Lens help please - 17-50mm

[Shuttle Cock]

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a new 17-50mm, brand as yet undecided, but i have noticed some manufacturers offer the same lens with or without some form of image stabilisation. My question is does it make a lof of difference with this lenght of lens?

Thanks in advance,
Graham

[flat-planedCrank]

Shuttle Cock said:

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a new 17-50mm, brand as yet undecided, but i have noticed some manufacturers offer the same lens with or without some form of image stabilisation. My question is does it make a lof of difference with this lenght of lens?

Thanks in advance,
Graham

For 50mm? arguably not - at 150-200mm definitely - but you may want to factor in how fast the lens is. If its f5.6 at 50mm then stabilisation may allow you to get a decent shot where you can't increase your shutter speed...

What camera are you buying the lens for?

Edited by flat-planedCrank on Wednesday 27th April 22:26

[Dogsey]

As FPC says it does depend on what use you'll be putting the lens to, but I know for fact that I could not have got the following shot without IS as I had no tripod with me at the time, just a lamppost to brace against.


London By Night 10 by dogsey, on Flickr

EXIF from Flickr:

Exposure 2.5 secs
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 16 mm
ISO Speed 500

[Shuttle Cock]

Thanks for the info, the lens will probabley be a 2.8, and mounted on a Canon 20D.

Again, anymore information is greatly apprectiated.

Graham

[Simpo Two]

Dogsey said:

I could not have got the following shot without IS as I had no tripod with me at the time, just a lamppost to brace against.

But you had a lamppost so no need for IS...

No, you really don't need IS/VR at these focal lenghts unless you're coming off heroine.

[Dogsey]

Simpo Two said:

But you had a lamppost so no need for IS...

No, you really don't need IS/VR at these focal lenghts unless you're coming off heroine.

Even with the lamppost the chances of holding it totally steady for 2.5 secs is pretty remote.

[Shuttle Cock]

Thanks again, no problem with the drugs, unless its a few beers, then i can't be arsed look at my camera.

Graham

[RobDickinson]

The best lens is the 17-55f2.8IS by canon. Its also the most expensive.

Sigmas 17-50f2.8 OS is 2nd
Tamrons 17-50 f2.8 (non VR) is 3rd


Tamrons VR version has poor optics (compared with the non vr).

[Simpo Two]

Dogsey said:

Even with the lamppost the chances of holding it totally steady for 2.5 secs is pretty remote.

That's probably because there's a piece of Dogsey in the middle which is squishy and breathes (probably!)

Remove the piece of Dogsey and press the body/lens firmly against the lamppost until the angle is right. I have had to do this in churches sometimes using one of the columns, or on a car roof after dark to get a leaving shot.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 28th April 09:30

[Thunderace]

Simpo Two said:

But you had a lamppost so no need for IS...

No, you really don't need IS/VR at these focal lenghts unless you're coming off heroine.

Which heroine would that be, Florence Nightingale, Amelia Earhart, Mother Teresa . . .

[Simpo Two]

Very good!

[tinman0]

Dogsey said:

Simpo Two said:

But you had a lamppost so no need for IS...

No, you really don't need IS/VR at these focal lengths unless you're coming off heroine.

Even with the lamppost the chances of holding it totally steady for 2.5 secs is pretty remote.

Depends how you are holding it against a lamppost I suppose. I've used plenty of street furniture in the past for longish shots, although 2-3" would be my max.