Tamron or Sigma?

[suzanne]

Anyone have any experience with either of these companies lenses? I need to find a lens length that works better for me. Currently I have a 18-55 kit lens and a 50 1.8 lens. I shoot a Nikon D80.

I like the kit lens for outdoors photos ok and the 50 for indoors low light. My problem is that the 50 tends to be too close in the house or at martial arts so I'm thinking about getting rid of the 50 and going with something like one of these:

Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens
or
Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor
or
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD Aspherical Macro Lens

I wish I could afford to buy Nikon but they run twice the price of Tamron & Sigma and that just isn't in the budget anytime soon. Oh and I don't like to change lens upteen times.

Thank!!

[Aino]

I have the Tamron 17-50 and it is a SUPERB lens! It hardly ever leaves my camera to be honest. I love how much I can get into the shot (it shoots wide).
It is also very sharp (especially at f5, 5.6, 8) and fast. I totally recommend it!

Now there are a couple of other options...

New Nikon 35mm f1.8 - very good lens, fast and sharp. And it is shorter/wider than the 50mm. It is also reasonably priced.

As a contender to this one... a more expensive Sigma 30mm f1.4 - lovely lens.

But for your use, to cover the kit lens - I would recommend the Tamron 17-50. I actually think it has a more practical range than the 28-75mm.

[susiecw]

I have the Sigma, since I couldn't find a Tamron for my Olympus system. I love it...it auto focus' well, and I love that I can stay at 2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. I guess it's not a true Macro unless you are at 35mm, but I've shot some cool macro shots with it.

[mugsbigsis]

The lens that is ALWAYS on my camera is a Tamron and it is a wonderful lens. If I were a professional maybe I could justify the price for the name brands, but I'm not and I've never been disappointed in Tamron. I even had to send my lens in recently and rather than the 8 weeks that I was told that it would take to get it back, it only took them 2 including shipping both ways.

[esther_a]

I have the Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor
It is a very economical and versatile lens. I do have issues with the autofocus on full zoom. It is unable to make up its mind. I've even had a photographer friend test it on his Canon 5D and it did the same thing. He was surprised. I'm not sure if mine is faulty...

[suzanne]

Bumping this back to the top in case there are any others that might reply.

Thanks girls for the replies. I think I'm leaning towards one of the Tamrons and glad to here they are well like brand.

[ajfetzer]

I have a sigma lens and I really like it I would definatly buy another one!

[anxela]

I don't have a zoom lens in that range, but I do have a Sigma 50mm f/1.4. It's amazing. Really. The bokeh is so smooth. Actually, the man in the camera store recommended this over the Canon 50mm f/1.4, and I think it says something when they recommend the non-brand name. It's heavier than the Canon, but it justifies it with image quality. I've heard a lot of praise over Sigma lenses lately, and I would not hesitate to buy Sigma again.

I'm going to buy a new and wider lens soon, but I can't make up my mind about getting the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 zoom or the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 prime that Aino mentions.

I haven't tried Tamron, but I've heard lots of good things about their lenses, too.

Just one little note - if you imagine yourself upgrading to a full frame body, you might want to look at the 24-70 or 28-75 instead of the 17-50/18-50, if you can do without the extra wide angle for now.

[readstoomuch]

I have a 28-300 Tamron for my Canon . . . and it stays on my camera most of the time. I did drop it from a table and it isn't 100% now (a rattle & a little blur) but it is still a decent lens. I'll replace it . . .probably with a new Tamron.

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by readstoomuch

I have a 28-300 Tamron for my Canon . . . and it stays on my camera most of the time. I did drop it from a table and it isn't 100% now (a rattle & a little blur) but it is still a decent lens. I'll replace it . . .probably with a new Tamron.

Mollie, I just looked at the new 18-270 lens from Tamron for my Canon... I'm contemplating taking my "big" camera to Europe. Since I do NOT wanna schlepp a bunch of lenses, I thought this might do the trick! Close up, far away... I'm still not sure, tho...

[Aino]

Originally Posted by anxela

Just one little note - if you imagine yourself upgrading to a full frame body, you might want to look at the 24-70 or 28-75 instead of the 17-50/18-50, if you can do without the extra wide angle for now.

I just checked whether the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 would work on a full-frame...
(I had the impression it would work)....
and here is the answer...

Tamron makes two varieties of DI ("Digitally Integrated") lenses:

1. DI lenses -- good for crop sensor *and* full frame slr's; and

2. DI II [that's Roman numeral II] lenses -- designed for crop sensor, but not for full frame


There are still Tamron 17-50mm DI lenses out there. Mine is a DI II.

[Jana Morton]

I have a Tamron 28-300 and LOVE it...it rarely leaves my camera. I have a Canon Rebel XTI.