Another Lens advice thread

[wenrob]

Okay, here's the dealio. I had mentioned to my uncle that I was going to pick up the the Nikon 50mm 1.8 to which he responded, "You photograph people, you need a zoom." After being irritated, I realized he's right, the 50 would probably not get used much at least not atm. I'd ask his advice but we really only talk sporadically. So I'm thinking a 2.8 zoom. But geesh, there's too many choices!

I thought I'd settled on this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-18-50mm-Macro-Lens-Nikon/dp/B000UC5YSQ
But then the Tamron 28-70 keeps showing up on my radar. However I like that Sigma holds 2.8 throughout the range.

I'd be grateful for opinions, pros and cons. My main subjects atm are my kiddos.

And stupid question, is HSM Sigma's version of VR?

 

[seashoreCM]

I would go for the f/1.8. Otherwise there would be a lot of low light situations that will give trouble.

 

[MICKEY88]

more info on the conditions or situations in which you shoot people, would help us give better advice on lens choice..

 

[wenrob]

more info on the conditions or situations in which you shoot people, would help us give better advice on lens choice..

Usually inside, one window and a sliding glass door. Both girls will stop and let me take their pics, my boy won't, lol! I want to get out and do more creative shots but for right now it's mostly capturing my kids at home or capturing them and others inside. (I get better light in almost anyone else's house, vaulted ceilings suck up all the light.) I'm thinking a small zoom might give me a better opportunity for that then the 50mm will.

*my equipment such as it is:
18-105mm VR
Nikon D90
SB 400 (looking to get the SB600)
I have the 18-200mm VR but am looking into selling it.

 

[YEKCIM]

is HSM Sigma's version of VR?

HSM is Sigma's version of AF-S (in-lens focus motor).

 

[wenrob]

HSM is Sigma's version of AF-S (in-lens focus motor).

Thank you!

 

[MICKEY88]

Usually inside, one window and a sliding glass door. Both girls will stop and let me take their pics, my boy won't, lol! I want to get out and do more creative shots but for right now it's mostly capturing my kids at home or capturing them and others inside. (I get better light in almost anyone else's house, vaulted ceilings suck up all the light.) I'm thinking a small zoom might give me a better opportunity for that then the 50mm will.

*my equipment such as it is:
18-105mm VR
Nikon D90
SB 400 (looking to get the SB600)
I have the 18-200mm VR but am looking into selling it.

Ok since you have a strobe.. I'd go for a 28-75 2.8 or something in that range, with the 2.8 and a strobe you shouldn't have any trouble indoors...

 

[annnewjerz]

But then the Tamron 28-70 keeps showing up on my radar. However I like that Sigma holds 2.8 throughout the range.

Stupid question of my own---the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 doesn't hold the 2.8 throughout the range? I was under the impression it did and for that matter that anything with only a single f/# was that number throughout the whole range...otherwise it would look somethihng like 3.5-5.6 or whatever. If I was wrong, we're really back to square 1 here with my understanding of all of this!

 

[MICKEY88]

Stupid question of my own---the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 doesn't hold the 2.8 throughout the range? I was under the impression it did and for that matter that anything with only a single f/# was that number throughout the whole range...otherwise it would look somethihng like 3.5-5.6 or whatever. If I was wrong, we're really back to square 1 here with my understanding of all of this!

sorry to be the one to tell you this.....but you are correct..

 

[wenrob]

Stupid question of my own---the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 doesn't hold the 2.8 throughout the range? I was under the impression it did and for that matter that anything with only a single f/# was that number throughout the whole range...otherwise it would look somethihng like 3.5-5.6 or whatever. If I was wrong, we're really back to square 1 here with my understanding of all of this!

It's actually Tamron f2.8-4 from what I can tell unless they're two different lenses.(and they could be, I've looked at way too many!) My understanding is zoomed out to 70mm the lowest I could go is f4.

 

[wenrob]

My apologies for the confusion, it was another Sigma that was f 2.8-4, the Tamron is f 2.8. See? I've looked at way too many of them....

 

[annnewjerz]

It's actually Tamron f2.8-4 from what I can tell unless they're two different lenses.(and they could be, I've looked at way too many!) My understanding is zoomed out to 70mm the lowest I could go is f4.

Lord help the both of us. Here's what I found. The Tamron 28-75 (not 70, so maybe it was a different lens) f/2.8. Here is the link on Amazon, as well as the product description.

http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-28-75m...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1234290803&sr=1-2

Product Description
The A09NII SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF Macro zoom lens is a lightweight and compact standard zoom lens compatible with full-size SLR cameras, and features a fast maximum aperture of F/2.8 that is constant over the entire zoom range, with a built-in AF motor for use with Nikon cameras. The lens enables users to enjoy the creative world of SLR photography, by exploiting the attractive out-of-focus effect particular to fast maximum-aperture lenses seen in portraiture, or when using high shutter speeds. The optical system is designed to optimize the power distribution within the system by the innovative employment of XR (high refractive index) glass elements. The SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di sports the minimum focus distance of 0.33m over the entire zoom range, the closest distance among fast standard zoom lenses in its class. The maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.9 at the 75mm tele end enables you to enjoy close-up photography easily. The lens is supplied with a flower-shaped lens hood as a standard accessory, which is designed to efficiently cut harmful light entering from angles other than the intended angles at the four corners of the frame, in order to ensure clear descriptive performance. The lens has a built-in zoom lock mechanism to prevent sliding fall of its barrel when the outfit is carried around. 14 groups 16 elements lens construction Dimensions - 3.62 ? 2.87 (92?73mm) Weight - 510 grams (18 ounces)

 

[wenrob]

Ann, we posted at the same time, see my post above yours.

 

[annnewjerz]

Ann, we posted at the same time, see my post above yours.

I don't know about you, but I feel like this is going to be a long week.

AND---for what it's worth, I think a zoom is better to have, but if you don't want to shell out the money I really do love my 50mm 1.8 for indoor pix. I have used it for taking shots of my pets, my DH and a co-worker's baby inside and especially in the co-worker's house it worked like a charm because it was so dim in there (and at the time I didn't haev the SB-600).

 

[Groucho]

FWIW, the Tamron 28-75mm is F2.8 throughout the range, like it says at Amazon.

It's a nice lens but like any zoom, it's not a replacement for a fast prime, just complementary.

 

[manning]

Go with a zoom. Years ago zooms were looked down upon when it came to sharpness. With lens being designed with computers that has practically disappeared if not already.

Of course if you want to shoot low natural light that is another matter.

 

[Groucho]

Well, there's much more to a lens' quality than sharpness.

Zoom lenses are, by their very nature, compromises. They have gotten pretty close in sharpness but are still more likely to have issues with barrel distortion, CA, purple fringing, they're slower (a big considering for DoF, not just low-light shooting), they're bigger, they're heavier, the bokeh is often worse, etc, etc...

That's why I think it's valuable to have both. I tend to use the zoom only when necessary, some will use the fast prime only when necessary, but they are different beasts.

 

[MICKEY88]

for what it's worth I haven't owned a prime lens since I owned my old Minolta XG7, ever since my first auto focus slr I've owned and used zooms, and have never had any complaints with the results, from myself or from clients... are there tradeoffs ....sure..will the average person printing normal size prints notice, probably not..

in fact most of the pros I've been around use zooms most of the time...

I've been tempted a few times to buy a nifty fifty, but then a situation comes up where I simply bump my iso or use my flash and I decide it just isn't a lens that I would use..

 

[wenrob]

I've been tempted a few times to buy a nifty fifty, but then a situation comes up where I simply bump my iso or use my flash and I decide it just isn't a lens that I would use..

These are my thoughts, I just don't think I'd use the 50mm much, it would just collect dust.

 

[MICKEY88]

These are my thoughts, I just don't think I'd use the 50mm much, it would just collect dust.

exactly, my flash is always on my main camera, and if I can't use the flash I just open up to 2.8 and bump the iso..