Mid range zoom

[anonymous-user]

Having recently added the superb 100-400L to my arsenal (thanks Phil!) I'm now starting to realise that I could really do with something better than the kit 18-55 lens for the closer stuff. With Goodwood FoS coming up I guess I ought to do something about this sooner rather than later.

With a budget of up to around 500 quid, does anyone have any recommendations? Mainly I'm after something with good image quality and quick autofocus.

I've currently found:

EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (£300-ish)
EF-S 17-85 f/4-5.6 IS USM (£400-ish)

The EF 24-70 f/2.8 L USM looks perfect, but unless someone can convince me of its brilliance I reckon the £850 7dayshop want for it is a bit rich for now.

Would it be worth taking a look at the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 (£250-ish)?

[beano500]

Sigma's good.

You could also consider the Tokina 28-70 or 28-80 ATX PRO. Again a fast F2.8, quite a heavy/solid piece of kit, excellent optics, bit fussy about what you point it at if you want to keep flare down, sometimes not to much contrast (but then you don't necessarily have a problem with digital when you want to keep your dynamic range down). I've had one for about 8 years and it's only my prime-snobbery that keeps it in the bag a fair bit.

Best bit is, it's probably about £250-300 new and probably findable s/hand at even better prices.

[anonymous-user]

I'm just about to get the 24-70L. It's a beauty!!!

[poah]

if you can afford the canon then get it

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

I did a whole FoS with just a 28-135IS on my 10D. Something wider would have been nice. The EF-S is nice and would be perfect...but remember if you do move to 1D's etc, they can't use them.

[Bee_Jay]

I have both the 28-135 and the 17-85.

The 28-135 stays on the shelf.
The 17-85 lives on my 20D.

I would like a 24-70, but the price and weight can't justify themselves to me as yet, and I would miss the 17-24 range on my 'walkabout' lens, though I would almost have it covered by the 10-22 it would mean more lens swapping...

If I were you I would get the 17-85, you won't be disappointed and don't worry about maybe getting a 1-series body in the future. When you do you can sell the lens for a few quid less than you bought it for and you will have had the use of it for all this time

For some examples search on PBase.com for pictures taken with this lens.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I had a sneaky feeling that people would push towards the L. However I don't think my bank manager will share your enthusiasm.

I'm not really sure whether I'll find the 17-24/28 end or the 70/85-135 more useful. As I have found I'm pretty crap at taking static paddock type photos, I have a feeling that the extra reach up to 135 might be more useful at hill climbs and drag races than the wider angle trying to take photos that will be pretty bad anyway.

I think it may be time to go and have a play with these in the local Jessops, preferably without my credit card in my pocket.

[Ex-biker]

I just bought a Sigma 28-80mm II f/3.5-5.6 Macro for £35 on ebay.

Not in the same league I know, but there was a Sigma EX 24(?)-70mm that went for around £100.