Finally snagged a 5D Mark IV and I am so stoked to take it on my trip to Zion next month but man my bank account is hurting now lol. I really need a solid wide angle for those huge canyon views and I am basically torn between two options right now.
I have been looking at the old Canon 17-40mm f/4L since it is built like a tank and pretty cheap used but then I saw the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 OSD which is faster at the wide end. I can find both for around 400 dollars. I mostly do landscapes so the f/4 is fine but that extra light on the Tamron is tempting for astro. Which one should I go with for a budget setup?
In my experience, reliability matters way more than a stop of light when you are hiking through Zion. I have used the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM for years and it is basically indestructible. The Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD glass is decent but I dont trust the build quality for rugged travel. TL;DR: Go with the Canon for the superior build and weather sealing.
