DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Anybody Use Tamron 18-200 or Tokina 24-200 ...
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 20 of 20, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 03/27/2005 03:57:59 PM · #1
... or any any other Super-Zooms to any success?

Sometimes when you can only bring one lens, and I feel my Canon 28-135 IS is lacking on both the wide and long range.

Are there any other lenses that gives range like these?

What about the quality of the optics?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.


03/27/2005 04:13:30 PM · #2
I'm on the verge of buying the Tokina 24-200mm... looks like just the ticket for situations where I can't keep swapping lenses during the day when the light is good. Of course, the stabilisation on my 7D helps there :-D
It does have VERY good reviews, most people who've owned it can't say a bad thing about it.
 03/27/2005 04:58:30 PM · #3
The Tokina 24-200 is a useful lens, even though it is a bit heavy. Both of these images were handheld. It's my walking around lens.


Risso's Dolphin Fluke . Columns reflected
 03/27/2005 05:10:09 PM · #4
I also asked this question about 2 weeks ago and I ordered the Tokina AT-X 242.
I have no regrets.
Sure it could be faster, but its a real nice walkaround lens, focus speed is reasonable but the great thing about this lens is that it is sharp, real sharp...

I don't have any good pictures on the web taken with this lens however here are 2 that I did with it.
Example 1
Example 2
 03/28/2005 11:59:40 AM · #5
Originally posted by Philos31:

I don't have any good pictures on the web taken with this lens...

Example 1


Thanks for the samples.

Philos31, I'm not quite sure what you mean by this, because that photo is awesome. Was there much post-processing on that or is it straight from the camera?

Where did you order it from? I'm in Canada and there does not seem to be any Canadian retailers for Tokina. I'm a little hesitant to order a lens, untested, from the US. Customs and all that will be a pain if ever I want to return it.
03/28/2005 12:08:22 PM · #6
Mario, there is NO problem ordering anything from the US, you'll have to pay the GST and PST but transactions are very smooth and easy especially if you buy from big stores like B & H.

Plus with the great exchange rate it makes more sense to buy from the US

Message edited by author 2005-03-28 12:08:56.
 03/28/2005 12:19:26 PM · #7
Originally posted by doctornick:
Mario, there is NO problem ordering anything from the US, you'll have to pay the GST and PST but transactions are very smooth and easy especially if you buy from big stores like B & H.

Plus with the great exchange rate it makes more sense to buy from the US


Nick, I have bought stuff from the US before, and things have always gone well. You're right the exchange rate is so great right now, that there are HUGE savings buying there.

But here I am looking at buying a lens that I have never even seen or tested before. If I'm not happy, I have to reship it back to the store (at my cost) plus I lose the taxes I paid, right? I'll be out over $100 and nothing to show for it.
03/28/2005 12:26:27 PM · #8
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
I'm on the verge of buying the Tokina 24-200mm... looks like just the ticket for situations where I can't keep swapping lenses during the day when the light is good. Of course, the stabilisation on my 7D helps there :-D
It does have VERY good reviews, most people who've owned it can't say a bad thing about it.


I have had one for a few months now and I love it. Its very well built. Its a great walkabout lens and I used it for most of my photos on my recent trip to Luxor, Egypt.

I picked mine up for around £180 from Bristol Cameras.

//www.bristolcameras.co.uk/page232.htm

Message edited by author 2005-03-28 12:35:03.
 03/28/2005 01:24:56 PM · #9
Originally posted by mariomel:

But here I am looking at buying a lens that I have never even seen or tested before. If I'm not happy, I have to reship it back to the store (at my cost) plus I lose the taxes I paid, right? I'll be out over $100 and nothing to show for it.


That is a risk you would be taking but from what I've seen Tokina has pretty good Quality Control. They may not make the best glass but they are consistant. I've never heard of a bad copy needing to be sent back yet.

I've used the 24-200 for a coulpe of years now. It's my primary lens. The only time I take it off is when I need something wider(18-55) or brighter(50mm 1.8). It's very good when stopped to F/8 or F/11 but can be soft wide open, especially at full zoom. Barrel Distortion is minor for a mega zoom.
I am looking to upgrade to some "L" or comparable Sigma Lenses to get the 2.8 fixed aperture, but I will always keep the Tokina handy as an all-around lens.
 03/29/2005 09:27:41 AM · #10
I just received my Tamron Zoom Super Wide Angle 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens for Canon Digital EOS from B&H for $400.00. I spent all afternoon with it yesterday. All I can say is WOW!!!!!I mainly took outdoors pictures. Great, fast focus at all lengths, wonderful bokeh, and now my walk-a-round lens! Definately a huge improvement over the Canon 18-55 kit lens- and just a little bit heavier. It has some noise when focusing, but overall, I am thrilled with this lens. I still need more testing indoors, but with the 300D flash, it was able to focus in my closed garage with a dim garage door light overhead. Excellent low light pictures at 200mm.
 03/29/2005 09:45:04 AM · #11
Those lenses are very good for family album photos.
I would not use them for sellimg prints or any money making thing though.
 03/29/2005 09:52:25 AM · #12
Originally posted by pitsaman:
I would not use them for sellimg prints or any money making thing though.


Based on what? Have you used them or found a good review? Most people would probably say the same thing about a $70 lens unless they knew about the Canon 50mm f/1.8. I certainly wouldn't have a problem selling a print of the current blue ribbon winner in Stock Photo, and that was taken with the kit lens.
 03/29/2005 10:01:41 AM · #13
Originally posted by scalvert:
Originally posted by pitsaman:
I would not use them for sellimg prints or any money making thing though.


Based on what? Have you used them or found a good review? Most people would probably say the same thing about a $70 lens unless they knew about the Canon 50mm f/1.8. I certainly wouldn't have a problem selling a print of the current blue ribbon winner in Stock Photo, and that was taken with the kit lens.


Very soft when zoomed,ugly bokeh,etc...
More samples
 03/29/2005 10:06:37 AM · #14
Fair enough, although there are some decent photos among those examples, too. I think Boat on the Beach is quite good. I'm more interested in the Tamron 18-200 anyway. Anybody have samples from that one?
 03/29/2005 10:10:08 AM · #15
Originally posted by scalvert:
Fair enough, although there are some decent photos among those examples, too. I think Boat on the Beach is quite good. I'm more interested in the Tamron 18-200 anyway. Anybody have samples from that one?

Most of the lenses are good between 35-70 mm ,even the cheapest ones,the problem is when is at a lovest focal point then you get barel distortions and when zoomed,soft focus.
Tamron lens is new and I haven't seen any samples yet.
 03/29/2005 10:16:16 AM · #16
Originally posted by pitsaman:
...at a lovest focal point then you get barel distortions and when zoomed,soft focus.


Given that the Tamron is only designed for digital cameras, I still have hope. With only the center of the lens in use (in a sense), there could be less barrel distortion, etc. than otherwise possible.
 03/29/2005 10:17:29 AM · #17
Scalvert,
I will try and post some pictures tomorrow.
 03/29/2005 10:34:27 AM · #18
As I've posted before, I have the Sigma 18-125 which is a pretty good range and it's sharp as a tack. A bit noisy when it focuses, but not a problem really. If I could keep only one of my lenses, that would be it. And it has no more, maybe even less distortion than the Canon 10-22 at equivalent focal lengths (I have both lenses).

There's a Sigma 18-200 now, and if it's as good as the Sigma 18-125, you should look at that.

The main problem with all of these lenses is that they only open to F3.5, and that's at the wider end. And they don't have IS, which would be a killer addition. (I am really enamored with IS now that I have used it on my Canon S1!)

Message edited by author 2005-03-29 10:35:19.
 03/29/2005 11:04:38 AM · #19
Originally posted by nshapiro:
The main problem with all of these lenses is that they only open to F3.5, and that's at the wider end. And they don't have IS, which would be a killer addition. (I am really enamored with IS now that I have used it on my Canon S1!)


Not a problem with my camera :-D
 03/30/2005 08:44:23 AM · #20
I just ordered the Tokina 24-200 as I've got a lot of events coming up in the next few months that need an all purpose lens (wedding in Scotland, wedding in Italy, festivals such as Glastonbury, Donnington, Womad, etc.)
I'll let you know how I get on with the lens!
I'm also planning on buying the Sigma 18-50 F2.8 when I get paid from a job, I'll let you know about that one as well.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/15/2025 08:30:04 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/15/2025 08:30:04 AM EDT.