Recommend a good walk-about/travel zoom lens

aaronius · 06-17-2010, 01:03 AM

Hi guys, I just sold off my FA 35mm F2.0 yesterday as I want to get a good zoom lens for walk-around and travelling. After doing research, I have shortlist my choice to 2 lenses.

1) Tamron 17-50mm F2.8
2) Sigma 17-70mm OS HSM F2.8 - F4.0

I have heard many good comments about the Tamron 17-50mm but not much info about the Sigma. The Sigma is appealing more to me now because of the longer reach which I think will be useful as I do find the 55mm reach of my kit lens abit limiting when I travel. The HSM is a bonus too and I heard the OS is more effective than the SR of my KX.

I try searching the net but couldn't find much pictures taken with the Sigma. Anyone here own either or both of these lenses can give me your comments?

In terms of IQ, which one is better and which one you will recommend me to get? The Sigma is more expensive than the Tamron by around USD$70 in my area.

rkt · 06-17-2010, 01:50 AM

I can attest for the Tamron, but I haven't used the Sigma so cannot give a comparison first-hand, but I do remember reading in reviews somewhere that the Tamron may be sharper than than the Sigma ... that aside, the Tamron is a great performer ...

tubamatt · 06-17-2010, 03:50 AM

Hey, there, Ive been doing research on the sigma 17-70 lens,
Full-size sample photos from Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8-4.5
look at this website, it has sample pictures taken by the sigma 17-70mm lens. I am looking for upgrade of my K-x kit lens to use as a walk around lens, and the sigma 17-70mm is one of my choices among Pentax 17-70 and Tamron 28-75 f2.8. They are all good walk around lens with similar pricing so maybe you should take a look at those as well.

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-17-2010, 04:06 AM

I have the tamron, and while it is a good lens, if you are looking for a walk around lens you may want something wider. I usually pair the tamron with my sigma 10-20. this is especially true in urban areas. For hiking, the 28-85 range is pretty goodand it performs well even for close up work

bdery · 06-17-2010, 05:11 AM

The best general purpose zoom is probably the Sigma 17-70, because it balances speed, image quality, macro, build quality and AF speed quite well. It's my main lens.

Any other lens mentionned here is also a good lens, but none offers all the Siggy has. That's the lens I would get for a general purpose lens (actually, that's the lens I DID get

)

Blue · 06-17-2010, 10:43 AM

I just got the DA 17-70mm to serve this purpose, in part. It is currently my only AF zoom lens. I admit that I'm a bit concerned about the SDM potentially crapping out. However, Golden Colorado is only a plain trip away and petroleum jelly is cheap.

hinman · 06-17-2010, 11:01 AM

I had Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 for a short while. It is a good lens to replace the kit's lens. To each their own thinking, I later chose the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 as I find the extra range from 50 to 70mm and close up of 1:2.3 more suited to my walk-around needs.

Thanks,
Hin

Blue · 06-17-2010, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by hinman

I had Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 for a short while. It is a good lens to replace the kit's lens. To each their own thinking, I later chose the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 as I find the extra range from 50 to 70mm and close up of 1:2.3 more suited to my walk-around needs.

Thanks,
Hin

I was giving this Sigma strong consideration over the DA 17-70mm.

bdery · 06-18-2010, 05:10 AM

Quote:

petroleum jelly is cheap

What does jelly do to your pictures, I wonder?

Jasvox · 06-18-2010, 05:20 AM

I bought Hin's 17-50 about a year and a half ago, fantastic lens.

I'd also recommend the 18-250. It's the same size and weight as the 17-50, and that extra reach comes in handy at times, although you do sacrifice some speed and sharpness.

Jason

Blue · 06-18-2010, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by bdery

What does jelly do to your pictures, I wonder?

At that point, the only pictures you will get are of the Pentax Imaging head guys lower colon.

06-17-2010, 01:03 AM	#1
aaronius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 188	Recommend a good walk-about/travel zoom lens Hi guys, I just sold off my FA 35mm F2.0 yesterday as I want to get a good zoom lens for walk-around and travelling. After doing research, I have shortlist my choice to 2 lenses. 1) Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 2) Sigma 17-70mm OS HSM F2.8 - F4.0 I have heard many good comments about the Tamron 17-50mm but not much info about the Sigma. The Sigma is appealing more to me now because of the longer reach which I think will be useful as I do find the 55mm reach of my kit lens abit limiting when I travel. The HSM is a bonus too and I heard the OS is more effective than the SR of my KX. I try searching the net but couldn't find much pictures taken with the Sigma. Anyone here own either or both of these lenses can give me your comments? In terms of IQ, which one is better and which one you will recommend me to get? The Sigma is more expensive than the Tamron by around USD$70 in my area.

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06-17-2010, 01:50 AM	#2
rkt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 154	I can attest for the Tamron, but I haven't used the Sigma so cannot give a comparison first-hand, but I do remember reading in reviews somewhere that the Tamron may be sharper than than the Sigma ... that aside, the Tamron is a great performer ...

06-17-2010, 03:50 AM	#3
tubamatt New Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15	Hey, there, Ive been doing research on the sigma 17-70 lens, Full-size sample photos from Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8-4.5 look at this website, it has sample pictures taken by the sigma 17-70mm lens. I am looking for upgrade of my K-x kit lens to use as a walk around lens, and the sigma 17-70mm is one of my choices among Pentax 17-70 and Tamron 28-75 f2.8. They are all good walk around lens with similar pricing so maybe you should take a look at those as well.

06-17-2010, 04:06 AM	#4
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,887	I have the tamron, and while it is a good lens, if you are looking for a walk around lens you may want something wider. I usually pair the tamron with my sigma 10-20. this is especially true in urban areas. For hiking, the 28-85 range is pretty goodand it performs well even for close up work

06-17-2010, 05:11 AM	#5
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	The best general purpose zoom is probably the Sigma 17-70, because it balances speed, image quality, macro, build quality and AF speed quite well. It's my main lens. Any other lens mentionned here is also a good lens, but none offers all the Siggy has. That's the lens I would get for a general purpose lens (actually, that's the lens I DID get )

06-17-2010, 10:43 AM	#6
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	I just got the DA 17-70mm to serve this purpose, in part. It is currently my only AF zoom lens. I admit that I'm a bit concerned about the SDM potentially crapping out. However, Golden Colorado is only a plain trip away and petroleum jelly is cheap.

06-17-2010, 11:01 AM	#7
hinman Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fremont, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,473	I had Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 for a short while. It is a good lens to replace the kit's lens. To each their own thinking, I later chose the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 as I find the extra range from 50 to 70mm and close up of 1:2.3 more suited to my walk-around needs. Thanks, Hin

06-17-2010, 11:04 AM	#8
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by hinman I had Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 for a short while. It is a good lens to replace the kit's lens. To each their own thinking, I later chose the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 as I find the extra range from 50 to 70mm and close up of 1:2.3 more suited to my walk-around needs. Thanks, Hin I was giving this Sigma strong consideration over the DA 17-70mm.

06-18-2010, 05:10 AM	#9
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Quote: petroleum jelly is cheap What does jelly do to your pictures, I wonder?

06-18-2010, 05:20 AM	#10
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	I bought Hin's 17-50 about a year and a half ago, fantastic lens. I'd also recommend the 18-250. It's the same size and weight as the 17-50, and that extra reach comes in handy at times, although you do sacrifice some speed and sharpness. Jason

06-18-2010, 09:48 AM	#11
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by bdery What does jelly do to your pictures, I wonder? At that point, the only pictures you will get are of the Pentax Imaging head guys lower colon.