Opinions Needed on lenses.

[divuk83]

After a bit of advice regarding lenses for my D50.

Looking at the following:
Nikon 50mm F1.8D AF Lens
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8-4 DG

Both are less than 80 squid each which is great. But does the fact that they are so cheap mean they are rubbish? If anyone has these could they let me know what they are like and maybe post a pic or two taken with them.

Cheers

Dave

 

[RichDay]

Not got any experience with Nikon gear but I do have a bit of experience with cheap lenses.

I've got a Sigma 18-50 on my Canon 10D and TBH it's not an amazing lens - it's rubbish wide open at 18mm, to get any real sharpness across the frame you need to use f8 or more. Seeing as I use this mostly for landscapes it's not normally a problem but it's lack of fine detail still irks me a little. Like the two lenses you mentioned it also cost me about £80 but I wish I'd saved up a bit more and got something better.

My advice: go to a high street retailer and try them out on your D50. Take test shots at maximum and minimum aperture (at several points across the zoom range for the Sigma). When you get home, have a look at the shots and see what you think. The 50mm 1.8 should be pretty good (the Canon equivalent is amazing) but I'd think carefully about the Sigma.

 

[Joe T]

The 50mm 1.8 is far from rubbish. 50mm lenses are cheap to make, and ever so sharp.

it really depends on what you need from a lens. 50mm is fixed focal length, but is fantastic in low light and very very sharp. The 28-70 has more fleixiblity but will be less sharp, and not so good in low light.

 

[wsurfa]

the 50mm is a must for your lens collection - truely excelent lens, and very good at helping you understand position yourself to compaose a shot. (you cant just zoom in/out)

Cant' comment on the sigma 28-70

I do have the 18-50 and the 10-20 and both have given me good results both wide open and stopped down. Generally sigma lens have a wider variation in quality between batches than the nikon equivalent, although some are very good.

 

[divuk83]

Cheers guys, thought the Sigma looked a bit to good to be true as its cheaper than the Nikon 50mm lens, though I will try and find a local retailer that sells them to give it a try out before I make a decision. Will probably get the nikon though.

Cheers

Dave