WDWFigment
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2007
- Messages
- 2,245
As I've noticed a lot of threads asking, essentially, "what lens would be good for me?" I thought it might be useful to compile a thread of lens reviews. Obviously, a lot of this will be subjective, but by reading one person's review, then using the search feature of the thread, posters can get an idea of what other people think of a particular lens (and what the consensus is).
As such, for this thread to be most useful, please refer to lenses by brand name followed by their focal range in 'mm'. (So, it would be the Tokina 11-16mm, not the Tokina 1116. It would be the Sigma 30mm, not the dirty thirty. And so on.)
Please feel free to review any lenses you've used, for ANY mounts.
I'll start:
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens – Often described as the “jack of all trades, master of none” this is really a great lens for a beginner looking for more range than the kit lens offers. Once you get more and more into photography, you’ll probably use this less and less, but it’s still a great option when traveling light. It’s not as sharp and it does have its flaws, but don’t let the gear-snobs fool you–you can get great shots with this lens. Score: 7/10
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S DX VR – If you purchased your entry-level camera with the “kit” lens (18-55mm), want more ‘zoom’, and only have a $200 budget, this is the lens for you. It’s not perfect, but it’s fairly sharp and gives you additional zoom for only around $175. Score: 8/10
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens – Before you read any further, this lens is around $2,500. Now that I’ve lost 99% of you, it’s worth $2,500. That said, I don’t have that kind of money to spend on photography equipment (this is a hobby for me, after all), so the only time I use this lens is when I borrow it from a relative. When I have it with me, it’s rarely in my bag. One of the few times I use a telephoto lens more than a wide angle. It’s such an awesome lens. While it’s a 10/10 in terms of quality, it loses a point for price. Score: 9/10
Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Nikon DSLR Cameras -At less than a third of the price of the Nikon version, the Tamron offers great bang-for-buck. It’s incredibly sharp (perhaps sharper than the Nikon 70-200) and well-built. The only negative is that it does not have vibration reduction or any sort of image stabilization, which is very useful for a lens like this. If you’re shooting in broad daylight, you won’t miss it, though. Overall a great lens, and the added advantage of macro really pushes it over the top. Score: 9/10
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens – Essentially the same lens as the 50mm f/1.8G reviewed above, this version of the lens is for those who have a camera body with an in-body focusing motor. Most entry-level cameras (Nikon D40, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100) do not have in camera focusing motors, so they will have to purchase the more expensive “G” version. Semi-pro and pro level Nikons (Nikon D80, D90, D7000, D300, D300s, D700, etc.) do have the focusing motor in body, so this is the lens to purchase for those cameras. Earns an extra point due to its low price. Score: 8/10
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon – The holy grail of portrait and dark ride lenses as far as we’re considered, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is the perfect focal length for photographing dark rides, and it’s a more natural portrait lens for using in the parks. It produces buttery-smooth bokeh and the images really pop. Plus, with an aperture of f/1.4, it’s a bit faster than f/1.8 lenses. While Nikon offers the 35mm f/1.8 for a bit less, do not be convinced that this is a better option! Spend a little more and get the exceptional quality of the Sigma. You will not regret it. Score: 10/10
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Nikon – Some might call me an ultra-wide angle “fiend.” Well, this is the lens that started it all, and is one of two ultra-wide angle lenses I presently own. The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is another gem. With an aperture of f/2.8, it’s fast enough to use hand-held at night (or on some dark rides!) and its image quality is stunningly sharp. The only slight qualm is that it’s only 11mm at its widest. For most people this won’t be an issue, though. I just like really wide shots. If you do get this lens, make sure you use it to its full potential by leveraging the distortion it produces. Don’t just use it to “zoom backwards” or cram more things into the frame. Score: 9.5/10
Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM AF Ultra Wide Zoom Lens for Nikon – The newest lens in my bag is also the one I use most frequently. At 8mm, this lens is incredibly wide. Amazingly wide. Thanks to that, it can produce some really interesting shots that exaggerate distances and lines. Great for architectural shots. The only faults with the lens are that it’s slower (f/4.5-5.6) than most ultra-wides, it doesn’t accept filters, and its focus is a little slow. The fact that it’s 8mm on the wide end makes up for those faults, though. Score: 9.5/10
For the entire catalog of my lens reviews (and other camera gear reviews), check out: http://www.disneytouristblog.com/fe...t-disney-world-tom-bricker-photo-gear-advice/
Please share your lens reviews! The good, the bad, the ugly--all are welcome here!
As such, for this thread to be most useful, please refer to lenses by brand name followed by their focal range in 'mm'. (So, it would be the Tokina 11-16mm, not the Tokina 1116. It would be the Sigma 30mm, not the dirty thirty. And so on.)
Please feel free to review any lenses you've used, for ANY mounts.
I'll start:
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens – Often described as the “jack of all trades, master of none” this is really a great lens for a beginner looking for more range than the kit lens offers. Once you get more and more into photography, you’ll probably use this less and less, but it’s still a great option when traveling light. It’s not as sharp and it does have its flaws, but don’t let the gear-snobs fool you–you can get great shots with this lens. Score: 7/10
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S DX VR – If you purchased your entry-level camera with the “kit” lens (18-55mm), want more ‘zoom’, and only have a $200 budget, this is the lens for you. It’s not perfect, but it’s fairly sharp and gives you additional zoom for only around $175. Score: 8/10
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens – Before you read any further, this lens is around $2,500. Now that I’ve lost 99% of you, it’s worth $2,500. That said, I don’t have that kind of money to spend on photography equipment (this is a hobby for me, after all), so the only time I use this lens is when I borrow it from a relative. When I have it with me, it’s rarely in my bag. One of the few times I use a telephoto lens more than a wide angle. It’s such an awesome lens. While it’s a 10/10 in terms of quality, it loses a point for price. Score: 9/10
Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Nikon DSLR Cameras -At less than a third of the price of the Nikon version, the Tamron offers great bang-for-buck. It’s incredibly sharp (perhaps sharper than the Nikon 70-200) and well-built. The only negative is that it does not have vibration reduction or any sort of image stabilization, which is very useful for a lens like this. If you’re shooting in broad daylight, you won’t miss it, though. Overall a great lens, and the added advantage of macro really pushes it over the top. Score: 9/10
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens – Essentially the same lens as the 50mm f/1.8G reviewed above, this version of the lens is for those who have a camera body with an in-body focusing motor. Most entry-level cameras (Nikon D40, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100) do not have in camera focusing motors, so they will have to purchase the more expensive “G” version. Semi-pro and pro level Nikons (Nikon D80, D90, D7000, D300, D300s, D700, etc.) do have the focusing motor in body, so this is the lens to purchase for those cameras. Earns an extra point due to its low price. Score: 8/10
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon – The holy grail of portrait and dark ride lenses as far as we’re considered, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is the perfect focal length for photographing dark rides, and it’s a more natural portrait lens for using in the parks. It produces buttery-smooth bokeh and the images really pop. Plus, with an aperture of f/1.4, it’s a bit faster than f/1.8 lenses. While Nikon offers the 35mm f/1.8 for a bit less, do not be convinced that this is a better option! Spend a little more and get the exceptional quality of the Sigma. You will not regret it. Score: 10/10
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Nikon – Some might call me an ultra-wide angle “fiend.” Well, this is the lens that started it all, and is one of two ultra-wide angle lenses I presently own. The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is another gem. With an aperture of f/2.8, it’s fast enough to use hand-held at night (or on some dark rides!) and its image quality is stunningly sharp. The only slight qualm is that it’s only 11mm at its widest. For most people this won’t be an issue, though. I just like really wide shots. If you do get this lens, make sure you use it to its full potential by leveraging the distortion it produces. Don’t just use it to “zoom backwards” or cram more things into the frame. Score: 9.5/10
Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM AF Ultra Wide Zoom Lens for Nikon – The newest lens in my bag is also the one I use most frequently. At 8mm, this lens is incredibly wide. Amazingly wide. Thanks to that, it can produce some really interesting shots that exaggerate distances and lines. Great for architectural shots. The only faults with the lens are that it’s slower (f/4.5-5.6) than most ultra-wides, it doesn’t accept filters, and its focus is a little slow. The fact that it’s 8mm on the wide end makes up for those faults, though. Score: 9.5/10
For the entire catalog of my lens reviews (and other camera gear reviews), check out: http://www.disneytouristblog.com/fe...t-disney-world-tom-bricker-photo-gear-advice/
Please share your lens reviews! The good, the bad, the ugly--all are welcome here!
), but I don't *think* it's a full stop faster. 
