Need help choosing a travel lens.

[ltilley]

I'm so torn I just can't seem to decide between two lenses, and I'd love any input.

I'm deciding between a Canon 28-200/ 3.5-5.6 and a Tamron 18-200 3.5-6.3

Here's my delima... I have a digital Rebel, and I really like wide angles... I use them a lot. I have an 18-55 and so maybe it's a no brainer... get the Canon. but the whole reason for getting this new "travel" lens is that I really only want to bring my body and one lens when I travel.

I have 5 lenses (18-55, 28-80, 24mm, 50mm and a 100-300)... but I'm so tired of bringing them all with me everytime and lugging around a big camera bag. So I was hoping to get one lens to do the job.

I'm afraid if I get the 28-200 I'll miss the wider angle or I'll be bringing two lenses. but I've never bought a non canon lens, and the tamron is a stop slower at 200mm.

I'll also be using this at an outdoor wedding in the fall... and it would be nice to not have to change lenses as often....

My 100-300 is awful... the barrel shifts all the time, its slow... I just never use it anymore.

I'd love any and all input... thanks!!!!!!

[freygr]

I have the nikon 28-200, and that is Normal-Telephoto. It's just not a low light lense like the two your looking at. I would look at the faster lenses spacialy if you are going to shoot a wedding.

[another view]

None of these lenses would be my choice if you were hired to shoot a wedding - they're just not fast enough. By that, I'm talking about maximum aperture but that can (often in a lot of wedding situations) affect AF speed too. If you're looking for a travel lens, and to travel light, I'd really go with the 18-200 just due to 18mm being a huge difference over 28mm. Does Canon have an IS lens that's in that range, or maybe not even as long as 200mm? That might be ideal.

[ltilley]

Really, this is more for travel and less for the wedding. For the wedding I have five other lenses... as fast as 1.8. Although since the wedding is outdoors, I thought it could be nice to strap it on to my mom's camera and have her shoot as a second shooter with this lens.

Trust me, I'm saving up for the 70-200 2.8 IS lens... and thought I heard my husband whisper to my mom that he was getting it for me or my birthday/christmas/anniversary present!!!

THANKS....

So if I say its just for travel, you think Tamron is okay??? Canon doesn't make a super wide zoom in that range.... like I said, I have the 18-55 but I wanted something longer as well for travel. I think I'm gonna plunge and buy the tamron - first non canon lens... it's a bit scary.

[another view]

A friend has bought a couple of the newer Tamron lenses recently and is very impressed with them. I've had a couple of Tokina lenses and bought a Sigma 10-20 recently and they're very good as well. I'm sure it'll be great. Have fun!