Canon 18-200mm IS lens vs Tamron 18-270mm IS lens????

[newbie88]

Hi everyone,

Im juz a beginner, and would like to ask if anyone can help...

I bought my Canon 600D twin lens kit, which including the 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses. However im getting a bit annoyed by keep changing lens and thinking to get the all-in-one lens...

There are two which im considering at the moment but not sure which one should I get...

1st: Tamron 18-270mm IS lens, this one is a bit less expensive, however when i try it its making a bit of noise and not really fast in focusing etc... (compared to the 55-250mm canon lens im currently using, the canon one is really good, in term of zoom in/out, forcusing without any noise...)

2nd: Canon 18-200mm IS lens, I prefer this one coz it has "Canon" brand :) also it doesnt make noise like the Tamron lens, however it couldnt zoom far comparing to the Tamron.... and if im not wrong, Canon doesnt have any 18-250mm lens....

Really appreciated if anyone can give me some idea on this... cause i need to buy one soon before my holiday...

Thanks in advance everyone ;)

[ricktas]

First up, welcome to AP, hope we get to see you around the forums

Now, you have purchased as DSLR are are sick of changing lenses, unless you wish photography to be just a hobby and nothing more, buying a DSLR (which is inherently a changeable lens system), then perhaps you should have looked at other options rather than a DSLR.

Having said that, the superzooms, whilst doing the role that they were designed for, are not generally high quality lenses. Yes you can take great photos with them, but there are downsides (generally image quality) of using them. That is the reason Canon and Nikon do not make these superzooms with the range of the Tamron.

Both the lenses you are looking at will suit your purpose. However if the quality of the images produced (sharpness, less distortion, colour rendition, etc) is important to you, stick to your kit lenses, learn how to take better photographs, and then when you are ready upgrade the quality of your lenses, to some of the Canon L series.

I say all this, based on the belief that you want to get the best results from your camera, and want photography to be a bit more than taking snaps at the family Christmas party, etc.

A superzoom, either the Tamron or the Canon will do the job and get you some nice photos, but if you want to take your photography a bit more seriously, keep the kit lenses, learn how to use the gear you have, and save up for better quality lenses, and get them in the future.

If you are set on getting one of the above, get the Canon!

[Bennymiata]

There is also a Sigma 18-250mm which has the OS as well as an HSM focus motor, which will be quiet and reasonably fast.

A warning though, superzooms are meant to be just walk-around lenses that try to do everything, and they can, but usually not too well.
The wider the zoom ratio, the worse the image quality (IQ), as the lens can't be optimised for just a small amount of zoom so something must suffer for that benefit.
It's like having a car that is small and light, and gets great fuel economy, yet you can fit an entire football team in it and expecting it to handle and go like an expensive sports car. It ain't going to happen!
There are some exceptions however, like the Canon 70-300L zoom, but that wil cost you around $2K and even then, it only starts at 70mm.

I do agree with Rick, that idf you are new to DSLR's, save your money and use your kit lenses. The IQ will be at least as good as the cheaper superzooms.
Then when you have an idea of what you mainly photograph and have worked out your most favoured length, then get yourself a good lens that wil do the job.

Anway, changing lenses is fun, and the main reason why people buy a DSLR, otherwise, perhaps a superzoom point and squirt camera, like a Fuji HS20 would suit you better.

[Roosta]

Have a look at this http://www.thedigitalpicture.com/, Bryan's site is a wealth of knowledge and tests/reviews.

This is a comparison on the above mentioned lenses.

http://thedigitalpicture.com/Reviews/Lens-Distortion.aspx?FLI=0&FLIComp=0&Lens=476&Camera=474&LensComp=492
One the above link, there is also this comp - http://thedigitalpicture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=476&Camera=474&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=492&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

When the pages load, just select the closet camera body and you'll see an arrow at the top of the chart, move the cursor over the chart and see results, you can also change the lenses by selecting the drop down lens, very, very helpful tool.

Have fun.

Rick has made a very valid few pointers above.

[tarwoona]

Hi, i had the Tamron 18-270 though was the previous model, i believe the current model has a peizo focus motor.
Any it was an "average" lens at best. Quality was ok, focus speed was slow, focus was poor in low light and the focal point moved slightly through the zoom range.
i gave up on it and bought a 24-105 and a 10-22 and would never consider a super zoom again. Also dont miss the zoom range at all.

Cheers,
Steve

[Ezookiel]

I wanted a camera I could take on dusty 4wd tracks, and NOT have to change lenses in that environment where dust is likely to get inside, so I bought my 60D with the 18-200 IS instead of the twin lens set. So far I've been slightly disappointed with IQ. I'm pretty sure my P&S Fujifinepix S5000 took better clearer images, but I knew I was making a compromise. Any lens that does everything, will do everything less well than a dedicated one. That said, it's still a great lens for the purpose I bought it for, and on trips like that I'll stick to it, but as my photography is improving and my interest in other areas is expanding, I'm now considering buying dedicated lenses for the other aspects of photography where it is safer to change lenses, and the results will be better. Just need to find the MONEY for that, which is the hard part.

[newbie88]

thanks everyone for your helpful advices :)

since im new in photography and i travel quite often, that's why i thought about get a combine super zoom one... As what Rick said, yeah the image quality is important for me, therefore im gonna consider again if i should get the Tamron super zoom lens cause the image quality might reduce etc...

I really interested in portrait and landscape photography, wondering if you can advice me which lenses should i consider to get in the future... ?

Thanks again :)

[Roosta]

thanks everyone for your helpful advices :)

since im new in photography and i travel quite often, that's why i thought about get a combine super zoom one... As what Rick said, yeah the image quality is important for me, therefore im gonna consider again if i should get the Tamron super zoom lens cause the image quality might reduce etc...

I really interested in portrait and landscape photography, wondering if you can advice me which lenses should i consider to get in the future... ?

Thanks again :)

Once again, I truly believe if you read through the write ups Bryan has put together on his website www.thedigitalpicture.com you'll get loads of information. Adding to this, you shoot Canon, so try worldofeos.com.au, sign up when you enter the site, you'll receive monthly emails, has a great 'LEARN' section and it walks you through all the stages of photography. There's tutorials from some big Canon endorses on the site as well, which walk you through guided specialist videos. Well worth a look.

On AP, in the top corner is a search function, if you use this to 'lens search' the Forums, also, just scroll down the 'Canon' forum and you'll find your not alone in this search, it's an ever popular question you've posed. I started with a couple of Sigma Lenses (See my Signature) and they still get loads of use, but I have over time moved into the L range and have not looked back. If you can afford it, I'd go for the L series straight away, your technique will improve, ask the right questions, seek your answers.

Check the WA forum, where out this Saturday afternoon if you can make it, you can try a heap of lenses that we all will have with us, and get some useful set-up ideas.