Stefanus Prayitno Photography

First let me clarify this article from the beginning. If you have the means necessary, by all means, get L! Canon L lenses gives you colour vibrance and sharpness and focusing speed like no other. I was once told that Canon 'crazies' lenses are firstly 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 24-70 f/2.8L.

 However, some people would need to choose a less expensive lens. If you need an everyday lens that covers your medium-wide and normal range, say about 17-40/50... Consider Tamron 17-50 f/2.8.

I will list the "why buy this lens" here:

1. First and foremost, this lens delivers the same colour vibrancy to 17-40 
2. This lens is significantly cheaper
3. This lens is adequately sharp if compared to 17-40
4. This lens covers up to 50mm
5. This lens gives you f/2.8

The following are the disadvantages:

1. This lens is less sharp if compared to 17-40. However the sharpness of 17-50 is very acceptable, in fact it is very hard to notice the difference in sharpness of the two. It does well as well in the dark. Thus 17-50 is worth the money
2. This lens does not use USM motor to alter its focusing distance. Thus it often takes quite a while along with the motoric sound that comes with the lens trying to focus.
3. This lens zooms in and out in reverse to regular Canon lens (if you are trying to zoom with this lens you need to turn it counter clock wise, unlike Canon which takes clock wise turn to zoom)

That is it. 5 plusses and only 3 minusses. Go buy 17-50!! 

Despite very subtle, notice that 17-40 excels 17-50 in sharpness (very slightly)

Notice how both lenses have the same colour vibrancy.