Great All Rounder Recommendations...

Youstolemyname

Youstolemyname

Youstolemyname

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Well I am off to the states in June and want to limit my kit if I can. I currently have a Sigma 10-20, a Canon 55-250 and a Canon 50mm combined with a 400D

We are taking a road trip from San Francisco to Vegas with a few detours along the way. One of the highlights of the trip will be Yosemite Park so I want something wide to get the valley shots from up Half Dome or Glacier Point. By the same token, I want something to get closer to subjects when I am out and about....you can see where this is going can't you? :)

I want to be able to take one lens for around the £200 mark, maybe a little more if I have to, that will give me both wide and telephoto options without compromising quality too badly. I have seen reviews the Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC and the Tamron 18-200 but they don't come out great. Does anyone have these lenses? Are they any good?

Also, can anyone suggest an alternative lens in that price bracket?

Cheers for any input as always...
 
Why not just bring all 3 of your lenses, they are great as they are and it covers you for all the range, without compromising on glass clarity (compared to an all in 1 zoom like the Sigma)?

Edit: Based on your images on your Flickr, I can see you just sticking with the Sigma 10-20mm for majority of shots and the Nifty 2 Fifty for your longer range, bring the 50mm along for the odd night shots when in Vagas. Yes, it's 3 lenses to carry, but with practice, you can swap them pretty quick and be covered for any needs rather than a slow all in 1 zoom that can do neither well. (i.e. Not wide enough, not long enough).
 
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Personally I'm really not a fan of 'all-rounders'


"Jack of all trades, master of none" :) - Simply put. For image quality, which, let's face it...is what you want when your on holiday, take different lenses to cover your focal range, for the sake of a few extra lb's in your suitcase and a little less room for clean boxers :p
 
p0ss3s3d said:
Well I've never used the sigma 18-250mm or Tamron, but from what I've read the 18-250 is about the same as the 18-200 sigma. My experience with it was that the lens was not sharp or contrasty at all and I would probably avoid them. But if you do end-up choosing the Sigma's bear this in mind - the 18-200 is better below 50mm and 18-250 better above 135mm. In the middle they are about the same.

I've also borrowed an 18-200mm to camp with, build was a bit better than the 18-55mm. Still not great but a bit more refined. Was sharpish in the centre below 85mm. After that it lost contrast and sharpness across the frame. Okay lens, personally, I wouldn't buy one unless weight and lens swapping was an issue.

Never even seen the Tamron lens. So can't comment.

My thoughts would be to look at the 18-135mm - my uncle uses this on his rebel. It's impressive actually. Centre is sharp. Corners are soft but thats the same with every super zoom. Colours are okay as is the contrast. It's the best superzoom I've used thus far.

However, my ideal choice would be one of these two (perhaps a little expensive?)...

I would also think about the new 15-85mm (bit more expensive though) much wider angle and still got plenty of reach for everything but the zoo trips. Much more expensive, but you get a really wide angle and the IQ is good (best of the bunch so far - apparently, not used this one). So long as the lack of reach doesn't bother you, this lens is supposed to be superb.Oh and 4-stop IS!!!!! Great for low-light still subjects, although not too much use for people.

Final option would be the 35-350mm lens. Nope not very wide on APS-C. But it goes to 350mm!!! Oh and it's built like a brick (weighs about the same too). Sharp, good colours, okay contrast. So if your wanting something with the reach and quality check the auction site, great lens (bit expensive again, but well worth it)!!!
Click to expand...

IMO I would still rather take several lenses, but that my advice above if you really want an 'all-rounder'
 
You're most obviously missing an 18-55 kind of range on a crop sensor (or 24-70 equiv). I've travelled an awful lot with nothing but that lens (albeit a fast expensive one) and I've rarely missed my other gear too much (excepting the obvious requirements for telephotos and the like - the 24-70 range is great for wondering round a city)
 
A 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is ideal or if your on a budget the 17-50mm f/2.8 made by tamron is great too. So long as you don't need other random ranges like Ultra-wide or telephoto.
 
Hmm ok. Any recommendations on a more easy to carry kit bag then?

I currently have a crumpler kit bag which is great but huge and shaped like a dispatch bag! Don't get me wrong, it it a fantastic bag but I will need to take it as hand luggage too. Something akin to a rucksack would be ideal...
 
I've got a Lowerpro Mini Trekker, its a nice bag and holds all my gear and should hold yours fine. It's a rucksack type bag, not amazingly pleasing to the eye but its functional and works.
 
Crumpler and huge - two words you don't hear together often!!

So the requirement is small bag, I guess space for books, phone perhaps crisps and some water. Just needs to hold a camera and a few lenses and look cool?
 
I personally use this
http://www.worldofbags.co.uk/Crumpler-Messenger-Boy-Half-Photo-Backpack-p-1411.html
Enough space for my kit + flash with some space to boot, so I believe it'll fit all of your lenses in the camera section. As for uber portable tripod, if you don't need 1 taller than 1.5m, I highly recommend a Silk 450G - I can fit that into the top section of my bag and still have space for a big lunch box or a pack lunch and a 1.5L water bottle, along with the upper pockets filled with remote release, cir. polariser, welding glass and a personal medical pack.

I love the fact that the opening to the camera kit is in the back of the bag - save the worries of someone opening it to nick anything.
 
im using a lowepro CompuDayPack, and its ideal for out and about.

In the bottom compartment it holds a body with a short zoom (18-55 in my case), and has space for a couple more lenses and a flash. I keep my 1000d, 18-55, 70-300, caps and the quick release plate in there and still have room for another lens and a flash. the compartment kind of hinges open for access to your gear.

It also has a top compartment that will hold water/passport/a lightweight jacket/sunglasses etc and a laptop compartment (a sodding biggun too) which i use to hold a4 ring binders and stuff.

there is a seperate mp3 player pocket (with fuzzy lining and a headphone hole no less)

you can also take out all the padding and the compartment dividers to make it into a boggo rucksack too.

The only thing its missing is a tripod mount, but i bodged one together with some webbing i had lurking about.

other than that its well built, extremely comfortable even when heavily weighed, well protected padding wise and only cost €80 (in a dublin bricks n moartar shop no less).

oh! the carry handle on the top is incredibly comfortable! sounds wierd, but its something manufacturers never seem to bother with.

I dunno about looking 'cool' but it looks alright.

all in all, im very pleased with it :)

TG
 
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I've been to Yosemite 7 times and have needed all my lenses plus others I don't own on all trips, and most lenses on everyday.

You definitely want something down to about 12mm on DX and something up to 300mm is very useful, even for landscape work and friendly animals (of course, the rarer inhabitants require a 600mm f/4). In the spring time a Macro les is very handy for the flowers.

June is a good time for Yosemite (the falls are at their best, Mirror lake should be at its biggest, everything is fresh and green, the last of the snows are melting, not so hot).




My equipment has changed a little over the years but i mostly took a 10-20mm, 18-70 , 70-300 with a sturdy tripod. I mostly went back country hiking including tent, food, bear box, water, etc. The camera gear weight was never a question.
 
I've just bought the tamron 18-270 as an all rounder. Have to say I'm very impressed with it. The range is excellent and extremely useful, I just leave this lens on all the time, the only time I remove it is for portrait photoshoots where I swich out to my 50mm Prime which is sharper but that is to be expected. I would say the tamron is sharper across it's full range than the 18-55 canon kit lens.

sersiously happy with it

also for bags take a look at the lowepro slingshots ... a friend of mine has one and they are great for carrying around, easy access, and different sizes dependant on how much u want to carry round.

I'll be buying one when I get paid in a few days
 
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