Tamron
SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
 vs
Canon
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Has a consant aperture Yes vs No
Help
 Constant aperture lenses offer the same aperture at all focal lengths
Significantly narrower aperture f/32 vs f/22
Help
 At its narrowest, the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef goes 1.1 f-stops narrower
Wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest, the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef captures slightly more light, 0.6 f-stops
Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef Learn more about
the Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef

Reasons to consider the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Better image stabilization Canon IS vs Tamron VC
Help
 Less risk of blur
More magnification 1:3 (0.3x) vs 1:4.8 (0.2x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects more than 60% larger in your photo
Slightly lighter 200 g vs 0.6 kg
Help
 2.8x lighter
Slightly shorter 70 mm vs 95 mm
Help
 Around 30% shorter
Slightly cheaper $184.99 vs $499.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $314 cheaper (2.7x less)
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Learn more about
the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef:Tamron VC
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS:Canon IS
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Focus motor No silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower
Max focal length Poor telephoto Help
SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef:50 mm
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS:55 mm

Compared to wide angle lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$499 - $549
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Zoom range Has significantly large zoom range
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Compare the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,059
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Compare the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Canon-ef

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Canon-ef

Wide angle lens

$459
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Canon-ef vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Canon-ef vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Travel lens

$489
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Zoom range Has slightly large zoom range
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Compare the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$699
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Zoom range Has way more large zoom range
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Compare the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,059
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Compare the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Canon-ef

Wide angle lens

$499
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Canon-ef vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Compare the 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Canon-ef vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 T Canon-ef

Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 T Canon-ef

Low light lens

$1,843
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Diameter Much larger diameter
Auto focus Auto focus
Compare the Distagon 35mm f/1.4 T Canon-ef vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Canon-ef

Wide angle lens

$594
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Canon-ef vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Tokina AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 Pro FX Canon-ef

Tokina AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 Pro FX Canon-ef

Wide angle lens

$749
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Length Longer
Compare the AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 Pro FX Canon-ef vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Wide angle lens

$594
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Canon-ef

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Low light lens

$98 - $125
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Magnification Less magnification
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Wide angle lens

$90 - $197
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Wildlife lens

$169
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Max focal length Significantly better telephoto
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Length Longer
Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Canon-ef

Wide angle lens

$199
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Aperture Wider aperture
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Magnification Less magnification
Compare the 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Canon-ef vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Wildlife lens

$299
Max focal length Significantly better telephoto
Zoom range More zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

discussion Which do you think is better?

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