Lens dilemma

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singlespeed

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Neil
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Which lens to fill the gap between 20 and 70mm?

I started out with a D60 and the Sigma 18-200mm OS lens, which is a very useful range, with a reasonable image quality ( to a point), but slightly limited at 200mm by the max aparture of f6.3. Now I have a D300, with a Sigma 10-20 and the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. So the question is, which lens to fill ( or nearly fill ) the gap.

The obvious answer to me is a good second hand Nikon 17-55 f2.8 which are going for about £600-700. However i am starting to move towards a Nikon 35mm f2 and 50mm f1.8 combination which comes in around £320 at the minute. Theres also ==>

Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX DG Macro. takes 82mm filters and doesn't have the HSM
Tamron 17-50 f2.8DI II at a reasonable £330 new


:help: Neil.
 
I was about to say the Sigma 24-70 F2.8
But looks like you have already taken this into account, but I would advise this.
 
isn't a new version of the sigma 24-70 with HSM due shortly? If so that would be my preference.
 
I sold my sigma 24-70 f2.8 and my sigma 10-20mm and replaced them with the nikon 16-85mm (very very IQ to the nikon 17-55mm) and i'm very pleased with results - for low light I've got a nifty f1.4 and im looking at getting something fast around 30mm at the moment.
 
The new Sigma is getting some superb feedback, a few folks on DPR are saying its better than the Canon 24-70 and have crops to prove it.
 
TBH I have both Sigma 30mm and 50mm f/1.4 lenses and find that I don't use wider lenses as such.....thus my Tamron 17-50mm is practically redundant in the camera bag. :bonk:
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
I sold my sigma 24-70 f2.8 and my sigma 10-20mm and replaced them with the nikon 16-85mm (very very IQ to the nikon 17-55mm) and i'm very pleased with results - for low light I've got a nifty f1.4 and im looking at getting something fast around 30mm at the moment.
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As you say, your thinking about a pair of primes for lower light. So whilst I'm in this position, I'll pass on the 16-85 as i would be thinking like you sooner or later :bonk:

puddleduck said:
The new Sigma is getting some superb feedback, a few folks on DPR are saying its better than the Canon 24-70 and have crops to prove it.
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Thats interesting as i hadn't read or seen that. However, how does is fair on a Nikon as it should be quite good for £849 (from warehouse express). I know things are relative and theres lenses that can cost several thousand pounds. But in this focal range, it must be well up there with the big boys to comand the price.


I know it will be my decision at the end of the day, but any feedback or sugestions make the decision a little easier as theres so many reviews and variables. Thanks for the comments and sugestions so far :thumbs:
 
what about a sigma 24-60 f2.8? there cracking lenses also, worth looking at
 
singlespeed said:
Thats interesting as i hadn't read or seen that. However, how does is fair on a Nikon as it should be quite good for £849 (from warehouse express).
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No idea, but £849 sounds like a lot - bare in mind you could buy a Nikkor 24-70 for £899 back 1st December....

Or a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 Di for about £300 right now.

I'd need to see convincing evidence the lens could play in the same ballpark as either of the above to be interested.

The Sigma is about £670 from HK.... for the £200 saving I'd be tempted to import..
 
Is the sigma HSM likely to be faster focusing than the non HSM version when driven by a D300?

Any sugestions for a reliable importer/supplier if I go for the HSM version?
 
Oh nuts :eek:




I hope I'm not going to regret this, but the postie should be fetching a sigma 50mm f1.4 and a 30mm f1.4.

Was it a good choice?
 
singlespeed said:
Oh nuts :eek:




I hope I'm not going to regret this, but the postie should be fetching a sigma 50mm f1.4 and a 30mm f1.4.

Was it a good choice?
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From my experience, yes. :)

sdb123 said:
TBH I have both Sigma 30mm and 50mm f/1.4 lenses and find that I don't use wider lenses as such.....thus my Tamron 17-50mm is practically redundant in the camera bag. :bonk:
Click to expand...
 
singlespeed said:
Oh nuts :eek:




I hope I'm not going to regret this, but the postie should be fetching a sigma 50mm f1.4 and a 30mm f1.4.

Was it a good choice?
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Both are superb lenses. I would own both personally, the 50mm for full frame, the 30mm for crop (although on a D700 the 30mm actually fills much more of the frame that DX..)
 
puddleduck said:
Both are superb lenses. I would own both personally, the 50mm for full frame, the 30mm for crop (although on a D700 the 30mm actually fills much more of the frame that DX..)
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There can't be many lenses that you don't own or have previously owned/tried.

At least I should not need to upgrade in the future, as the 50 at least seems to be comparable to the best offerings around. I'm not 100% about the 30mm yet, but will find out in a few days :cuckoo:


I love a couple of the comments on Mr Rockwels review of the 30mm

7.) No infinity stop for astronomical use, but infinity mark was accurate.

8.) Optics not up to astronomical use, and not as sharp at smaller apertures as other slower lenses.
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What use is a 30mm for astro photography, or am I missing something?
 
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