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08/05/2005 11:33:08 AM · #1 |
I've contracted the lens disease, but I'm new to all this, so want some second opinions. I have to get something that has more ability than my 18-55 kit lens. Right now, I'm hoping to get one of these two:
Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM Autofocus Lens
Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 28-135mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical IF Macro Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS
They may not be top-of-the-line, but that's okay. They fit my price range ($200ish) and appear to have the range I want. Mostly will be used for outdoor, landscape, animal/flower type shots, although I may do a few group photos as well.
So...what's the word on these? Good, bad, or just ugly? Will the Canon do macro shots? And is Sigma a decent brand, or should I just stick with Canon?
Message edited by author 2005-08-05 16:27:29.
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08/05/2005 04:50:08 PM · #2 |
~~Bump for the evening crowd~~
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08/05/2005 05:07:00 PM · #3 |
Are you looking for a good walkaround lens, or just something to add a little extra range? If you want a good walkaround, the 28 might not be wide enough. If you simply want extra reach, you might consider the Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super II - it's in your price range and supposedly not bad at all ($200).
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08/05/2005 05:23:11 PM · #4 |
You might want to check the Popular Photography's site for reviews on those lens. I think both are comparable. You might aslo want to consider the Sigma 18-125mm as well. 28 on a DR means no wide angle coverage.
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08/05/2005 05:27:19 PM · #5 |
Ill jump in here as well - 28 is not very wide, 18 is pretty good. The Sigma 70-300 mentioned above is great.
You may want to look at some of the 18-200 range lenses. I hear good things about the tokina. I think it is the tamron that runs to 6.3 at the long end, too slow for AF to work so, me personally, would not consider it. Any lens that has a 10:1 zoom range is going to sacrifice something in quality at one or both ends, but man, what a convientint range in one lens!
Just beware that once you use a good lens, you will not be satisfied with the lesser ones.
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08/05/2005 06:03:55 PM · #6 |
Yeah. I own the Sigma 70-300mm APO version and it's great. Almost but not quite as sharp as my 50mm f/1.8. Sharper than what i expected for the price.
I would maybe consider buying seperate lenses for wide and tele. Everything with a zoom factor over 3x tends to be quite soft. |
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08/05/2005 06:28:24 PM · #7 |
i love my sigma 70-300. I love even more my co-workers 18-200mm sigma, which is compact, wide enough and has some reach. But its $400.
i'd skip the 28-70 range unless you want a prime. I wish i'd gone for an 18-50 intead of my 28-80.
and the macro is nice on the 70-300 as well:
//flickr.com/photos/th3ph17/20542803/in/set-668909/
Message edited by author 2005-08-05 18:31:53.
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08/05/2005 06:34:37 PM · #8 |
If you just want an extra lens to have, get the EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Great lens, especially for the price.
-Brad |
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08/05/2005 06:50:21 PM · #9 |
Well, I have the Sigma 18-200, which is a pretty good lense, only slow. It is f6.3 at 200mm, so I end up shooting at high ISOs. It cost around $350. If you do not have that much, the Sigma 18-125 would be a good deal for around $225 and is pretty good quality. The wide end at 18mm is nice to have.
The Canon EF 28-105 F/3.5-4.5 II USM is considered significantly better than the Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM. I have never used either.
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08/05/2005 06:57:39 PM · #10 |
The Sigma 24-135/2.8-4.5 is a nice little number, both wider and faster than the 28-135...
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08/05/2005 08:22:09 PM · #11 |
I had been thinking about the 70-300 for a while, but when I looked at some reviews online, a lot of them said that the lens was either iffy at best, or was something that downright disappointing. I sort of got cold feet, which is why I looked into the 28-105 & 28-135.
But you guys say different, and I'm far more inclined to believe you! After all, no one on DPC has steered me wrong yet.
Is the 70-300 sturdy? Sharp enough? Good for telephoto and macro? Which brand would you recommend?
*sigh* If only college wasn't sucking my wallet dry, I'd just spring for the best of them. Hmmm...I wonder if I could trade my brother for a lens... [jk ;)]
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08/05/2005 09:24:07 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by OdysseyF22:
I had been thinking about the 70-300 for a while, but when I looked at some reviews online, a lot of them said that the lens was either iffy at best, or was something that downright disappointing. I sort of got cold feet, which is why I looked into the 28-105 & 28-135.
But you guys say different, and I'm far more inclined to believe you! After all, no one on DPC has steered me wrong yet.
Is the 70-300 sturdy? Sharp enough? Good for telephoto and macro? Which brand would you recommend?
*sigh* If only college wasn't sucking my wallet dry, I'd just spring for the best of them. Hmmm...I wonder if I could trade my brother for a lens... [jk ;)] |
Actually, I believe the 70-300 that I linked above is pretty much the only one that is considered of acceptable quality. The Canon (that I own) is mediocre (but offers IS, which is why I like it). Other versions of the Sigma are also known to be weak. Do some research and make sure you'll be happy - it'll get you in practice for looking this kind of stuff up in the future as your lens fever progresses :P
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08/05/2005 09:28:20 PM · #13 |
I would look at the Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-f/4.5. You can probably get it for $230. It has a USM and a metal mount. This is one of the first lenses I purchased and it was excellent. For the price you cannot beat it.
Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-f/4.5 USM |
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08/06/2005 12:09:56 PM · #14 |
| and be sure to go to a camera shop and actually use a lens or two on your camera. makes a big difference--and with digital, there is no reason not to take as many test shots as you want with different lenses. |
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