Hi everyone,

Its been a while since we have got together but I think thats a drawback of winter season. Anyways, I was thinking of buying new lens and thought what better way to decide than to discuss it with the gurus.

Gist - I have a Canon EOS Rebel Ti1. Currently my armory(hehe) consists of the basic lens kit 18-55 EF-S, 55 to 250 EF-S (i think both are 3.5 to 5.6) and a canon 50mm 1.8( the cheaper one w/o the USM).

I have a tripod too but the heavy one - Frankly I hate carrying tripods. So if

Now then, I am thinking of upgrading my lens and hence will be selling the two lens kit lens I have. I am thinking of the sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM.
( http://www.sigmaphoto...)

What do you think of this one? Should I go for the Canon L Series Instead?
http://www.usa.canon....

I like the Sigma cause its lighter and cheaper but I may be missing on something hence please advice.

PS - May be a speed lite 430EX II too so that I can click better portraits or pics at family get together.

Please advice. Also, any suggestions for Zoom and Wide angel. What would be your one lens you would always keep on the camera for any occasion?

I have no personal experience with either the Canon or the Sigma, but from what I've read on Internet forums the Sigma is a very nice lens and some people say it is sharper than the Canon. The only question I would ask is are you sure the 24-70 focal range will cover what you need.

My choice in this focal length is the Canon 24-105 f/4 L because I really like the ability to shoot at 100mm without having to change lenses.


On the speedlight, I heartily recommend getting one. It will do far more for portraits than any lens you might buy. I would also go to flashzebra.com and order one of their long ETTL cords so you can position the flash off camera for more control of the lighting.

Scott Kelby in one of his books mentioned that most pros shoot portraits with their favorite focal length between 85mm and 100mm... but assuming pros shoot with the full frame cameras, the 24-70mm lens on your camera with a smaller sensor (with crop factor 1.5 for Nikon), would become a 36-105mm "full frame equivalent" lens (for angle of view)...

So, I would definitely go with a fast and tack sharp 24-70mm f/2.8 lens (as the one in the Nikon family) because it is very good for both landscape and portrait photography...

Just a thought....

By the way, many people have chosen this lens from Sigma over Canon and not only because it is $400 cheaper... but some people complained they had to send it back to Sigma USA for the auto-focus calibration...

For digital images, I am using Nikon.
In case of using Canon DX format like your, I would pick a EF-S 17-85mm IS USM f:4-5.6. This would cover for you to take 90% pictures from indoor to outdoor.

The 24-105mm f:4 is an "L" rate lens. Its optical qualities are much better than EF-S 17-85mm's. But it will fit better for a full-frame format camera. The crop factor 1.6 of canon DX camera makes it works like a 38.4-166mm zoom. That's not wide enough for DX cameras...
And, the same problem happens to 24-70mm f:2.8.
An excellent lens for a full-frame format camera doesn't mean it will be good for a DX one.

For a DX wide/super wide angle lens, a Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5 - 4.5 USM is much sharper than the Nikon 12-24mm which I am using now.

Ken - Thanks I remember our last meet where you had shown me the extension wire. I think I'll get that too. Thanks.

Besides that I think you bring a good point as I might move to a full frame which might shift my lens range. None the less the f/4 is too slow for my liking. I guess we always have to compromise somewhere or the other.

Val- I get your point. I think in the end I might have to carry three lens (Tiresome) for photo travels but otherwise the 24 to 20 should at least give me good perspectives on family trips etc ( along with 50 1.8). A light weight option.

Tudo - I am not honed my wide lens skills yet but what I have noticed is that most of the picture I take are in the range of 18-80(x1.6) so I decided to go for this lens.

Thanks a ton all of you.

Hey Rahul

Ive heard good things about the tamron 18-270mm. I believe its for the APS-C cams, not sure if you go to full frame what that will do. Its an f/3.5-6.3, decent for most lighting setups, and should allow you lots of freedom and options. its gonna be pricey though.

I have the Canon 18-50mm and the tamron 55-200mm IS lens. Its worked out pretty well so far. I took it to the DC rollergirls event a few weeks ago, and it worked as designed.

I am shopping for a UWA, and its down to sigma 10-20mm or the tokina 12-24mm.
I hear both good things about sigma and tamron, but that the tam with a narrower focus has a sharper field.

good luck with your search.
D