Shopping for lens for Digital Rebel - sales tactics! Ugh!!

[alan]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your welcome.

I think my disappointment is around sharpness. The image is just not as crisp as I was hoping for. Until I bought this, my main camera was a Pro1 which has an "L" lens on it (albeit for a much smaller sensor), I have become used to exceptionally sharp pictures out of the camera.

If the pictures are resized down, they look fine. And I am sure they will look great when printed too. But if you're looking at it at 100% zoom, you can see some fuzzy edges.

It all comes down to how you plan to use the images, I guess. And the zoom range is extremely useful. I'd hate to be without it!

regards,
/alan

 

[alan]

I've put an example picture from my stay onto a web site. It's the original image (2.4MB, Large Fine), and can be downloaded from here:

(Drat. posting links is not allowed because I haven't made enough posts. I'll PM you with the link)

Now, I have to accept that this was taken handheld, in fine (not superfine) mode, ISO 200 and with an equivalent of a 260mm lens on a 35mm film.

But... I'm just not certain that the edges are as sharp as they ought to be.

Maybe a large part of this is nervousness that not only have I just spent loads on the camera and lens, but have committed myself to future spending on lenses I just don't know...

BTW, I make no great claims for composition etc for the attached picture. It was a long way back, and I had to photograph over the head of many of the audience... and they're all looking away at something we can't see in the picture...

regards,
/alan

 

[WillCAD]

I've put an example picture from my stay onto a web site. It's the original image (2.4MB, Large Fine), and can be downloaded from here:

(Drat. posting links is not allowed because I haven't made enough posts. I'll PM you with the link)

Now, I have to accept that this was taken handheld, in fine (not superfine) mode, ISO 200 and with an equivalent of a 260mm lens on a 35mm film.

But... I'm just not certain that the edges are as sharp as they ought to be.

Maybe a large part of this is nervousness that not only have I just spent loads on the camera and lens, but have committed myself to future spending on lenses I just don't know...

BTW, I make no great claims for composition etc for the attached picture. It was a long way back, and I had to photograph over the head of many of the audience... and they're all looking away at something we can't see in the picture...

regards,
/alan

Welcome to the DIS Boards Alan!

Kelly Granell, one of our resident pro photographers here, has often commented on the exact sharpness issue you mentioned. If I recall, she specifically saw the sharpness of the Sigme 18-200 decline at zooms past 125mm.

Because of this, I went with the Sigma 18-125 instead of the 18-200. I find it very sharp through its entire zoom range (although it has nothing on a Canon L-series lens, of course).

I deduce from your use of the word "chap" that you're from the U.K. You ma not know that Canon markets the 350D in the US under the name Digital Rebel XT; it's the same camera, they just name it for us dumb Yanks who are too thick to remember complicated model numbers. Anyway, if you surf the photo board a bit you will find many, many discussions on this camera, and on the Sigma 18-125 and 18-200 lenses, which you might find useful.

Welcome aboard!

 

[TomPokNY]

With Alan's permission, here is the link to his photo:

http://www.thepotters.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/MK024.jpg

I see what you mean about the overall softness of the photo. I hope to get some time to play around with my lens over the next couple of days. I'll let you know how it goes.

And just to get back on topic a bit - pushy salespeople make me very nervous, so I try to avoid them whenever possible. I happened to be in Manhattan over the weekend, and purchased my lens at B&H. The salesperson there was very friendly and helpful, answered all of my questions, and there was no attempt to try to direct me towards a less ideal purchase. That store is pretty cool - they have an overhead basket conveyor that carries your purchases to the front of the store, plus they offer free candy and small cups of soda. A very pleasant shopping experience!

 

[WillCAD]

With Alan's permission, here is the link to his photo:

http://www.thepotters.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/MK024.jpg

I see what you mean about the overall softness of the photo. I hope to get some time to play around with my lens over the next couple of days. I'll let you know how it goes.

And just to get back on topic a bit - pushy salespeople make me very nervous, so I try to avoid them whenever possible. I happened to be in Manhattan over the weekend, and purchased my lens at B&H. The salesperson there was very friendly and helpful, answered all of my questions, and there was no attempt to try to direct me towards a less ideal purchase. That store is pretty cool - they have an overhead basket conveyor that carries your purchases to the front of the store, plus they offer free candy and small cups of soda. A very pleasant shopping experience!

B&Hs store in Manhattan is just plain cool. They have more photography and video stuff than you can shake a stick at, all in stock, and you can get your grubby little hands on most of it to give it the once-over before you buy. Plus, their associates are all very knowlegable and helpful.

B&H has no need for high-pressure sales tactics. They're the 800-lb gorilla; they make plenty of sales without the high-pressure carp, so they feel like they can relax and give the customer what he wants.

BTW, if you've ever seen the movie Die Hard With A Vengence, look closely at the very first scene - you will notice the block where B&H has it's store getting blown up.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

B&Hs store in Manhattan is just plain cool. They have more photography and video stuff than you can shake a stick at, all in stock, and you can get your grubby little hands on most of it to give it the once-over before you buy. Plus, their associates are all very knowlegable and helpful.

B&H has no need for high-pressure sales tactics. They're the 800-lb gorilla; they make plenty of sales without the high-pressure carp, so they feel like they can relax and give the customer what he wants.

A trivial fact:

the sales of US (not grey-market) Canon at B+H surpass the sales of ALL Canadian retailers COMBINED.