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Archive 2011 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?

  
 
Strid3r
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


I'm curious to see if anyone has made the switch (or has at least used both lenses).

I currently have a 17-50 Non-VC that seems to be on my camera constantly. I recently picked up a nifty fifty giving me additional low aperture coverage.

I had considered this switch before, but I was looking through my Lightroom collection from the past year and have only taken 57 pictures @ F/2.8. 35 of those were fireworks so they don't really count. The rest are often from when I was indoors and didn't want to take the ISO past 800 or so. I figure that the IS would account for the lost of an f-stop or two for those dark interiors. The extra reach of the 15-85 would be nice for walking around.

My main concern is IQ. The Tamron obviously doesn't disappoint and is very sharp. How does the IQ compare with the 15-85?

I'm interested to hear any and all opinions on the matter. For what it's worth I think the 17-55 is out of my price range.

Thanks,
Mike

Edit: Apparently I'm a slug and missed this thread: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/995515/0?keyword=15-85#9450749. Reading through that thread I'd guess the Sigma 17-70 OS ought to be considered as well?



Dec 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM
surf monkey
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


I don't have the Tamron or 15-85, but I don't see any reason for you to get the Canon 17-55 (which I do have) if you don't use the f2.8 aperture. With the 17-55, I would guess that at least half my photos are at f2.8. If I were you, I'd get the 15-85 for the increased FL range. I hear that it's quite a stellar lens, the caveat being the slow aperture, which of course you don't need.


Dec 22, 2011 at 11:54 AM
smmokan16
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


I have both the Tamron 17-50mm and the Canon 15-85mm. In my experience over the last year+, the Canon lens is sharper and more useful. The IQ seems to be a bit better, the IS is obviously helpful, and the range is perfect. I bought the Tamron for portrait use only, and I'm starting to wonder if I really need it.

The Canon 15-85mm lens is my favorite of all the lenses I've used on my 50D, hands down. Here are a couple shots from a recent wedding with the lens. You can notice the lack of thin DOF, but it's still a great lens.






Dec 22, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Strid3r
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Thanks for the feedback guys. As I was putting my questions to words on the forum I was wondering if I had already answered myself. I am glad to hear about the good IQ, though. That is encouraging.


Dec 22, 2011 at 01:45 PM
alexandre
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Tammy all the way.


Dec 22, 2011 at 02:14 PM
Gunzorro
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Not exactly the same as you are asking, but. . .

I had the Tamron non-VC on my Nikon D7000. I wasn't happy with it, and it botched a number of shots on an assignment due to OOF and being a bit slow. IQ was okay, but zoom range was limited. I got rid of it around the same time I picked up the 60D. (Perhaps the Nikon 16-85 would have performed better, but I had several exposure and AF issues with the D7000 besides.)

I kept both the D7000 and 60D and later added the 15-85 IS to the 60D. Awesome lens! I've shot several similar jobs to the one the 17-50 failed me on -- all winners with very low percentage of rejects from the 60D and 15-85.

Moral of the story for me: if you are shooting crop frame, use a Canon. And for general use, the 15-85 is about the best there is for covering all the bases. (I wish there was a similar 24-140mm Canon offering for FF.)



Dec 22, 2011 at 02:21 PM
gwaww
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


I had a tamron and sold it with my 40d. I then bought a 7d and the 15-85 canon. I've never sold a lens so fast in my life (except maybe the 24-105L). I then got another tamron. Now I'm happy again. The 15-85 has to be stopped down to be sharp and it's is already 5.6 at 85mm! If you shoot with existing light like I do, you need 2.8. I wanted to like the 15-85, the range and IS are great.


Dec 22, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Richard Nye
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


gwaww wrote:
I had a tamron and sold it with my 40d. I then bought a 7d and the 15-85 canon. I've never sold a lens so fast in my life (except maybe the 24-105L). I then got another tamron. Now I'm happy again. The 15-85 has to be stopped down to be sharp and it's is already 5.6 at 85mm! If you shoot with existing light like I do, you need 2.8. I wanted to like the 15-85, the range and IS are great.



+1

Also, the Canon has horrific barrel distortion at the wide end. After owning the Canon, I bought the Tamron 17-50 non-VC and I'm very happy with it. It's a bit smaller too which is important to me.



Dec 22, 2011 at 04:59 PM
kevinsullivan
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Don't do it. 17-50 is the one. If you really want to upgrade, get the Canon 17-55/2.8.


Dec 22, 2011 at 05:12 PM
Strid3r
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Hmmm...you guys are making it hard. I think I'm just wishing for greater reach. At times I wonder how much I'm missing when I'm walking around with my camera and stop @ 50mm.

Time to do some more thinking.

As always, thanks for the input, everyone.

Mike



Dec 22, 2011 at 05:35 PM
h00ligan
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


I sold the canon 15-85 as I was unimpressed completely. I preferred the sigma 17-50 OS Which had better contrast, color, sharpness.


Dec 22, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Maybe if the 15-85 were f/4, but giving up 2 stops would be unthinkable to me. Heck I would consider getting the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 VC or Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS if stabilisation was desirable. If you want more reach get a 70-200 f/4L IS for example as a compliment.


Dec 22, 2011 at 08:09 PM
RobertLynn
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


If the 15-85 was f/4, I'd own one, and probably buy a spare 7D to never take it off of.



Dec 22, 2011 at 08:16 PM
Eric Gottesman
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Keep what you have and get the 85mm 1.8. It's one of Canon's best lenses bar none. That will give you the reach you are looking for and IQ that will blow away what you are considering.

Eric



Dec 22, 2011 at 08:32 PM
surf monkey
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


gwaww wrote:
I had a tamron and sold it with my 40d. I then bought a 7d and the 15-85 canon. I've never sold a lens so fast in my life (except maybe the 24-105L). I then got another tamron. Now I'm happy again. The 15-85 has to be stopped down to be sharp and it's is already 5.6 at 85mm! If you shoot with existing light like I do, you need 2.8. I wanted to like the 15-85, the range and IS are great.


I'm not sure why everyone thinks the 17-50 is best for you.
If you shot at f2.8, then of course.
But you don't, so the added FL range of the 15-85 makes more sense.
I'm guessing most of the Tammy proponents use their lens at or near f2.8 the majority of the time.
If the 15-85 needs to stopped down for sharpness, then maybe it's not a good fit either. You'll probably have to determine for yourself if it's sharp enough at the apertures you use most often.



Dec 22, 2011 at 08:53 PM
jasonpatrick
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


I've had the Tamron 17-50mm and Canon's 15-85mm. I didn't like the 15-85mm. Ugliest lens Canon has ever made, horrible barrel distortion, soft at 85mm, and mine creeped badly. Usually I get slammed when I share that as there's people on this board that think that's the lens Jesus is going to have attached to his walk around camera when he returns to smote the earth (personally I think he'll pony up for full frame...). I wound up with Sigma's 17-70mm OS, and I'm happy with it. Bonus with the sigma is it's relatively nice macro ability. I did like the Tamron, but I have lens ADD and sold it to try something else...oh yeah, Sigma's 30mm 1.4. Which I sold to go to the 17-70mm.


Dec 22, 2011 at 09:20 PM
gocolts
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


I have both the Tamron and the Canon. The Tamron for indoor/low light stuff, and the Canon for a vacation walkaround, as well as around the pits at racetracks. I love having 15mm on the wide end along with 85mm on the long end on my 7D, but also like the f/2.8 when I need it. Different lenses for different purposes IMO.

I actually sold my 24-105L and purchased both of these lenses for the price of the 24-105L, to put it in perspective.



Dec 23, 2011 at 01:11 AM
surf monkey
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


jasonpatrick wrote:
I've had the Tamron 17-50mm and Canon's 15-85mm. I didn't like the 15-85mm. Ugliest lens Canon has ever made, horrible barrel distortion, soft at 85mm, and mine creeped badly. Usually I get slammed when I share that as there's people on this board that think that's the lens Jesus is going to have attached to his walk around camera when he returns to smote the earth (personally I think he'll pony up for full frame...). I wound up with Sigma's 17-70mm OS, and I'm happy with it. Bonus with the sigma is it's relatively nice macro ability. I did like
...Show more

Fair enough. You're entitled to your opinion and others can disagree, but you shouldn't get flamed for your honest comments. Like I said I've never owned the 15-85, my comments were in regards to the OP's initial take on what he wanted and didn't want, mostly in regards to not needing a fast aperture and wanting the bigger focal range.



Dec 23, 2011 at 02:06 AM
dwweiche
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


Hmmm, my 15-85 (refurb purchase) is not soft wide open at 85mm to my eyes. This is on a 7D. Maybe if I looked in the corners, which I rarely do, but center? It's good.

As for barrel distortion at 15mm, it is known for that, but is fairly easily corrected using the automatic correction in PS or DPP. Isn't the 24-105L also known for bad barrel at 24? Just sayin'...

Also no creep at all in my lens. Not a hint. You must have got a dud.



Dec 23, 2011 at 02:08 AM
EOS20
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Tamron 17-50 to Canon 15-85?


The 15-85 IS I had was good, it was sharp and well built (for a non L lens) and also a nice size and the IS worked. The distortion and vignetting was a bit annoying though especially at 15mm and 85mm.





Dec 23, 2011 at 04:28 AM
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