well im going for a 450d and gettting a farking good price aprox AU$790
when u get it tho i can get a tamrom lense half price with it
the lens is the 70-300mm f/45-5.6 Di

my main concern about this lens is if its going to be a good lens for what i intend to take pics of which is:
*close up ish stationary cars - ie car portraits
*motorsport events - drifts, drags, qr, sprints
*landscape pics

the standard lens i'm getting should cover the first scenario but im not sure if it covers either of the next two scenarios or if it would cover both

it usually retails for AU$450 but i can get it for AU$225
the canon version is AU$880 but has image stabilisation and USM (i dont know what this is)

is the tamron lens worth a look in or shall i ask santa for it
parents may pay something towards it

let me know what you think thanks

Nothing wrong with tamron, they are getting better and better reviews each day. A perfectly fine alternative if you can't afford sigma or the canon equivalent.

www.dpreview.com is great place for all your needs

yeah that site has been great
they just dont have a review on that particular lens
and i was more so interested in if the lens was good for either of my applications i.e motor sport or scenery

or if i should go for the canon version instead?

get it.

i have a tamron 17-50 f2.8 and it is so sharp and crisp, its a great lens, the lens your looking at will be great for motorsport, and for 225 why not?

id say get a smaller lens if you're doing close up stuff a 100 or 200mm should be all you need, the real length of that lens on your 450d will 112-480 which would be more so a distance type of lens

something equivalent to the 28-135, or the 28-105 would be good

I use a Tamron 11-18mm and its a great piece of equipment.