Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC or Canon 15-85?

wildfly

Active member
I would like to upgrade from the kit 28-135 lens on my 7D and was wondering if I could get some input on what people feel might suit me better. I originally was high on what people were saying about the Canon 17-55 2.8, but the price is a bit out of my range right now. I'd like to stay in the $700 and less range.

What I do:

I film mostly fly fishing, and changing a lens out on the river sucks. I value a wider range of coverage by the lens, so I was thinking maybe the 15-85 would be ideal. I shoot outdoors, mostly in more than ample lighting, so having a lens at F2.8 would be more of a luxury than a necessity. I'm often using a variable ND to cut down light. Image Stabilization is an absolute must, as I often don't have a tripod with me. I usually shoot with a shoulder mount while standing at least knee deep in moving water, so staying stable is a challenge.

I would like a lens that I can take decent stills with as well, as I often like to move back and forth between video and stills when a fish is landed.

So yeah... which lens would be most ideal? I even looked at the 18-200+ range lenses, but from what I've researched they seem to lack image quality. I live about 1 1/2 hours from any decent camera shop with lenses, so any help possible would be ideal.
 
I would like to upgrade from the kit 28-135 lens on my 7D and was wondering if I could get some input on what people feel might suit me better. I originally was high on what people were saying about the Canon 17-55 2.8, but the price is a bit out of my range right now. I'd like to stay in the $700 and less range.

What I do:

I film mostly fly fishing, and changing a lens out on the river sucks. I value a wider range of coverage by the lens, so I was thinking maybe the 15-85 would be ideal. I shoot outdoors, mostly in more than ample lighting, so having a lens at F2.8 would be more of a luxury than a necessity. I'm often using a variable ND to cut down light. Image Stabilization is an absolute must, as I often don't have a tripod with me. I usually shoot with a shoulder mount while standing at least knee deep in moving water, so staying stable is a challenge.

I would like a lens that I can take decent stills with as well, as I often like to move back and forth between video and stills when a fish is landed.

So yeah... which lens would be most ideal? I even looked at the 18-200+ range lenses, but from what I've researched they seem to lack image quality. I live about 1 1/2 hours from any decent camera shop with lenses, so any help possible would be ideal.


What's wrong with the kit lens again?

It has IS, USM and you said it yourself that you shoot in more then enough light. If you want to spend money I can give you my paypal email address to accept a donation, other than that you are fine with the kit lens and do not need to spend any money.

The ONLY possible range I could think you would need is something like the Tokina 11-16mm which will give you those amazing wide shots.
 
The kit lens isn't wide enough for me. Most of the time I find myself forcing myself backward to get a wide enough angle when I'd rather be closer to the host of my videos. As far as the 11-16 goes, that would be fine if I didn't have a problem changing lenses when out on the water. I try to minimize that as much as possible. When I rented the 10-22mm Canon, I found it useful but I was shooting in the zoomed in half of the range, so I figured a 15 or maybe 17mm wide would be ideal.
 
The kit lens isn't wide enough for me. Most of the time I find myself forcing myself backward to get a wide enough angle when I'd rather be closer to the host of my videos. As far as the 11-16 goes, that would be fine if I didn't have a problem changing lenses when out on the water. I try to minimize that as much as possible. When I rented the 10-22mm Canon, I found it useful but I was shooting in the zoomed in half of the range, so I figured a 15 or maybe 17mm wide would be ideal.
Then I don't know what or why you're asking, because the 15-85mm is clearly the right choice for you.
 
Apparently my original title is confusing. I thought I had outlined my constraints and asked for input on zoom lenses that fit the range of the couple lenses I asked about. Let me rephrase:

Given the above info about what I shoot, what zoom lens that starts in the 15-18mm range and covers at least to 50mm would be ideal in your eyes? Am I correct in leaning towards the 15-85, or is there possibly a better option?
 
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