A few questions before purchasing a lens!

[Geo-Gamer]

Hi all I just wanted a few quick questions answered before i go pick up the lens this evening and just get a few thoughts on my decision.

I basically want to replace the kit lens for a 'all round better lens' and the kit lens i am using at the moment is a 18-55mm nikon 3.5-5.6 lens with my d5100.

The lens that i have currently been looking at is the sigma 17-70mm 2.8-4 which goes for a round 320-360 pounds. But I have currently found it on gumtree around the corner from me going for £220 and he claims his throwing in a uv filter which costed him £50.

I worked out that if i sell my kit lens for around £60 and I have already sold my dads ancient canon lens for 90 pounds that all i will be doing is putting on top is £70 for this new lens.

The question is do you think my upgrade is worth it for the extra £70 spent? Not only do i get a 20% increase in focal length it is also a sharper lens and I wanted an all round lens for my trips to florence and vegas so i thought this might fit the bill?

Thanks for the help and please go easy on me as I am still a beginer

 

[Geo-Gamer]

Thanks all for your feedback...Been so clued up on the fact its a 17-70 and an all rounder that I have not stopped to think if I will ever use the 50 + focal length and i probably ever wont :|

In that case I will just settle for the 17-50 being my all rounder as it is a constant 2.8. Now i just need to decide between the sigma or tamron version

I was supposed to go and pick up the lens at half 6. Best text him saying i have a change of mind

Thanks for your helps guys once again i appreciate the input on helping me make my decision

 

[Geo-Gamer]

Double check with your gumtree seller there are two versions of the lense the 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 and the 17-70mm f2.8-4 OS while both are really good optically the second commands a premium for it's excellent OS system.

O i forgot to comment it is the newer hsm version that goes up to a maxiumum of 4 instead of 4.5. Sad to let it go as it was kinda cheap and mint condition. [The uv filter that he also through in that costs 50 pounds doesnt really bother me though).

 

[Geo-Gamer]

Just to add, im very happy i listend to you guys! I was going to give away my hard end £220 for a used sigma 17-70mm when i have just gone on digital rev and seen the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical for £220 brand new :|

However, the sigma 17-50 is £420 and dont really see the point in spending £200 more for that :|

The links are down bellow :

Tamron : http://www.digitalrev.com/product/tamron-sp-af-17-50mm/MzQxNQ_A_A

Sigma :http://www.digitalrev.com/product/sigma-17-50mm-f2-8/OTc4Mw_A_A

 

[Geo-Gamer]

Are digital rev uk stock? Amazon have the vc version of the tamron for 330, that comes under uk warranty then.


Edit: they advertise uk warranty but its actually them giving you a uk type warranty. Just bare that in mind when looking at prices.

Hi and thanks, I think digital rev are a company based in hong kong but i see a lot of folks from the U.K. giving them good reviews over the years. Its £220 for the non vc version and £280 for the vc version on the digital rev site. However, I have been reading a lot of reviews commenting on how the vc version is noticeably a lot less sharper than the non vc version. After doing my own research on the two lenses it deffiently seems that the non vc version is the sharper lens [and being £55 pounds cheaper ].

Depending on how you use the lens another option to consider would be the Nikkor 35 f1.8. Not as versatile as a zoom but faster and cheaper.

My first choice was the 35 mm 1.8 but now having time to think about it I want a sharp lens which is wide enough for my trips to las vegas and florence. I will deffiently pick up the 35mm eventually but for now i want a all round sharp lens that is wide for all the vegas lights and scrapers and it will replace my kit lens.

The only lenses I can see in the 17-50 range with a 2.8 apature and can replace my kit lens are:
-Tamron 17-50mm non vc= £220
-Tamron 17-50mm vc=£275
-sigma 17-50 HSM OS= £420
-Nikor 17-55mm = £1000

The nikon is way way out of my budget as a student. I really do like the sigma but even thats £200 more than the tamron and by the looks of it the Tamron non vc is on par with the sigma in some reviews.