What lens is a good upgrade from an 18-200mm superzoom on a Canon T1i?

Asked 8/17/2011

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I use a Canon T1i with a Sigma 18-200mm and a Canon 50mm f/1.8. The 18-200mm was meant to be an all-purpose lens, but I’m finding it neither very sharp nor very fast. I mainly want a better general-purpose zoom with some wide-angle coverage for landscapes and architecture, and I’d like it to extend beyond 50mm if possible. Telephoto reach is less important. I may add an ultra-wide lens later, such as a Canon 10-22mm. What would be a sensible replacement for the 18-200mm?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

2 Answers

7

First of all It all depends on what kind of photography you are doing the most.

Personally I can recommend you Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS USM:

pluses:

  • Fast focus
  • Good light (fast lens)
  • Sharp
  • Very good standard range
  • Goes nicely together with 10-22 you are planning

minuses:

  • Big & might be heavy (~0,5kg)

It is not cheap either, but I wouldn't put it as a minus - craftsmanship must cost its money and IMHO it is worth it.

Originally by user1681. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1681

15y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

If you want noticeably better image quality than an 18-200mm superzoom, the usual advice is to give up the huge zoom range and move to a shorter, faster standard zoom.

The most recommended options here are:

  • Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS: sharp, fast, useful range on APS-C, and a strong match for a future ultra-wide like the 10-22mm.
  • Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8: a more affordable way to get a similar idea—better sharpness and a faster aperture than your 18-200mm.

If you later want more reach, add a separate telephoto such as a 70-200mm rather than expecting one lens to do everything well.

Some answers mention 24-70mm, 24-105mm, or 28-75mm options, but on a Canon T1i those aren’t very wide, so they’re less ideal if landscapes and architecture matter right now.

In short: for your stated needs, a 17-50mm or 17-55mm f/2.8-style lens is the most sensible upgrade.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

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