The Tamron is regarded to be best of the lot. Their 17-50 offering is optically great to excellent, and the autofocus is serviceable given that only reaching 50mm f2.8 isn't a huge challenge. None of the third party competitors offer a truly top flight ring type autofocus in the DX f2.8 standard zoom category.
I've used the Tamron 17-50 2.8 on Canon, and liked it a lot. I'm still o kwith my 18-70 on Nikon though
I was in your shoes a few months ago. With the recent price increases for the Nikkor 17-55 f2.8, I thought it was out of the price range. I went to the local camera store and looked at the new Tamron 17-50 VR and it was nice, but very plasticy in feel and the built in motor seemed to strain a bit (although it produces very sharp images). The Tokina 16-50 f2.8 is notoriously soft wide open, so that wasn't in the running (even though I love my 12-24 Tokina), and I've had enough problems with Sigma products through the years that I don't really even look at them anymore.
So, as I was pondering this decision, a used Nikkor 17-55 came up for sale at Nikonians and I got a great deal on it (about the same price as the new Tamron 17-50 VR). I have had this lens for about a month and really like it. It doesn't have VR, but I have yet to feel that I need it in this range with this lens. I just shot a wedding with it yesterday and am more than pleased with the results...
the Tamron is excellent (I have the first version without a built in motor).
IIRC, Raymond Francois had some very good results with the Tokina 16-50...
You could PM him to confirm this.
To me, the real bargain out there is the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, especially with the older screw drive. If you can find some of the few Promaster models with screw drive, they are being closed out new for under $300 with a life time warranty. I think they are optically superior to anything else in that range including Nikon's 17-55 f/2.8, though that's just my personal opinion. Build-wise, the Tamron isn't close, but is servicable.
The Promaster, as many know, is just a rebadged Tamron sold through ma and pa brick and mortar stores. Promaster is a coop company who buys in bulk and rebadges to their own name. They can be Sigma, Tamron or anyone, but this particular model is the Tamron. Normally, I wouldn't consider Promaster because many don't know so it hurts resale value, but at under $300 it is a killer deal if you can find one left.
If you can't, the newer Tamron with VR is getting great reviews.
One the other hand, that 18-70 is a superb performer and you already have it. You're only giving up half to one and a third stops. I'm not sure what that's worth. I might be looking at a different focal range to augment my kit.
Guidenet wrote:
To me, the real bargain out there is the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, especially with the older screw drive. If you can find some of the few Promaster models with screw drive, they are being closed out new for under $300 with a life time warranty. I think they are optically superior to anything else in that range including Nikon's 17-55 f/2.8, though that's just my personal opinion. Build-wise, the Tamron isn't close, but is servicable.
The Promaster, as many know, is just a rebadged Tamron sold through ma and pa brick and mortar stores. Promaster is a coop company who buys in bulk and rebadges to their own name. They can be Sigma, Tamron or anyone, but this particular model is the Tamron. Normally, I wouldn't consider Promaster because many don't know so it hurts resale value, but at under $300 it is a killer deal if you can find one left.
If you can't, the newer Tamron with VR is getting great reviews.
One the other hand, that 18-70 is a superb performer and you already have it. You're only giving up half to one and a third stops. I'm not sure what that's worth. I might be looking at a different focal range to augment my kit....Show more →
The Tamron 17-50 is a great lens, unless you want to be shooting landscapes or other things where distortion is an issue at 17. As I've said in other places the distortion at 17 is ridiculous, it is not easily corrected even by lens correction software that has data for the lens as the distortion is wavy. If you don't think you'll be shooting much at 17 then i'd definitely recommend it. If I was still shooting DX on my primary body and didn't need the wide end I'd still have it. It is a great fast lens from ~22 through 50 and I actually believe that the screw drive model is superior to the built in motor model that I had as the built in motor was extremely slow at focusing.
I don't mind the kit lens (18-70) and already have a 50 1.8, 80-200 2.8 and a few other cheap ones that work as backups...I know the 18-70 is a good lens, but the 4.5 on the other end of the zoom is what I don't like...
I have a D200 and have shot in some pretty low light with ok results, but feel like I need to buy some better equipment and don't feel the D300 is enough of an upgrade to drop $1800 on...I thought about a fisheye, but I don't know how practical they really are since you can't take all of the shots with them...
Not really stuck on zoom...just wanted something that might outperform the 18-70 in terms of low light ability and sharpness...
if you are shooting DX i'd also recommend the 35mm f/1.8 super sharp lens with good low light qualities and only 200 bucks. It isn't a zoom but it is a great lens that gives you the equivalent of ~50mm
