Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

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pawlowski6132
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p.2 #1 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

prh5551 wrote:
do your diligence and investigate. check out the reviews on this site, on 'the-digital-picture.com', photozone.com, and photodo.com to name a few.

prh

I was hoping to narrow my research down by posting this thread.

Jul 26, 2008 at 11:16 AM

retrofocus
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p.2 #2 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Sigma 10-20 mm is my preferred super wide lens for a 1.6x crop DSLR camera.

The Sigma 105 mm f2.8 macro lens is optically superb, but for the built quality (especially the AF) I would now prefer the similar Canon 100 mm f2.8 macro lens.

Jul 26, 2008 at 03:21 PM

jlc61
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p.2 #3 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Esquire08 wrote:
MSC wrote:
Hey, I have that watch! Yours is cleaner than mine.

Got it for graduating college, I've somewhat babied it but it is definitely my daily. I added a Breitling but quickly sold it, and now should be adding a Rolex GMT-II ceramic for graduating law school.

I love watches

Consider a pre-owned Patek - you can get a nice gold dress watch for about the price of a new Rolex; and well, it's a Patek - most people won't recognize it but watch fans will.

Jul 26, 2008 at 03:26 PM

jlc61
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p.2 #4 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

pawlowski6132 wrote:
I'ver never bought anything but canon lenses and am now curious about Sigma, etc.

Which particular lenses are regarded as some of the best and how would they compare to their canon conterparts?

thanx

I have the 28-70 F2.6-2.8 TOKINA ATX PRO; and love it. Excellent IQ,fast, built like a tank and relatively cheap - $250 to $300 depending on condition and version.

Downside - weighs a ton.

Jul 26, 2008 at 03:30 PM

sdgphoto
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p.2 #5 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Tokina 11-16 / Tamron 28-75 / Sigma 30 / Sigma 150 Macro

[Maybe the new Sigma 50 f1.4?]

Jul 26, 2008 at 03:47 PM

Xavier Rival
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p.2 #6 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

The Sigma 150 macro is a wonderful lens; it was discussed in a couple of threads posted a while back that it could work extremely well as a general medium telephoto lens.

Jul 26, 2008 at 03:56 PM

David Baldwin
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p.2 #7 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Tokina 12-24 f4

Jul 26, 2008 at 04:12 PM

helimat
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p.2 #8 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Sigma 12-24mm for crop cam or FF... In case of upgrade down the road. Although 12mm on a FF camera is ridiculous!

I also like my Sigma 15mm fisheye, very close focusing and very sharp.
Helimat

Jul 26, 2008 at 04:41 PM

waltsfoto
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p.2 #9 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Here are some Sigma lenses that have NO Canon counterpart

IMHO the only reason to get a non-canon lens:

12-24 used by some pros for architecture

15-30 which I owned and liked before getting 17-40 L (filters)

http://www.pbase.com/waltsfoto/image/44930332/large

20 1.8

50-500

300-800

Except for the kit lens, I've stayed away from crop lenses

But that's just me...

Jul 26, 2008 at 04:45 PM

ShutterLover
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p.2 #10 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

I have the Siggy 24-70 as a backup to a 24-70L. The build's nowhere near as good and the AF a bit slower and quite poor in challenging light. BUT picture quality in terms of sharpness, colour and contrast are 90-95% as good as the L. So for the money that makes it a good product.

I also have the Macro 105mm as it seemed to be very bit as good as the 100m Canon for less dough.

Jul 26, 2008 at 05:51 PM

coryconklin
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p.2 #11 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Well I have had two different 3rd party set ups and they were/are both excellent:

1) Tamron 17-35 f2.8-4; 28-75 f2.8; Sigma 70-200 f2.8

2) Tokina 12-24 f4; Tamron 17-50 f2.8; Sigma 70-200 f2.8

I am currently using number 2 and I love it. I have considered adding the Sigma 100-400 f4 for the extra reach for kids sports, but I do not need it yet. I sold the original set up because I needed money, and slowly built back up to the current set up. If I ever get the $$$ for a 5D I will get the Tamrons in set up #1. There have been excellent reviews of those lenses on the 5D. I guess it is good that I am camera broke right now

I have also owned the Tokina 50-135 f2.8. It is an excellent lens, but I need the reach of the Sigma 70-200. Good luck on your decision

Jul 26, 2008 at 08:59 PM

Mr_Sukebe
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p.2 #12 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

I really must be the only person on the planet who doesn't completely love the Tammy 17-50 and 28-75 lenses. I've owned both, and whilst they both exhibited excellent sharpness, their colours were nothing like as vivid as the Canon L lenses that I also own.

Jul 26, 2008 at 09:28 PM

maarten.dhaese
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p.2 #13 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Sigma 30 f/1.4 - better (but much heavier) than the Canon EF 35 f/2.0

Jul 26, 2008 at 09:38 PM

Ken Hernandez
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p.2 #14 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Right now I would go with the Tammy 17-50 for third party (since it's the only one I own.) I like the close focusing distance and the colors come out pretty good.

My favorite lens in the bag is my canon 85mm 1.8! Man that's shallow DOF.

pic #1-Tammy
pic #2- 85mm 1.8

Both handheld too.

2008 © Ken Hernandez

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 30D
Date	2008:07:26 20:00:03
Original date	2008:07:26 20:00:03
Exposure time	1/160 sec
Focal length	50mm
Focal number	f/4.5
ISO speed	1000 ISO
Exposure compensation	0.0

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 30D
Date	2008:07:20 16:41:18
Original date	2008:07:20 16:41:18
Exposure time	1/4000 sec
Focal length	85mm
Focal number	f/1.8
ISO speed	100 ISO
Exposure compensation	0.0

Edited on Jul 27, 2008 at 04:54 AM

Jul 27, 2008 at 04:52 AM

eric kim
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p.2 #15 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Tamron 17-50 2.8 is the best lens I have ever owned.

Jul 27, 2008 at 05:30 AM

adam613
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p.2 #16 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

The Tamron 17-50 and 28-75 are supposedly the best walkaround lenses you can get for under $500. They both compare in image quality to their Canon high-end counterparts, but Tamron's micromotor AF is slow and noisy.

I'm currently lusting after a Sigma 100-300 f/4...it's sharper wide-open than the Canon 100-400 at shared focal lengths, takes a TC extremely well, and has internal focus/zoom...and there's no Canon zoom that goes out to 300mm at f/4...

At this rate, I'm going to end up using a Canon body with no Canon lenses...except maybe a 100mm macro...

Edited on Jul 27, 2008 at 12:45 PM

Jul 27, 2008 at 12:45 PM

Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #17 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Sigma 150 f/2.8, Tammy 28-75 f/2.8, Zeiss C/Y 85 f/1.4, Sigma 24 f/1.8

Jul 27, 2008 at 12:49 PM

Sam N
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p.2 #18 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Tamron's AF is noisier, but I wouldn't call it slow. The focus throw on the 17-50 is so short that it focuses very quickly. Trying to manually focus it is extremely difficult.

The Sigma 30/1.4 and Tamron 17-50 are among the best 3rd party lenses.
The Sigma macro lenses are all very good as well.

Jul 27, 2008 at 08:33 PM

Lovesong
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p.2 #19 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

The Sigma 50mm macro I have is excellent, if you're talking about sharpness. AF is slow, no USM/HSM, awkward hood, and only a 2.8. When you get the shots on the big screen though you easily forget all the short comings. As a 50mm prime, it's head and shoulders above my 50mm f/1.4 (though that's expected for a short macro).

Jul 27, 2008 at 09:00 PM

RDKirk
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p.2 #20 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Depends greatly on which maker has the lens you need.

If, for instance, you're a PJ doing a lot of indoors available light work who needs a lens that is both the fastest and widest you can get, then the Sigma 20mm f/1.8 is your only choice.

If you want the closest to the Canon L f/2.8. 70-200mm lens, then the Sigma HSM lens is probably your closest choice.

If you want the closest to the Canon 24-70 L lens, then Tamron makes your closest choice.

And so on.

Jul 27, 2008 at 09:18 PM

kris2823
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p.2 #21 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Sigma APO 100-300 f/4 EX HSM. Just take a look in the reviews-section here.

Jul 27, 2008 at 09:22 PM

Perdu
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p.2 #22 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Esquire08 wrote:
MSC wrote:
Hey, I have that watch! Yours is cleaner than mine.

Omega do a GMT too. Outstanding watch.

Jul 27, 2008 at 09:26 PM

Kevin M
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p.2 #23 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

The Sigma 24-60 /2.8 is my most used lens now and the only zoom lens I own. Extraordinarily good performance at a reasonable price.

Edited on Jul 27, 2008 at 09:50 PM

Jul 27, 2008 at 09:43 PM

skibum5
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p.2 #24 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

pawlowski6132 wrote:
I'ver never bought anything but canon lenses and am now curious about Sigma, etc.

Which particular lenses are regarded as some of the best and how would they compare to their canon conterparts?

thanx

tamron 28-75 f/2.8 (way less expensive, smaller, lighter than the 24-70L if probably less contrasty, but probably no less sharp though)
tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (sold the 17-40L)

and it is said that:
sigma macros, at least ones 90mm or more
sigma 100-300 f/4
maybe the new sigma 50mm 1.4
some claim the new sigma 18-50 f/2.8
tamron 70-200 f/2.8 (but AF supposed to be the worst ever)
sigma 70-200 f/2.8 not too bad, but I'd still get canon in this case, not quite the IQ and dodgier AF IMO.

Jul 27, 2008 at 10:17 PM

skibum5
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p.2 #25 · Best Third Party Canon Mount Lenses

Mr_Sukebe wrote:
I really must be the only person on the planet who doesn't completely love the Tammy 17-50 and 28-75 lenses. I've owned both, and whilst they both exhibited excellent sharpness, their colours were nothing like as vivid as the Canon L lenses that I also own.

the color and contrast on the 17-50 seemed pretty close to me if not quite there but close enough to not care.

the 28-75 did seem to lag a little more in this regard but it's not as much of a lag as the kit lens.

Jul 27, 2008 at 10:20 PM


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