Replacing a Canon 18-55mm lens

**Chocolate Lips** · 15-05-2012, 10:58am

My original 18-55 lens has knackered itself, it's been that way since about September but I've been managing with my 18-200 - not ideal really.

I looked at getting it fixed but that costs as much as a new one

so was wondering what the best option is - either a straight swap, get a new Canon 18-55 or is there a different brand alternative that might be hopefully cheaper and/or better?

It's only for day-to-day use, holiday snaps etc but I want the zoom capability and a light lens. It may be that there is a better solution out there altogether!

Camera experts, over to you

**Chocolate Lips** · 15-05-2012, 09:31pm

*taps toes*

Have all the photography Damsels formed a clique?

**One Sock** · 15-05-2012, 09:57pm

I rate Sigma and Tamron lens and they are significantly cheaper than Canon. Or, could look on eBay (although lens don't tend to drop in price that much).

**Cheetara** · 16-05-2012, 01:33pm

Yes, Sigma have good reviews for a lot of their lenses. I'll see if I can find some of my bookmarked lens review sites and post them when I'm at home later.

**scatterbrain** · 20-05-2012, 05:35pm

Ooh I don't know. I always recommend the 50mm as it's a fab but really affordable lens, but that's not what you are after.

The only zoom I use is my 24-105mm f4. Fantastic quality and really versatile (it's on my camera 80% of the time), but a little pricey new.

You could try looking for a recon/2nd hand 24-105mm or 70-200mm as they are fantastic lenses. Alternatively, I did have another zoom when I first started out that had good reach. I think it was this one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-75-300...7531662&sr=8-6) . I would say it's the zoom equivalent of the kit lens and I found that when zoomed right in you needed to use either a tripod or really fast shutter speed (or both) to avoid camera shake. So not great for hand held, but an affordable zoom. Not particularly light, though.

**Sam** · 20-05-2012, 06:08pm

My friend replaced hers with a sigma and liked it

**One Sock** · 20-05-2012, 06:14pm

There is a Sigma 24 (or could be 28) to 70 and a similar Tamron that both get good reviews and are really good value. Not sure how wide you need to go though. Do you use the 18 end of the lens much?