Canon 24-70mm 2.8L and 28-135mm IS alternatives

I picked up the canon 28- 105mm in June for $270 new, after reading about a gazillion reviews of everything from L glass to third party lenses in similar ranges. Its a good compromise, in my view, for pretty sharp glass, with a nice USM and very smooth, fast focus. I use it on a 20D, so the crop factor loses the wider end but pushes it on the zoom. I just shot 2 nights of folk concerts and a rodeo with it last weekend, as well as a wedding in June as well as loads of Latin American travel. Anyway, that would be my pick for one of ‘em.

Never used one myself, but the Tamron 28-75 2.8 seems to get raving reviews everywhere.

The Sigma 24-70 F:2.8 EX DG is similar to the Canon equivalent but not quite as sharp at 2.8 (It’s also a lot cheaper) The wide end is equivalent to a 38.4 mm lens on a 20D, otherwise it’s a nice lens. I am selling one in as new condition with 5.5 years left on a 7 year mackcam.com warranty on ebay the ebay number is 300023802803 if you want to check it out.

regards,

Andrew
www.andrewwheeler.com

Hey, Michael. I use a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 myself. I wouldn’t recommend anything less. Sure it’s expensive, but its worth the investment. As for alternatives, go with the Tamron which I would have bought if I wasn’t so “kulit” (insistent) that I have Canon lenses for my Canon digital camera. In choosing an alternative, consider how the zoom rings turn. I mean, I used a Tokina 12-14 mm. f/4 before I got the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 to replace that. The Tokina’s zoom ring turns counterclockwise towards wide, ala Nikon. If you’re used to the Canon system, which is the exact opposite of the Nikon system, you’d get confused - and miss plenty of shots. It’s a built-in incompatibility designed to keep users loyal to a brand. So if you’re a Canon-ite, decide in favor of those that will not compromise your dexterity. Goodluck!