Which lens option?

[Rojin]

Sorry to jump back to an early post (and to thread hijack to a certain extent ). What are the Nikon 24-70s like in comparison to Canons offering (if you can find one, as stocks are vanishing) and not the new mkII? Just wondering as I'm currently mulling over the possibility of, in a few months, getting something around that range. As the Canon 24-70mkII is vastly overpriced for me, and if it doesn't come down, there's a very real possibility of a D7000 & 24-70 for (currently) £300 less.

I might not do it, but I'm curious what it's like. I had low light photography in mind (gigs, etc), and my 60D isn't all that great in noise handling. Getting the 5DmkIII is something I'll definitely be doing at some point, but if the 24-70 on Nikon is very good and sharp as a tack, then the Nikon could be a stop gap.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...LensComp=618&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

 

[Energize]

Ok, I've decided that at the moment, the f/1.4 doesn't warrant me spending the extra money, so it's the f/1.8G for now. Maybe if I start getting paid for shooting events I can justify the f/1.4G.

So now that I'm switching to a Nikon crop, with regards to my op are there any zoom lenses you would particularly recommend at the short and long ends? Would like to be able to shoot the beach gallops which will obviously require a long focal length.

 

[D.P.]

Depends on budget and what you want out of a lens. For the long end I am really impressed by the Nikon 70-300mm f5.6 VR. Tamron have a similar lens which is also reported to be quite good, may be a bit cheaper. If you need a wider aperture then look for a second hand 80-200mm f2.8. The 180mm f2.8 is also very sharp, much cheaper and lighter than the 80-200 zoom, but of course fixed focal length may not work for you.


On the wide end there are lots of choices. I am hearing great things about the sigma 8-16mm. The Nikon 12-24mm f4.0 is the best on the f-mount but pricy and 12mm is not as wide as other lenses, I have the sigma 10-20mm for reason (befor ethe sigma 8-16mm was released).

 

[Energize]

Thanks ill check out those telephoto lenses

The wide ones are probably a bit wider than I need. I guess I wasn't clear, I'm looking for a more standard length that's wide enough on a crop as well, Ive seen lots of 24-xmm lenses but I don't think that's going to be wide enough for everyday shooting.

 

[ElDude]

But 1.4 is 'teh sex'

 

[An Exception]

Thanks ill check out those telephoto lenses

The wide ones are probably a bit wider than I need. I guess I wasn't clear, I'm looking for a more standard length that's wide enough on a crop as well, Ive seen lots of 24-xmm lenses but I don't think that's going to be wide enough for everyday shooting.

Something like a cheap Tamron 17-50 2.8 would perform well. Although with this lens I recommend going into the shop and testing it first.

 

[ElDude]

Something like a cheap Tamron 17-50 2.8 would perform well. Although with this lens I recommend going into the shop and testing it first.

Definitely. Coincidentally I was looking at a post on TP (I think) last night/this morning and from that I did a bit of looking around. Whilst most say the non VR version is fine, some get duds, and when throwing VR into the mix, there are more people seeing image sharpness issues, plus VR image shifts.

 

[Energize]

Something like a cheap Tamron 17-50 2.8 would perform well. Although with this lens I recommend going into the shop and testing it first.

Yeah that was the problem mentioned with that lens, can't find any good local camera shops. Iam going to Preston next month though for a medical, know of anything there?

Looks like I'm going to have to buy new stuff anyway, eBay is full of idiots bidding more than the new price on digitalrev.

 

[Jimmy1983]

Yeah that was the problem mentioned with that lens, can't find any good local camera shops. Iam going to Preston next month though for a medical, know of anything there?

Looks like I'm going to have to buy new stuff anyway, eBay is full of idiots bidding more than the new price on digitalrev.

Which one you hoping to get?

 

[Energize]

D5100, D3200 or D7000, as budget allows.

Probably the D5100 as I value the greater battery life over the higher resolution the D3200 offers.

 

[Energize]

Any safer options than the Tamron?

 

[D.P.]

Any safer options than the Tamron?

The Sigma version have similar qualities but similar reliability issues.

So really, the reference wide-normal constant 2.8 lens to look for is Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 - very different budget but a wonderful lens built like a tank.

I really like my Nikon f/5.6 16-85 VRII, very sharp and contrasty, 16mm is very nice to have, well built metal barrels and weather sealing. Not the greatest value for money though.
The Nikon 18-105VR is not much worse optically but is a very plasticity lens, still sturdy enough and is very good value for money, espeically as part of a kit. I can get professional quality photos that I can happily print large or sell to stock customers.

 

[Energize]

Hmm, 18-105 is definitely a nice focal range length, I could definitely put up with the narrower aperture for that.

EDIT - Regarding the 70-300, Tamron is £75 (19%) cheaper and slightly wider at the short end, is the Nikon worth paying the extra for?

 

[D.P.]

Hmm, 18-105 is definitely a nice focal range length, I could definitely put up with the narrower aperture for that.

EDIT - Regarding the 70-300, Tamron is £75 (19%) cheaper and slightly wider at the short end, is the Nikon worth paying the extra for?

18-105 is very handy, as I said I slightly prefer the 16-85 due to the wider end (don't be fooled by the 2 mm difference, the field of view difference is very significant and adds a large impact to my photos, also tends to mean I can go out without my 10-20 UWA as 16mm is typically wide enough (on a Nikon 1.5x Crop).


I don't know enough about the Tamron to say whether it is much worse than the Nikon 70-300. What may be the case is individual lenses differ so much making it hard to see what is better on average. I think it comes down to how that 75 cheaper lens will help you in other lens puchases, e..g will that make you definitely buy the 50mm f/1.8G rather than the older D?, if so then the tamron is the way to go.

Not sure where you are checking price differences but I see a difference of 114GBP between cheapest UK sources of each. Tamorn sells at 300, Nikon 414.

 

[stu.artd]

If it's the Tamron 70-300 VC lens then Tamron are offering a free warranty extension to 5 yrs, so long as it's a UK lens rather than a grey import (might also be possible for lenses imported from the EU). Need to register it within 2 months of purchase.

I have had the 70-300 VC for about 6 weeks, but it's the Canon fit rather than the Nikon you're looking at. I can give sample images if you're interested ?

 

[James J]

@ElDude

Just read that you are definitely going to buy a 5D mk iii at some point but I'm a bit lost as to why you are looking at going full frame if you are shooting indoor sports? If I was shooting sports and was prepared to drop just over £2000 on a body, I'd be looking at a second hand canon 1D mk iv or the nikon equivalent if you haven't heavily bought into the canon lenses yet.

That way you get great ISO handling, fast and accurate AF and amazing FPS, plus retain the crop factor which saves you thousands on getting more reach out of lenses.

 

[James J]

Hell to throw in another curve ball, you could get a 1Ds mk ii which is full frame for around £450 now or the 1D mk iii (crop) for around £850. Both means you could go out in the worst of weather conditions and shoot to your hearts content, allowing you to do outdoor events also with ease.

 

[Energize]

18-105 is very handy, as I said I slightly prefer the 16-85 due to the wider end (don't be fooled by the 2 mm difference, the field of view difference is very significant and adds a large impact to my photos, also tends to mean I can go out without my 10-20 UWA as 16mm is typically wide enough (on a Nikon 1.5x Crop).

I don't know enough about the Tamron to say whether it is much worse than the Nikon 70-300. What may be the case is individual lenses differ so much making it hard to see what is better on average. I think it comes down to how that 75 cheaper lens will help you in other lens puchases, e..g will that make you definitely buy the 50mm f/1.8G rather than the older D?, if so then the tamron is the way to go.

Oh, I was really considering between the f/1.4D and G, but after all that deliberating decided to get the f/1.8G in the end unless it was something I was paid to do more professionally in the future. A more sensible thing to buy with the saved money would be a bounce flash and external mic I suppose.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=4

On that test:

As far as my untrained eye can see,

Tamron has significantly less chromatic aberration at all focal lengths and apertures.
At 70mm Tamron much better contrast and resolution at all apertures.
At 135mm Tamron better in middle, better sharpness in corner at larger apertures but worse at narrower ones, slightly worse sharpness and contrast in centre at largest aperture (f/5).
At 300mm Tamron better in frame corner and middle, but not as sharp in centre across the apertures, significantly so at f/5.6.

Not sure where you are checking price differences but I see a difference of 114GBP between cheapest UK sources of each. Tamorn sells at 300, Nikon 414.

Digitalrev.com

Hadn't noticed the Tamron going for £300, guess that makes a £90 price difference then.

 

[howler]

Canon fit? Is the non VC version of this lens regarded better than the VC version?

Yeah Canon fit, apparently there is a difference in quality between non-VC and VC

Although I did hear the later versions there is not so much of a difference, no idea how true that is

My Flickr page is here, there are some pics on there I have taken with it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64815121@N03/

 

[An Exception]

Hell to throw in another curve ball, you could get a 1Ds mk ii which is full frame for around £450 now or the 1D mk iii (crop) for around £850. Both means you could go out in the worst of weather conditions and shoot to your hearts content, allowing you to do outdoor events also with ease.

Where have you seen working 1Ds mkii's for sale for £450 without 9 days remaining on an auction?