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Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
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03/03/2006 11:38:55 PM · #1
ok, so I need to revamp my gear... a bit. I think Ill be living in Sweden for the 2nd half of the year and I don't wanna deal with film, because I won't have the scanning and printing facilities I have at my home university...which means I won't be using my Mamiya most likely.

What I want to bring to Sweden is to cover super wide - 200 mm. besides trading in my d70 for a d200 I need to know things..

I'm wondering about the quality of the nikon 12-24 vs. the tokina, or other superwides...and the quality 24-120 VR over the 18-70 kit lens, or the tamron 28-70. I still have an issue with buying 3rd party glass but im trying to be open minded.

I'm pretty sure im buying the 80-200 2.8...I really wanna get the sharpest stuff I can get.

ignore the list of lenses in my profile. I dont actually own these, my newspaper owns them and its what I use...so I know how I like those lenses. I'm just mainly curious about the non 2.8 glass cuz i dont have like 4767839 dollars haha.

any input is greatly appreciated thanks!
03/03/2006 11:47:27 PM · #2
I heard somewhere that the 24-120vr is slightly soft, but still good.

Heard nothing but great things about the 80-200 2.8, even more for the VR.

Can't wait to get my d200. Had to settle for the d50 for now, but the tax return cometh.

03/04/2006 12:08:46 AM · #3
If I were you I would not worry about whether the lense is third party or not. Sometimes the third party lenses are BETTER! Sometimes that extra money is for the "Nikon" label on the lense. Check out this review for starters-
//www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/lenses/0206indy/index1.html

If you do feel you have to stay Nikon, you might want to check out the new 18-200 VR, I've heard some good reviews on it.
03/04/2006 12:10:51 AM · #4
I read bad opinions on the Nikon 24-120 VR, don't buy it. The 80-200/2.8 is reportedly a fantastic lens. If you have enough money, get the 70-200/2.8 VR, everyone is raving about it, saying it's one of the sharpens Nikon lenses ever. Another thing to consider can be the Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3), it's not the brightest lens, but it is extremely sharp and has fast autofocus. Also, I hear that the Sigma 70-200/2.8 is very sharp and affordable. You may also consider the new 18-200mm VR, it's supposed to be comparable in sharpness to the 18-70mm.

On the wide side, you'll be choosing between the Nikon 12-24, Tokina 12-24, or Sigma 10-20. There are a lot of comparisons around the net, including in the DPC forums, do a search. I chose the Sigma 10-20, but I was unlucky and my sample is soft on one side, I'm in the process of swapping it: make sure you buy your lenses in advance so that you have time to test them.
03/04/2006 12:31:37 AM · #5
A good article comparing the wide angle options:
//www.nikonians.org/html/resources/nikon_articles/nikkor/af/wide_angles_shootout/index.html
03/04/2006 12:35:30 AM · #6
I've read that the 18-200 is incredibly sharp, as sharp as the 80-200, but that the pincusion, barrel, and even moustache distortion is just not worth it for some things.

As long as you don't have any straight lines in the pic you're fine though right? :P
03/04/2006 12:56:17 AM · #7
I can't recommend any of your other choices, but the 80-200mm 2.8 is absolutely stunning. Check out the samples below. I took all of these today at Disney's ESPN the Weekend. Both were handheld at 200mm. The car shot was about 60' away and the Sports Center shot was about 25' away. I included a smaller version of the original, a 100% crop and the crop sharpened with FocalBlade.

Tony original
Tony crop
Tony crop sharpened

Sports Center original
Sports Center crop
Sports Center crop sharpened

The EXIF for both shots...

D70ReaderProgramVersion : 0.28
FileName : _DSC4018.NEF
FileSize : 5263160 bytes
ImageWidth : 3040
ImageHeight : 2014
BitsPerSample : 12
Compression : Nikon NEF Compressed
Make : NIKON CORPORATION
Model : NIKON D70
Software : Ver.2.00
ModifyDate : 2006:03:03 16:02:19
ExposureTime : 1/200 seconds
FNumber : 5.00
ExposureProgram : Aperture-priority AE
DateTimeOriginal : 2006:03:03 16:02:19
DateTimeDigitized : 2006:03:03 16:02:19
ExposureBiasValue : 1.000000
MaxApertureValue : 3.000000
MeteringMode : Center-weighted average
LightSourceEXIF : Fine Weather
Flash : No Flash
Quality : RAW
WhiteBalance : SUNNY
Sharpening : MED.L
FocusMode : AF-S
FlashSetting : NORMAL
LensType : D
Lens : 80-200 mm f/2.8
FlashMode : Did Not Fire
AFPoint : Single Area, Center
ShootingMode : 1
LensFStops : 6.00
ImageOptimization : CUSTOM
Saturation : ENHANCED
VariProgram :
UserComment : (c) Jeremy Clow/jmatter.com
FileSource : Digital Camera
DigitalZoomRatio : 1.000000
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm : 150 mm
MinFocalLength : 80.0000
MaxFocalLength : 201.5874
MaxApertureAtMinFocal : 2.8284
MaxApertureAtMaxFocal : 2.8284
MCUVersion : 96
EffectiveMaxAperture : 2.8284
FocusDistance : 595.66 cm | 234.51 in | 19.54 ft
LensID : Nikkor AF 80-200/2.8 D ED N

D70ReaderProgramVersion : 0.28
FileName : _DSC4063.NEF
FileSize : 5913867 bytes
ImageWidth : 3040
ImageHeight : 2014
BitsPerSample : 12
Compression : Nikon NEF Compressed
Make : NIKON CORPORATION
Model : NIKON D70
Software : Ver.2.00
ModifyDate : 2006:03:03 19:51:26
ExposureTime : 1/100 seconds
FNumber : 2.80
ExposureProgram : Aperture-priority AE
DateTimeOriginal : 2006:03:03 19:51:26
DateTimeDigitized : 2006:03:03 19:51:26
ExposureBiasValue : 0.333333
MaxApertureValue : 3.000000
MeteringMode : Center-weighted average
LightSourceEXIF : Fine Weather
Flash : No Flash
Quality : RAW
WhiteBalance : SUNNY
Sharpening : MED.L
FocusMode : AF-S
FlashSetting : NORMAL
LensType : D
Lens : 80-200 mm f/2.8
FlashMode : Did Not Fire
AFPoint : Single Area, Center
ShootingMode : 1
LensFStops : 6.00
ImageOptimization : CUSTOM
Saturation : ENHANCED
VariProgram :
UserComment : (c) Jeremy Clow/jmatter.com
FileSource : Digital Camera
SceneType : Directly photographed
CustomRendered : Normal
ExposureMode : Auto
WhiteBalanceEXIF : Manual
DigitalZoomRatio : 1.000000
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm : 202 mm
MinFocalLength : 80.0000
MaxFocalLength : 201.5874
MaxApertureAtMinFocal : 2.8284
MaxApertureAtMaxFocal : 2.8284
MCUVersion : 96
EffectiveMaxAperture : 2.8284
FocusDistance : 707.95 cm | 278.72 in | 23.23 ft
LensID : Nikkor AF 80-200/2.8 D ED N

With the 80-200mm 2.8 and the kit lens, I never miss a shot. Just look at the Sports Center crop. I did that handheld at 200mm at 1/100. If it looks that sharp, that slow... it can only get better.

However, if I had to choose just one lens, it'd be the new 18-200mm VR (which I'll own soon even if I have to sell a kidney). It's a do it all lens. IMHO, you can't beat Nikkor glass.

Good luck with which ever lens you choose. Your D70 will make great use of good glass.
03/04/2006 01:00:17 AM · #8
Originally posted by wavelength:

I've read that the 18-200 is incredibly sharp, as sharp as the 80-200, but that the pincusion, barrel, and even moustache distortion is just not worth it for some things.

As long as you don't have any straight lines in the pic you're fine though right? :P


As for the pin cushion and barrel distortion, check this link out...

PTLens
03/04/2006 01:15:57 AM · #9
Wow, the 18-200 VR is getting over-hyped, IMO. It is a very convenient lens, and I'll probably buy it to take with me on hiking trips, etc, but I think that saying that it's as sharp as the 80-200 is, IMO, stretching it.

From what I read, it is quite sharp below 80mm, getting worse towards the far end.

Anyways, I forgot to recommend a very good sharp (but slow) third party lens: the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro can be had for $190 new, and takes very sharp pictures. Here are some examples (not mine) from this fantastic budget lens:
//forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=15368965
03/04/2006 01:45:15 AM · #10
thanks for responses thus far. I use the 80-200 all the time like i said before, i know how that lens is. im looking for opinions on the non 2.8 glass. im used to 2.8 glass...im trying to figure out how much of a difference ill notice in the super wides and walk around lenses that aren't 2.8 lenses.

please only if u have experience with these. Im used to the professional equipment cuz its what i normally use, but cant afford most of it on my own.
03/04/2006 01:46:08 AM · #11
I will go for the tokina for the ultra wide angle range. I do not think it is worth to buy the 12-24 Nikon for 500$ more. Maybe the Sigma 10-22 mm, which is probably the sharpest ultra wide angle lens. I am not a big fan of sigma lens, I heard some crappy things about some lenses, never heard something bad for the 10-22mm so far.

Definitely the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8, it is a standard and you cannot be disappointed. I will get mine next week. If you can afford it, buy the VR, but it will be about 1600-1700$. Not a big fan of VR lenses. Too expensive for me.

You cannot go wrong with the Tamron 28-70 (f/2.8 I think).

Do not forget the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, the sharpest Nikon lens, and paradoxally one of the cheapest if not the cheapest!

Message edited by author 2006-03-04 01:46:48.
03/04/2006 05:03:56 AM · #12
Originally posted by msieglerfr:

never heard something bad for the 10-22mm so far.


Corner softness, vignetting and hard to correct distortions.

I went for the Tokina 12-24 myself. I am pleased about its sharpness (not extremely sharp, but ok), build quality and the ability to correct distortions well. It has serious amounts of Chromatic Abberations, even at f/8. I correct that in Nikon Capture and by desaturating magentas in photoshop. I can live with it, more than I can with hard to correct distortions.


03/04/2006 10:19:03 AM · #13
Originally posted by Azrifel:

Corner softness, vignetting and hard to correct distortions.


I can believe that. Thanks
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