Which 24-70mm?

[PhoenixFlare500]

I'd like to upgrade from my Canon Rebel kit lens to a 24-70mm f/2.8. I'd just like to get some input on which brand would be best, preferably from people who have personally compared them. I guess Canon would be considered to be more superior for a higher price, so I'd like to know exactly what the trade-offs would be in getting another brand.

I don't know if it matters but here's my current gear:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi (450D)
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (The lens I wanna ditch)
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

[Dylan-06]

you may also be interested in the Sigma 17-70mm f2,8, which is quite a good lens,

[gturner]

out of that list, the Canon one, because it is perfect. Really, really perfect.
Focus is super fast, super accurate and the colour rendition is just incredible.

BUT....
If you are not planning a body upgrade, I would look at the 18-55 F2.8 Canon. It is an L level lens.

Much of this also depends on budget in the short and long term.

[PhoenixFlare500]

Thanks for the replies guys. Dylan, I'd like to get a lens with a constant low aperture. As for gturner, do you mean the 17-55 f/2.8? I've been wanting to upgrade both body and lenses (I keep switching between which I want to do first), but I don't know if I would ever want to upgrade to a full frame (which means I'd need a new telephoto too) or just another crop sensor camera. Which means I'll have to decide that first huh?

As for my budget for long/short-term, without hopefully giving away too many details I'm currently a student in a program that will leave me in a lot of debt after I graduate but quite good pay after a short while. Taking that into account, I don't really know what my budget would be. For a lens I was hoping to stay under $1000, but I suppose if whatever I buy could potentially last a long time I could spend more. When I actually have money I'd probably upgrade to some decently high level equipment without much hesitation.

[ArmySoldier777]

Just keep in mind that investing in good quality glass should always take precedence over upgrading your body. Unless your 450d doesn't have a feature that you really need, then it's a really good body "for a crop sensor"


David

[ceremus]

The Canon L 24-70 is a very solid bread-and-butter fast-zoom lens that you won't regret purchasing. It's hard to compete with it in that focal range, especially if you plan to go full-frame in the future.

The Tamron isn't a bad alternative if you're budget constrained, its performance is somewhat comparable and it's a bit less weighty.

From the reviews I've read the Sigma has softness issues on the telephoto end, I don't think I'd recommend it.

I would also consider the Canon 17-55mm for two reasons. One, it's stabilized which can make all the difference in the world if you're handholding at shutter speeds slower than 1/100. Two, although you're sacrificing a bit on the telephoto end, you get some real wide-angle views on a crop body which you won't really get at 24mm on non-full-frame cameras. If you think might stick with the APS-C format, the 17-55 is an extremely sharp lens. It's fast at 2.8, stabilized, and has fast focusing USM with full time manual available.

If you can live without a stabilizer, the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 delivers much of the same sharpness as the Canon 17-55mm, not a bad option either if you're on a budget.