photoned Loc: Central Florida

I really, really want some of those L series Canon lenses. You know the ones with the nice glass and silent motors. The ones that won't create a halo around your subject. Are super fast and working in conjunction with your camera, and with the proper settings, produce the most amazing pictures. You know which ones I'm talking about. The ones that range from $1,500 on up. The tan lenses.

Well, what I want to know is, are there aftermarket lenses that have the same quality as the OEM ones. But at a much lower cost. What brand would you recommend? What is your experience with said brand?

Thank you in advance for your response.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The Sigma 100-300 F4 is a great lens - equal to my L lenses - but no IS. The Sigma 17-70 is also pretty darn good - I can recommend it also. With all off brands, there are good and not so good - it is an individual case by case basis.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Canon and Nikon make very good glass. Sigma and a couple of others have good glass too. Tamron, Vivatar and others make some pretty good and some not so good glass. I would rent an "off brand lens" before purchasing a used one UNLESS I had a good return guarantee. By the way Nikon and Canon also make some entry level lenses "consumer" lenses that are not nearly as good as their upper end. So it depends on what you are comparing. B&H, Adorama and some of the better camera dealers have good return policies on used as well as new lenses but you will be out the shipping. If you have a friend with a prospective lens, try theirs. Also take your camera to the store and try the lens on your camera. (Best Buy, Walmart and other big box stores are not as friendly about taking your own gear but most true camera stores will allow it.

studavis

I too like the L lenses but, I have been comparing Tamron of late I found that they are much less cost and are great the new 150-600 mm is one of a kind and all the ratting are top notch. The 70-200 mm is in some ways ratted better than the Canon and about $1,000.00 cheaper. (I have both of the above and love them) I was a 100% Canon person but now have moved toward Tamron.

JPL

There are no aftermarket lenses, just lot of lenses to choose from. The best way to compare them is here at http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses This is maybe not perfect comparison but probably the best you can get. The overall score will indicate the general performance of a lens, the sharpness score will tell you how sharp it is.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I was looking at the Nikkor 10-24mm lens and ended up purchasing the Tamron 10-24. Was about $800 cheaper but is a slower aperture. Probably will buy the Nikkor later but Tamron works for now.

PaulMWalsh Loc: Duluth Minesota

If you can stick with the name brand lens. For example..you want to buy a 70-200 2.8L lens.. they are around $2000? new. This lens will have all of the stabilizers etc...plus...whatever. Go out and buy the older version of the lens used. You can get it for less than a $1000. I have been using this lens since about the year 2000...and it still works great. If you buy the lens used..... you can use it for a couple of years...and sell if for the same price you bought it for.

The images will look the same...will be just as sharp....there might be some cosmetic blemishes to the lens. I bought my 70-200mm lens for $1000 in the year 2000 from a Sports Illustrated photog....it was well used. I have continued to make it well used. And I could sell it today for the same price I bought it for.

The biggest concern about buy a Tamron...Sigma...etc. If it breaks...you have a large paper weight. The name brand lens you can get fixed..rebuilt by Canon Professional Services, or KEH repair.

Stick with the name brand.... Buy a used older version..

You have the choice to buy a new hammer or a used hammer... But when you look at your construction project...no one will care if you had a new hammer or an old one.. The same is with your lens... The only thing that matters is the skill you use with your TOOL.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You REALLY should quit posting this kind of crap and attempting to mislead people on this forum. Both Tamron (6 year) and Sigma (4 year) have MUCH better warranties than Canons 1 year warranty! Oh, and buying USED gives you NO WARRANTY AT ALL.

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

LOL
Some peoples kids!!

PaulMWalsh Loc: Duluth Minesota

Just look on the sidelines of any major sports event.. You are not going to see any off brand lenses. Stick with the name brand. Lenses are Pure Physics... there is not a lot to go wrong with them...unlike camera bodies. The name brands retain their value. And the repair turn around on the name brand lenses are usually only a couple of days.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

The recent Sigma lenses are equal to or better than the brand name equivalents. They are, mostly, cheaper. In some cases there are no equivalents, such as the 18-35 1.8 (though that is for cropped sensors) Their new 55mm 1.4 Art lens is said to rival Zeiss, however, the price has not been released. (Don't confuse this with their other 55mm 1.4)

Ohh, and of course there is Zeiss. But they are not cheaper.
:wink:

PaulMWalsh Loc: Duluth Minesota

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I can't remember which author told this story, but it sounds true.

A test to see if you should be a sports photographer.

When you look at the price of a book about photography do you think:

1) That is too much for a book
2) That price is high but the information is worth it, or
3) I am certainly willing to pay that for a useful book

If you answered 1, 2 or 3 you should not be a sports photographer. With a minimum buy in for equipment upwards of $30,000.00, if you look at the price of a book at all you won’t be able to handle the purchasing decisions for equipment.

PaulMWalsh Loc: Duluth Minesota

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: An import consideration when buying a sports lens. Will the case for the lens double as a stool to sit on. And will the case make it thru airport baggage handlers.