Definitely check out the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 that just came out...
What the 28-75mm is on a full-frame camera, the 17-50mm is on a 1.6x crop...
Most people find it a MUCH more usable range...
It's particularly well suited to those who haven't (and probably won't have) the cash to get the really wide angle 10-22 or something similar).
DEFINITELY get the II version of the Sigma 70-300.
For starters, I believe that the earlier one needs to be rechipped to go with the 350XT. All sorts of trouble.
But, much more importantly, I've heard reports that the newer version is significantly sharper, enough so that it makes it a fine deal when comparing sharpness alone (mostly center sharpness) even against some of the cheaper Canon offerings in the same ballpark...
Of course, I will also add my strong suggestion to at least give the A100 a lookover, because for an extra 200 bucks, you could add 3.5 stops of Anti-shake, 2 more megapixels, and a new feature of VARIABLE sensitivity on the sensor, adding a fair bit of effective dynamic range...
The A100 will have slightly more noise at higher ISO's and in longer exposures, so might not be appropriate if these are major interests for you.
Don't forget that the main sensor plate has been on the market for a while... in the D200 (someone took issue with this in another thread, but I've not seen any real substance against this, and it would be extremely unlikely for Sony to be making two different sensors that were identical size and pixel pitch... only the controllers are likely different). Further, a good chunk of the internals of most other CCD type cameras (including almost all P&S cameras, Pentax DSLRs, most Nikon DSLRs and a whole bunch of others) are made by Sony...
The rest of the bits and peices of the A100 were built by the same guys that did all the Konica Minolta stuff...
Certainly worth at least a look... It's slated to become available here mid-late July...
That's a lot to pass up just to buy a month early...
Message edited by author 2006-06-19 10:26:07. |
