Primary walk-around lenses

[YEKCIM]

I truly appreciate all the advice and feedback!

I've gone ahead and ordered the 50mm 1.8 so i look forward to getting familar with that before the trip. I'll continue to do some research on the sigma 18-135 but the pictures that pohjen posted will help a ton!

Just to be clear, the Sigma's focal range is 18-125; the Nikkor is 18-135. The Nikkor, obviously, will not work on your Canon.

I guess Canon does not make anything in this range...?

~YEKCIM

 

[jann1033]

Just to be clear, the Sigma's focal range is 18-125; the Nikkor is 18-135. The Nikkor, obviously, will not work on your Canon.

I guess Canon does not make anything in this range...?

~YEKCIM

the closest would be 28-135, they have some 17 but i think they only go up to 70 or 80. also a couple other 28-100+ something or others. that is why i originally got my 28-135, had a kit to cover the 18-28 range but wanted something with more zoom and didn't want to chance another sigma ..not saying they are bad, just my personal past experience with them was, now that my 28 had problems, bring on the 3rd parties!
these are 28-135 before it broke

 

[YEKCIM]

On our last WDW trip, I had the Nikon 18-135 lens and found that range to be perfect for almost everything.

I'm glad to hear you say that. I'm planning on using the 18-135 almost exclusively (maybe the 70-300VR at AK) when we go to The World in July. I guess the perfect Nikkor for WDW (or just about anywhere, for that matter) would be the 18-200VR, but who can afford (or even find...) one of those?? I think Sigma and Tamron both make 18-200's, but don't think the OQ is anywhere close to the Nikkor.

~YEKCIM

 

[pisco]

This month's issue of Popular Photography has a pretty favorable review of the new Tamron 18-250 f/3.5-6.3. Sounds like the ultimate walking around lens to me for those that don't like to switch lenses.

Personally I use a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 as my main walking around lens and a Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS for any long range shooting. I typically have the 17-50 on the camera 90% of the time or more.

 

[0bli0]

I don't shoot Canon, but there are usually some pretty inexpensive 50mm f1.8 lenses out there that will suck in lots of light. There's usually a big price jump when you go to f1.4 lenses, but it's only 1/2 stop quicker and often times people find the 1.8 to be a better lens in terms of image quality.

in the case of the Canon 50mm 1.8 vs. 50mm 1.4, the biggest difference is the 5 aperture blades in the 1.8 vs. 8 and the faster one. personally i think the contrast is noticeably slightly better in the 1.4. there are a few lens test pages that show the differences in IQ between the lenses

 

[boBQuincy]

This month's issue of Popular Photography has a pretty favorable review of the new Tamron 18-250 f/3.5-6.3. Sounds like the ultimate walking around lens to me for those that don't like to switch lenses.

Personally I use a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 as my main walking around lens and a Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS for any long range shooting. I typically have the 17-50 on the camera 90% of the time or more.

It will be interesting to see some tests of the Tamron. I am not a fan of wide range zoom lenses (image quality suffers too much) but maybe they are getting better and maybe this will be the one that "does it all".
I'm into image quality but for sure, it's not that I *like* carrying around three lenses!

 

[jann1033]

This month's issue of Popular Photography has a pretty favorable review of the new Tamron 18-250 f/3.5-6.3. Sounds like the ultimate walking around lens to me for those that don't like to switch lenses.

Personally I use a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 as my main walking around lens and a Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS for any long range shooting. I typically have the 17-50 on the camera 90% of the time or more.

i was curious about this lens but couldn't get you exif info to come up on you link...do you know what in particular you shot with this one there? Thanks

 

[Steve's Girl]

I guess the perfect Nikkor for WDW (or just about anywhere, for that matter) would be the 18-200VR, but who can afford (or even find...) one of those??
~YEKCIM

Well, actually, that is what I have now. I replaced the 18-135 with this lens, but have not been to WDW with it yet - however, that will change 2 weeks from today!

 

[Groucho]

Someone beat me to it. If you already have an 18-55 and a 70-300 - I would definitely go for a fast prime, with the 50mm being a pretty safe choice. Even if the Canon 50mm 1.8 isn't quite as good as a top-line 50mm, it is really cheap and it will almost certainly blow away the other two lenses in sharpness, color, and bokeh.

I shot just under half my photos last trip with my 50mm 1.4... even with five other lenses to choose from! It's generally my first choice, I only use something else if I really need to go a bit wider or longer.

 

[pisco]

i was curious about this lens but couldn't get you exif info to come up on you link...do you know what in particular you shot with this one there? Thanks

I have not yet posted any shots I have taken with this lens. I have mostly been taking test shots with it and have not had a chance to get out and use it in the real world.

Pop Photo's review of the lens can be found here (this is a pdf link). It rated Excellent at all tested focal lengths using their SQF ratings. With 7 diaphragm blades it produces a very pleasing bokeh as well. The only knock I have on it so far is that the focusing motor is not silent. Not that it is too noisy but once you get used to USM lenses it is hard to go back.

 

[Tink10]

The 18-125mm Sigma gets a pretty decent review here. http://www.photodo.com/topic_42.html

Kevin

I have the Sigma 18-125 and I love it. It goes everywhere my camera goes and the price was great too!

 

[DebºoºS]

\ ...........perfect Nikkor for WDW (or just about anywhere, for that matter) would be the 18-200VR,....... .
~YEKCIM

The 18-220VR has been perfect for me so far around here but the real test will be it's first trip to WDW next month. As a fun test I took some pics of the NYC skyline from our moving car that weren't that bad considering we were bumping along @50mph. There were short gaps between buildings so it was rapid fire shooting. They're blurry,duh but the VR works very well and the lighting was non existant and it picked up enough so that you can see each building.

Just in case I'm also bringing a Nikkor 50mm f1.2 as a backup for fireworks.

I really don't like swapping lenses or shlepping extra equiptment around but for good fireworks shots I will. Actually I'm hoping DS#1 will do most of the shlepping

 

[jann1033]

The 18-220VR has been perfect for me so far around here but the real test will be it's first trip to WDW next month. As a fun test I took some pics of the NYC skyline from our moving car that weren't that bad considering we were bumping along @50mph. There were short gaps between buildings so it was rapid fire shooting. They're blurry,duh but the VR works very well and the lighting was non existant and it picked up enough so that you can see each building.

Just in case I'm also bringing a Nikkor 50mm f1.2 as a backup for fireworks.

I really don't like swapping lenses or shlepping extra equiptment around but for good fireworks shots I will. Actually I'm hoping DS#1 will do most of the shlepping

don't know about nikon but canon Is tells you it's not to help with movement when you are in a vehicle

 

[Steve's Girl]

don't know about nikon but canon Is tells you it's not to help with movement when you are in a vehicle

The Nikon VR has an active mode which is made for moving vehicles, etc. Not sure if it really works or not, but hope to try it out on the Safari at AK.

 

[DebºoºS]

It works! I got more than just a blur from it Can't wait for the safari

 

[Gdad]

The Nikon VR has an active mode which is made for moving vehicles, etc. Not sure if it really works or not, but hope to try it out on the Safari at AK.

I also agree it works- I used the active mode on my 18-200vr on KS and was impressed how many keepers I had.

 

[deletedpenguin]

My walk around is the Sigma 24-70f/2.8 EX.

 

[DragonSlyr]

I have to second penguin, I have had my Sigma 24-70 since christmas and love it.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I also agree it works- I used the active mode on my 18-200vr on KS and was impressed how many keepers I had.

Good to know - we will be at AK next week. On our last trip, I did not have the VR lens and some of my safari pics were pretty bad due to the bouncing around in the vehicle.

 

[heatherg]

Just noticed there were boards below the planning boards. What a little scrolling will do for you huh?

So glad I scrolled . . . I was planning on leaving my 50 fixed at home. EEK! I've primarily used it for portrait shots. Hmmm . . .will have to be rethinking that one.