is much better. I think the 24mm f2.8 is going on ebay soon. A 28mm f1.8 and an 85mm f1.8 are looking good next.
 
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That is really great to hear you got a nice copy. I would be interested how the prime compares to the zoom at the same FL. I think they will be close (identical for video I bet). That 28 will be nice. You will notice that stop and a half difference. I would likely get the the 85 before the 28. I have a leica 90 F2 that is keeping me away from the 85 f1.8. When you go for the 28, you should also demo the sigma so you are sure when you make the final descision.

I would likely go canon for full frame compat and 2mm wider.
 
The 60D Tamron 17-50 is a good carry around. The weight is 1,189g and is much steadier to shoot with than the 550D with the kit lens at 736g even with IS. I was also carrying around the 24mm 2.8 and the 50mm 1.8 so the total was 1,136g, almost the same weight, but now all in the working camera.

The Tamron 17-50 is a lot better than I expected. The construction is great and very well thought out design. I heard complaints about the focus ring turning while in auto focus. It's not a big deal at all. The rubber zoom ring is huge and what your holding the lens with anyway. The small focus ring at the end of the lens is very smooth to operate although not dampened. (Really pisses me off that canon put a focus ring on my 24mm f2.8 that is as cheap feeling as the 50mm 1.8.)
On the Tamron I also like the small standard switch at the back of the lens for Auto/Manual as apposed to the Tokina clutch in the ring design. At first the Tokina design seemed to make more sense, but the small switch is more piratical if you need to change modes and not move the camera.

As far as Made in Japan, My 60D was not only made there but when I turned it on the menu was set up in Japanese characters, so I couldn't find the language section. I went to find it in the printed manual and discovered that all the printed material that came with the camera was also in Japanese. No English printed on anything in the box at all. It's a real collectors addition. I downloaded the manual and finally found the English menu, but for a while I was starting to wonder what was going on.

It will definitely be the 85mm f1.8 before anything else, unless I can cough up the money to get a 70-200 L f2.8 non IS. That would be another keeper.
 
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I hope you didn't get a grey market 60D with no warranty. You should confirm that.

The 70-200 is nice, but too long on the wide end for APS-C IMHO. Outdoors it is a much better choice because of room to work. I would probably choose th F4 IS version as the best combo a weight, price and features. I will wait until I really need one (on FF). I am a wider shooter though and find 90mm the longest I use regularly (and that is much less than my other lenses). When I do use the 90, I am really happy for F2. I would love to have F1.4
 
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