Tamron 17-50 f2.8 or Sigma 18-50 f2.8

<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>The Tamron 17-50 f2.8 vs. the Sigma 18-50 f2.8. Which one should I buy?</p>

<p>Pop Photo gave slightly better test numbers to the Sigma 18-50 over the Pentax DA*16-50 f2.8, and the Sigma is considerably less expensive than the Pentax. Between the two, I'd go with the Sigma. A bit more width from the Pentax is nice, though.</p>

<p>Sigma test- http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/4118/lens-test-sigma-18-50mm-f28-ex-dc-macro.html<br>

Pentax test- http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/5114/lens-test-pentax-da-16-50mm-f28-sdm-af.html</p>

<p>Enter the Tamron 17-50 f2.8. That extra 1mm at the wide end gives a field of view of 78 degrees. The Sigma at the wide end provides a 69 degree field of view. Unfortunately Pop Photo doesn't have a test of the Tamron 17-50 so I can't compare it apples-to-apples with the Sigma.</p>

<p>B&H sells them within $25 of each other. My use would include inside/outside family stuff and general purpose photography.</p>

<p>I've read through past posts, and of course reviews at the various sellers sites give kudos to both the Tamron and the Sigma. If my current 18-250 Tamron didn't start at f3.5 and climb quickly from there, I'd not be bothering with this lens purchase decision. Of course I've got my new Pentax FA50 f1.4, too, but for how much fun I'll have with that outside, it won't give the field of view I want for inside stuff (47 degrees).</p>

<p>So as stated above, Sigma vs. Tamron, which one should I buy? Restated, which one would you buy? Thanks.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Steve, being that I do not own any of those lenses, I would however choose the Sigma 18-50 F/2.8. Every user I have run into with that lens is always happy with it. With that tamron it is more hit or miss from what I have read and samples I have seen.. For the record, I really do not trust lens reviews to much. I tend to trust the actual users far more as I am regular joe as well..</p>

<p>I got the Sigma, had for about 6 months now and love it. The only thing that took some getting use to was the zoom is reversed from my other lenses.</p>

<p>I bought the Tamron, was very disappointed by the resolution (corner especially) and returned it. Maybe I just got a bad copy. I went with the Sigma 24-60mm instead and am very happy with it (and I've got the Sigma 10-20mm at the very wide end.) </p>

<p>I went with neither: I bought a Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4, mostly because it's a full-frame lens.</p>

<p>I've heard all sorts of things about the Sigma and Tamron you're asking about, but as I've never used them, I don't want to spread hearsay. One thing I will say is that I like that Tamron lenses (in general) focus and zoom in the same direction as Pentax lenses. This might not bother some, but it's an important thing for me.</p>

<p>Steve T.,<br>

I've owned the Tamron for the past five months. I purchased it to shoot corporate events for which the f2.8 is very helpful. For general photography i would recommend it highly. The one issue that is known is that the AF can be dodgy. It can hunt too much. This occurs on all platforms. I used the K20D's AF adjustment to fix this and it works quite well. AF hunting is no longer an issue for me.</p>

<p>Re: image sharpness, this is purely one of the sharpest lenses I've owned in my near 30 years of owning SLRs. Corner to corner sharp at all apertures. The less wonderful news to me (and this is very subjective) is that the rendering of images overall is not as artful as with Pentax lenses. Texture, contrast, color is a little different and I simply prefer how Pentax does this. That said, my requirement for this lens is not fine art but shooting groups of people doing productive stuff. So, I'm pleased.</p>

<p>I've never owned the Sigma so cannot comment. I considered the Pentax DA* 16-50mm, but the quality control issues scared me away, and I had a firm deadline to make, so going with the Tamron was right.</p>

<p>If you are into written formal test evaluations (and I place more cred in looking at photographs, but still), do check out Photozone's evaluation of the Tamron. They tested it with either a Nikon or Canon and said very good things.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p><a href="../pentax-camera-forum/00RkNY">Here it is</a><br>

<a href="../pentax-camera-forum/00RkNY"></a> <br /> I wavered between the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8, and the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.<br>

<br /> What did I end up getting? The <strong>Sigma 24-60 f/2.8</strong> . It was only <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002P1A2K/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A36DL6WLK2RE7O&v=glance">$200 from Amazon</a> (unfortunately out of stock now), and it seems to be a lens so far. Just got it a few days ago, and will be taking a lot over the next few days as I head home to be with my family. Excellent build quality too.<br>

<br /> It doesn't have the very wide end, of course, but for only $200 I thought it'd be ideal for indoor and low-light shots of friends and family.</p>

<p>Dan, I recently used my Sigma 24-60 f/2.8 for some indoor sports shooting with no flash, as well as other general use, while out of town. I got the same deal as you did. Outstanding!! I did some quick tests and found it is usable with my K200D's built-in flash without problems!! Very unusual for a f/2.8 lens having some wide angle. No doubt because it is so compact. A truly great buy!</p>

<p>Of the two choices above, I'd say go with the Sigma. I have only heard good comments by its owners. The Tamron 17mm may actually test at 18mm anyway. </p>

<p>Several reviews say the Tamron may be a little wider than 17 (and certainly wider than 18mm).</p>

<p>Hard to imagine someone buying a 24mm lens when they need something wildly different: 17mm :-)</p>

<p>The Sigma 18-50 f2.8 is in the mail, will be here on Friday, just in time for next weekend's holiday get together. Thanks, Everyone!</p>

<p>Steve.</p>

<p>I bought the <a href="#mce_temp_url#">Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8</a> used for less about $300 after Ebay BIN price with cashback from live.com. I like the lens and I tried it in one outing. I hesitate with the zoom as I was thinking in going Nikon and I sold it at the similar price. My copy seems to be very decent and it has IQ very close to Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. I only note one particular problem with my copy which tends to underexpose with my K20D by 1/3 to 2/3 stop in outdoor shooting. The lens is especially well done in 17mm wide open</p>

<p align="center">1/13 sec, f/2.8, 17mm, iso 1600, hand-held with K20D</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/3077087906_88df52fb21.jpg" alt="" /><br>

But later LBA in seeing another used lens with <a href="#mce_temp_url#">Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5</a> . I bought the Sigma as I like to have less lens change. With the 17-50mm, I want the 70mm for half portrait and I find the Sigma 17-70 very suitable for the tasks and it adds 1:2.3 for the close up, which is always decent to have in a walk around zoom. Though a bit slower, I can use the Sigma in the long end with a flash. And I take the compromise positively as the Sigma 17-70 give me a broader focal range<br>

Test shots with Sigma, I like the close up with Sigma on flowers</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/3111474148_c9b9f7a85f.jpg" alt="" width="332" height="500" /></p>

<p>Though slower, it is good enough for me for indoor, I can count on <a href="#mce_temp_url#">higher ISO in K20D</a></p>

<p align="center">1/8 seconds, f/4.5, 70mm, iso 800, hand-held in K20D</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/3111584904_110c6f7009.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="257" /><br>

I buy the lens for its 70mm that the 17-50mm can' offer. I will use flash when light is dim. A compromise but worth considering.</p>

<p align="center">1/80 sec, f/4.5, 70mm, iso 400, hand-held with K20D</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3110794971_bc87a36570.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p>

 

<p>Now my Sigma 70~200 F2.8 zooms the same way as my pentax lenses do.. I'm not sure about the focus, I'm usually in auto focus, but next I have it on the camera I'll check and see.</p>

<p>Roy, some Sigma lenses zoom one way, and some the other (strange as that might seem). But I'm pretty sure they all focus the same way: opposite to Pentax's.</p>

<p>Steve, let us know how it goes with the new lens.</p>

Miserere_mei, I have two Sigma's and they zoom opposite of each other. I have two Tamron's and they zoom the same as my Pentax lenses. I have used Sony and Nikon cameras and they zoom the same as my Pentax lenses.