Tamron or Sigma digital lens zoom - which is better?

Question

Need advice on choosing from Tamron 18-200 and Sigma 18-200 or Tamron 28-200 and Sigma 28-200 digital lenses for my Canon SLR digital. Or is Canon 28-200 better? Use especially for wedding photography. Have a budget. Your help will be much appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

I trust you're using a dRebel, or a 20D/ 30D. All of these have a 1.6 focal length multiplier, which means a 28-200mm zoom won't give you wide-angle coverage (they're effectively 45-320mm).
If you need an all-in-one lens, the more obvious question is 18-200 vs. 18-135ish. Between the Sigma 18-125, the Sigma 18-200, and the Tamron 18-200mm, the Sigma 18-200 comes out as the overall winner. But the 18-125 is slightly sharper wide open (same image quality as the Sigma 18-200 when stopped down a bit). For this reason, the 18-125 is probably your best bet for weddings. The 18-125 is also $100 cheaper. You could put that cash towards a (used) Canon 50mm f/1.4 or an external flash, or you could get an extra 2GB memory card or whatever else you still need.
---
added (email to you bounces)
I don't know what your reservations are concerning the 55-200, but the 18-125 seems to be okay. After I sent my answer, I recalled that a friend of mine uses a Sigma 18-125 as his all-in-one on a Nikon D70. He's an avid hobbyist. His 2 complaints with this lens are: distortion at the wide end (which can be batch-corrected in Photoshop), and poor light sensitivity. The only way around that is to throw money at a constant f/2.8. Or to add fast primes - which you'll desperately need anyway if a flash isn't allowed during church ceremonies.
On a recent rock climbing trip he bounced his camera bag down 6 feet of crag and everything survived, so I can't imagine that the build quality is any worse than with Tamron ;-)
For indoor situations and for large groups, the wide angle coverage is indispensable.
Ideally, you'd have a Canon 17-55 f/2.8, a 70-200 f/2.8, an 85 f/1.2, and a backup zoom, but that package would cost around $4000. Perhaps you can manage a Tamron 17-50 XR Di ll f/2.8 ($450). They're getting great reviews.
Best wishes!
---
added after 8 hours sleep:
Forget about the Tamron suggestion - that would blow your budget on only part of the required zoom range. I was also way off on the total price for the Canon lens kit. Somehow I remembered the 85 f/1.2 being about a grand less. Wishful thinking.

Answer 2

If you are looking for an "all in one" digital zoom, you really should get one that is no more than 18mm. at the lower end. This is equivalent to around a 28mm. wideangle lens used with a standard 35mm. film SLR. The next question is whether to go for 200mm. at the telephoto end vs. something slightly shorter such as a 125mm. or 135mm. The advantage of the longer zoom is obvious, but the downside includes the following: 1) the lens is larger and heavier; and 2) the overall performance is likely slightly compromised because of the increased difficulty of optimizing performance at more different focal lengths. The compromise nearly always occurs at the longer focal lengths. This means that photos taken out at 200mm. will be ok, but not all that great in terms of sharpness, contrast, and color fidelity.

If the choice comes down to the Tamron vs. the Sigma zooms, my impression is that optically they are very, very close in performance, but that the Tamron is a bit sturdier in terms of build quality. That's why the Tamron costs more. If you treat your lenses gingerly, the Sigma will likely be fine for you. If you place a premium on build quality and durabilty, you probably would be wise to pay the extra for the Tamron model, which tests show is very good.

You still might consider, however, the models that are slightly shorter in focal length range. Even at 125 or 135mm., remember that the "35mm. equivalent" is upwards of 200mm, which is generally considered quite adequate for wedding photography. And the optical quality and handling characteristics will be somewhat better.

Finally: as other replies have indicated, I think you should cross off the 28-200mm. lenses from your list. These are fine for 35mm. film photography, but for digital they simply don't provide the wide-angle focal lengths you need (say for wedding party group photos).

Answer 3

Depends on what verson it is. Their probably been used so it loses a lot of value unless it was a popluar disconnutied lens. If you specify what lenses you wanted people could help more. I would read the Return Policy of that power-seller, if it says no returns I would be concerned. But the prices seem a little too low if you asked me. For wedings and club shots you want a wide aperature lens f/2.8, f/1.4, f/2, etc. I would get the smc P-FA 28-70mm F2.8 but of course you want a Tamron or Sigma so try to find an equlivate to it. That is a good general purpose lens.