» Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome lens!
Comment: This is a great lens! This is the second copy I now own. Having the fixed aperture allows this lens to focus in low light situations. My wife and I photograph weddings and this is our primary lens that covers most situations using Canon 40D and 50D cameras.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Best lens, under $500 for Canon DLSR
Comment: I really wanted the Canon 17-55 USM IS f/2.8 lens. But that lens costs $1000. So, after a lot of research decided on this lens. It is a great lens for the price. I would strongly recommend it. It gives sharp images, and also, f/2.8 is great. The major difference between this and the Canon 17-55: The Canon has faster focus, and Image Stablization. Also, perhaps build-quality is possibly better, but the Tamron feels pretty solid.

If you can spend $1000 and have no other budget issues, get the Canon. Otherwise get the Tamron for $400ish, get a 430EX, and Canon 55-250 IS (or 70-300 IS). And you are good to go.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent value, sharp as a tack, but had to return the 1st copy
Comment: I had to return the first copy of this lens (not from Amazon) due to obvious softness in the top left of the image. I mean really bad, not just 'hmmm...not quite as sharp as the rest of the image'.
However, the second copy is stunning, incredibly sharp and contrasty, with minimal to no CA. When I returned the first one to the store, I almost went for the Canon version at twice the price, but decided to give the Tamron one more try based on my previous experience with their lenses, the latest being the excellent 28-75 f2.8. I'm glad I stayed with the Tamron, as this copy leaves nothing to be desired and about 500.00 in my pocket. I have IS on my longer lenses (Canon 70-200L is one), but don't need it at this focal length and lens weight. I highly recommend this lens (just be sure you get a good copy).

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great value lens
Comment: I bought this lens to replace the 18-55mm kit lens on my Canon 400D. Since purchasing it I have used this lens about 95% of the time and I am extremely happy with the results. The construction of the lens feels more solid than the kit lens. However, the main advantage with the Tamron is that it is faster (constant f/2.8) and sharper. This lens is really sharp at f/4.0 compared with the kit lens which needs to be stopped down to f/8.0 to get a sharp image. I take quite a lot of photos at night and in low light and find that I can get good exposures with this lens rather than having to change to a prime lens.

One thing that takes a little getting used to is the "backhand" zoom, it twists in the opposite direction to Canon lenses. I highly recommend this lens as a good value replacement for the kit lens. Although if you want to spend even more money consider the Canon 17-55 IS or in the Canon L series the 17-40 or 16-35.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: you get what you pay for....again
Comment: After some bad luck(?) with a few pro Nikon lenses, especially the dreadful 17-35mm 2.8, and a 300mm ED that has been sent out for repair about 50 times the first six years of use, I decide to pocket many hundreds of dollars a try out the Tamron listed here. I had really good luck with a Tamron in the past (a 70-210mm 2.8 tank used from 1996-2006) in my job at a daily newspaper. Intially, once I got past the overall cheap feel of the plastic, it passed with flying colors with heavy use for the first few months. At f2.8 image sharpness leaves a bit to be desired, but really shines a 5.6+. Problems began when I started using a couple filters (I only really use one, a polarizer, and of course, a slim glass for protection)the thread housing worked itself loose, but would not come off......yet. So it works with a loose outer ring. So far the lens itself has withstood the heavy use I require. The zoom ring should be smoother and feel more substantial, but it is what it is. At this price its nice to have a 2.8 super wide, but you get what you pay for in terms of build quality. Image quality is quiet nice for the price. I can't say image quality is better than a Nikon, but if I get 6-7 solid years use from this lens I will feel much better about purchasing a pro level Tamron lens over pro level Nikon in this type of wide-zoom format. Like I said earlier, I have a bunch of Nikon lenses primes, and zooms and the quality control at Nikon is not any better than that of the two Tamrons I have owned. I have many Nikon lenses that have been perfect for many, many years, and I have had some that are quiet ordinary in terms of quality. Other photographers at my paper use super-wide Nikons and their image quality is no different than this Tamron. I would like to see a more robust lens barrel on this Tamron, but for this price this is a nice little lens.

---

More Reviews for Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras