Lens choices - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

02/11/2006 08:41:58 PM · #1

I have decided to FINALLY upgrade my lenses. I probably should have done so earlier, but I didn't know much about them. This site has taught me much and even though I haven't entered any challenges, my photos have been getting much better.
Given the list below (I possibly missed a couple), which 3 would you choose? I can tell you that I prefer outdoor shooting and would spend most of the time at the widest and longest ranges. Indoor photos too, but not much.

Sigma....10-20mm....4-5.6....EX DC
Tamron...11-18mm....4.5-5.6..Di-II LD
Sigma....12-24mm....4.5-5.6..EX DG
Sigma....15-30mm....3.5-4.5..EX DG
Sigma....17-35mm....2.8-4.0..EX DG

Tamron...18-200mm...3.5-6.3..XR Di-II LD
Sigma....24-60mm....2.8......EX DG
Sigma....24-70mm....2.8......EX DG Macro
Sigma....28-70mm....2.8......EX DG
Sigma....24-135mm...2.8-4.5..Asph IF
Sigma....28-105mm...2.8-4.0..Asph DG
Sigma....28-200mm...2.8......EX DG

Sigma....50-500mm...4-6.3....EX APO DG
Sigma....70-200mm...2.8......EX APO DG
Sigma....100-300mm..4........EX APO DG
Sigma....135-400mm..4.5-5.6..APO DG
Sigma....170-500mm..5-6.3....APO DG

TLL061

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/11/2006 08:48:53 PM · #2

sigma 24-70 2.8
sigma 10-20
sigma 100-300

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

02/11/2006 08:52:09 PM · #3

I'd choose:
Sigma....12-24mm....4.5-5.6..EX DG
Sigma....24-70mm....2.8......EX DG Macro
Sigma....70-200mm...2.8......EX APO DG

:)

wavelength

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

02/11/2006 08:56:53 PM · #4

Whatever you do, stay away from the 28-200's, they are usually very unsharp at the long end, and have too much distortion at the short end.

I'd avoid the DI-II lenses from Tamron because they can't fit a full frame sensor. If ever Sony does provide a FF pro camera, and you want to upgrade to it, you'd have to sell that lens with your 5d (unless you kept both I guess)

You completely neglected the Tamron SP series lenses. What gives? I guess some of them don't support ADI though... but I'm not sure all these Sigma's do either.

From this list, Sigma 12-24, Sigma 24-70, Sigma 50-500

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

02/11/2006 09:16:09 PM · #5

Lauriel - i thought of that combo, covers a nice range....though I would LIKE to go longer...maybe 300 or even 400mm
TLL - I've heard good things about those lenses. I wonder if the 'missing' ranges I would need? 20-24mm and 70-100mm, thx for your input though
wave - never said i was limited to that list. gimme your input. i don't know much about the Tamron SP's.
P.S. That 50-500 is ummmm.....big?(lol) but i like that length.

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/11/2006 09:26:06 PM · #6

Originally posted by laurielblack:

I'd choose:
Sigma....12-24mm....4.5-5.6..EX DG
Sigma....24-70mm....2.8......EX DG Macro
Sigma....70-200mm...2.8......EX APO DG

:)

Funny, those are the exact lenses I own! :-D

jbsmithana

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/11/2006 09:27:04 PM · #7

On the long end you might want to look at the Tamron 200-500. It is a bit smaller than the Sigma 50-500 and stays within the 3x rule (over 3x and you begin to see problems). I think the combo of a 70-200 and a 200-500 is a great duo for wildlife photography and the cost is within reason.

B&H

jbsmithana

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/11/2006 09:32:01 PM · #8

Originally posted by wavelength:

I'd avoid the DI-II lenses from Tamron because they can't fit a full frame sensor. If ever Sony does provide a FF pro camera, and you want to upgrade to it, you'd have to sell that lens with your 5d (unless you kept both I guess)

Although I agree this is an issue I do not agree that you need to stay away from them. In all likleyhood if you go with a high end full frame sensor body you will also need much better glass. Buying cheaper glass becasue it will be compatible with a FF is a false savings as the FF will show its defects very clearly.

I mean you will still ahve the 7D and if not you can sell it with the Di II glass.

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/11/2006 09:35:05 PM · #9

All my lenses will work with a FF sensor.
Please Sony, don't let us down!!

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

02/11/2006 09:41:38 PM · #10

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

Originally posted by wavelength:
I'd avoid the DI-II lenses from Tamron because they can't fit a full frame sensor. If ever Sony does provide a FF pro camera, and you want to upgrade to it, you'd have to sell that lens with your 5d (unless you kept both I guess)

Although I agree this is an issue I do not agree that you need to stay away from them. In all likleyhood if you go with a high end full frame sensor body you will also need much better glass. Buying cheaper glass becasue it will be compatible with a FF is a false savings as the FF will show its defects very clearly.

I mean you will still ahve the 7D and if not you can sell it with the Di II glass.

Because this is only a hobby for me, I doubt I'll be upgradung anytime soon.

jbsmithana

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/11/2006 09:54:42 PM · #11

BTW - If they had sold the 7D when I bouhgt my D70 I would have seriously considered it. I use the 200-500 on a monopod for much of my shooting and with the combo of IS built into the camera it would have been great. I'm sure I would get a little sharper pix. The one thing about all the cheaper long lenses is they tend to go soft at the the extremes.

Prof_Fate

02/11/2006 11:50:18 PM · #12

Originally posted by MrEd:

Sigma....10-20mm....4-5.6....EX DC
Tamron...11-18mm....4.5-5.6..Di-II LD
Sigma....12-24mm....4.5-5.6..EX DG
Sigma....15-30mm....3.5-4.5..EX DG
Sigma....17-35mm....2.8-4.0..EX DG

Tokina 12-24 Pro or Tamron 17-35 SP. The 17-35 lenses are not as wide (by far) as the 10 or 12mm lenses.
I have not read anything about the first one on your list, or the last 2. The Sigma 12-24 is my second choise - the Tokina is rated slightly better and is faster glass.
Sigma just releasd a 17-70 2.8-4 lens that might be worth looking into.

Originally posted by MrEd:

Tamron...18-200mm...3.5-6.3..XR Di-II LD
Sigma....24-60mm....2.8......EX DG
Sigma....24-70mm....2.8......EX DG Macro
Sigma....28-70mm....2.8......EX DG
Sigma....24-135mm...2.8-4.5..Asph IF
Sigma....28-105mm...2.8-4.0..Asph DG
Sigma....28-200mm...2.8......EX DG

First and last 3 are not so hot. Of the middle 3 are they all still made? Seems to be lots of duplication there and all in EX glass?
The tamron SP28-75 2.8 gets the best reviews, so look at it.
If speed is not an issue, the Tamron 24-135 SP 3.5-5.6 is a fantastic lens. One of the best money can buy. Also consider teh Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX lens - very good, fast and a decent range.

Originally posted by MrEd:

Sigma....50-500mm...4-6.3....EX APO DG
Sigma....70-200mm...2.8......EX APO DG
Sigma....100-300mm..4........EX APO DG
Sigma....135-400mm..4.5-5.6..APO DG
Sigma....170-500mm..5-6.3....APO DG

What are you shooting? 400-500mm is for wildlife. the 70-200 2.8 class of lens is portraits, weddings, sports type of useage. You can add a teleconverter to it and get 300 or 400mm (1.4 and 2.0 TC respectively) in a pinch. For budget use the sigma 70-300 API Super 2 is excellent, sharp all they way out. THe 50-500, even as a 10x zoom, is pretty good.

SO my choice: is what i bought pretty much...or plan to buy:
Tokina 12-24 F4
Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX
Tamron SP24-135 3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-210 2.8 (discontinued - get teh Sigma 70-200 2.8)

If i needed 2.8 at the 50-75 range the tamron would be my choice. If i needed full frame coverage, it and the tamron 17-35 and the sigma 12-24 would be my choices. At this point only Canon makes FF cameras, and they have lots of APS sized ones, so i am not teribly worried about FF coverage on all my lenses.

CHeck the reviews at //www.fredmiranda.com and you can narrow your list a bit.

Message edited by author 2006-02-11 23:51:03.