Looking to get a medium zoom with fast glass to use in low light. I realize the canon 24-70 L is the key but not sure if I want to drop the $1100 for it when I'm just starting to learn photography. Was looking at the Sigma and Tamron and the price is right but will I be dissappointed with the quality and eventually spring for the Canon? <BR> <BR>I have read the million reviews on Fred Miranda and for some reason I trust the people here on the forum better. <BR> <BR>Anyone have any opinions?

I've owned both the Tamron and the Canon 24-70L. The Tamron I had, other then a little softness at 1 corner at f2.8, was every bit as sharp as the Canon. AF is fast as well. The shot below was done with the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 on a 5D. The first is the full image, the 2nd is a 100% crop. Looks pretty good to me! <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/382930.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/382931.jpg" alt="Upload">

I love my Tamron 28-75 as well. There's not a whole lot of them but some of the Sigma and Tamron lenses perform just as well as their Canon counterparts. (i.e. Sigma's 15mm, 70-200, 100-300, and 120-300 are all absolutely amazing lenses and reasonably priced)

I have a Sigma 24-70mm f2.8, and the only complaint I have with it is that it has trouble autofocusing in less than ideal light. I've never used a comparable Canon lens, so I really don't know if it's any better. <BR> <BR>Photo quality-wise, the Sigma does everything I want it to. <BR> <BR>Daniel

Some of the sigma lenses I've owned were the same way, great IQ but slow as far as AF goes as well.

That does seem to be the problem with the third party lenses that they seem to hunt in AF. Is there really a preference between Sigma and Tamron. I like the idea of Sigma with it being wider at 24mm but it won't be worth it if the IQ is bad at that end. I may have the wife convinced to let me buy the L series but like I said, I'm just starting out here and it may be overkill initially.

I'm not a big 24-70 f2.8 L fan, they are pretty bulky, I don't like the reverse zoom and the IQ while good isn't spectacular. I've only owned the 28-75 as far as Tamrons go and the AF on it was fine. As far as Sigma goes I think it varies greatly from lens to lens. Get one with HSM and you should be OK.