Canon EOS 20D - but which lense - Canon or Tamron

[Pazza]

I am looking to purchase the Canon EOS 20D camera but not sure about which lense to get with it. Jessops are doing 2 offers>

1. EOS 20D + TAMRON 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LENS - £1119.99
2. EOS 20D + EF-S 17-85mm IS USM LENS - £1166.98

As you can see, there is not much in it but which would be the better buy? Please help

[BUFF]

The Tamron has wider focal range but the Canon is image stabilised - which is more useful to you?

[DR]

I use one of these: http://www.photo.net/equipment/tamron/28_300_Di/

[BUFF]

& don't forget your £100 cashback
http://canoneos20dpromotion.onlinere...com/intro.aspx

[saltyknob]

18-200mm is some range: ultrawide to telephoto!

Whilst I don't know who makes the lenses in Canon lenses, at that price I'd go for for the 17-85mm Canon. It will also perform better within its focal range and will focus faster than the Tamron.

[Pazza]

I've been doing some research and here is another predicament.

On eBuyer - the EOS 20D & 18-55 lens including a free battery is £844.91 – this is actually a fantastic price. But, they do not do the package with the 17-85mm lens. The jessops/Jacobs price on the above would be around £940.

But, here is the clincher! The 17-85 lens is around £420 – so add this to the eBuyer price and we arrive at £1,270 which would be much more expensive than the jessops/Jacobs price of £1,166. Granted you get the extra lens & battery but I guess I would not use the 18-55 lens if you have to 17-85 lens. And, eBuyer are actually charging £1055 for the body only – how strange is that!!

So, do I go for the cheaper deal from eBuyer or take the plunge for the 17-85 deal from jessops/Jacobs. I guess I will take the jessops/Jacobs deal if they will part-ex my Canon Powershot G2 for a good price.

And ofcourse, I have to buy it pretty soon for the £100 cashback - or will canon make a better offer after January - who knows ??? I wish I could make decisions !!!

[saltyknob]

The 17-85mm would seem to be the more useful lens, however, you'll need to Google for some reviews on both to see how they perform.

Read the T&Cs from Canon for the cashback, I know Nikon UK will only honour their cashback offers only on UK sourced Nikon gear.

BTW, the eBuyer price is good [I've been looking at the Nikon D50 kit myself].

[jpatrick]

The reviews I have seen all suggest that the Canon will give significantly better image quality than the Tamron, and give the benefit of image stabilisation.

Having said that I have a Sigma 18-200 lens and find the image quality adequate, although like the Tamron it is rather slow (small aperature) at the telephoto end which compromises its usefulness in low light.

I would choose the Canon option unless the range of the Tamron is highly important to you.

[Pazza]

Thanks all. I went for the EOS 20D + EF-S 17-85mm IS USM LENS.

I got another small suprise, not only did I get the £100 cashback - I got a free 512MB CF card from Canon