So I sold my 24-70mm L to fund something else, and I was sort of on the edge about keeping it anyway because I don't have a full frame camera to utilize its full potential. If my budget was less than 500 dollars what do you guys recommend? I'll most likely be looking into shooting portrait, cars and maybe some scenery. I was thinking about the canon 50mm f1.4 prime lens but some of my photography friends told me it was garbage ... Any ideas? I want something sharp with as low as possible f stops. I'm sure with my 400D body, I could probably find something that will give me the sharpness/color vibrancy of a 24-70L no?

Some examples of pictures I took with the 24-70 coupled with my crappy 400D body.






I'm looking to find something similar in quality (of course for my price range i wont find anything better than the 24-70 i had)

 

First off, the gear is only as good as the person that pushes the shutter.

Second the 50mm 1.4 is far from garbage. Does it have a reputation for build issues yes, but that hardly makes it garbage. It is 1/6th the price of a 50 1.2 and on par optically IMHO. Ive owned both along with the 50mm 1.0 so this is a real world opinion.

Third do you really think your going to need anything faster than a 1.4 for shooting cars and scenes? Remember when your shooting at 1.2 and 1.0 your DOF is insanely razor thin.

Fourth your photos above have some improvements that can be made but sharpness is not one of them, your old gear is working fine.

 

Tamron 17-50 2.8

 

On the 50mm 1.4, from what I've read most of the issue are with the lens getting banged around when stored in a stressed position. Pretty much anyone who focuses it to infinity (where a lens is at it's least stressed position internally) before putting it away has yet to report issues.

 

I'd say Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, great lens

 

^ It is, its just that it is not very wide on a crop body. The tamron 17-50 is the better choice of the 2.

OP if you have all the cash from the sale of the 24-70mm you could get the best lens for your canon in a zoom which is the canon17-55mm 2.8 IS

Its plenty fast for your needs, its sharp and its a great performer. In direct comparison to the tamron 28-75 2.8 it has better build quality and IMHO it is sharper. I have owned both of them I kept the canon17-55mm sold the tammy. As far as direct comparison to the tamron 17-50 I cannot say as I have never owned that particular lens.

 

IMHO 50 is too short for port work.. And it has also been mentioned that the dof is going to be paper thin. My advice look at a 135mm prime

 

The reason I sold the 24-70mm was to fund something else so money is sort of tight right now. I'll look into the tamron lens and try to compare it along with some more advice from the local photography heads around my area. Thanks for your input, really appreciate it.



Care to elaborate on your response? What do you mean by stored in a stressed position?

 

I just checked out the the 17-50mm, apparently they just came out with one with image stabilization. I have shaky hands so this is automatically a plus for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-17-50mm-Vibra...58518367&sr=8-2


I'm seriously leaning towards the 17-50mm over the 28-75mm or the canon 50mm f/1.4 prime now haha thanks guys!

 

I don't know the exact mechanics, if you search around on the photography-on-the.net forum you will find more information. Apparently the micro-usm motor/gear is in a relaxed state when focused at infinity, so any bumps can just be absorbed.

From a thread at potn:
"I said it before on another 50mm thread regarding front focusing lenses. when you set the focus to infinity the lens will be at it's shortest form so it will be less vulnerable to compression during storage. when you set the lens to the MFD it's longest form it's more prone to damage during storage because the focus assembly can now move back and thus put stress on the motor. Much like when parking a car specially Automatics you use the hand brake to prevent damaging the transmission."