UnaFragger
Hi There
Premium
join:2002-03-05
Richmond, VA
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
| [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon I'm looking to get one of the wider f/2.8 zooms on a budget of around $400. The wife and I are going to an aquarium in a couple of weeks (VA Beach, I think), and I'm hoping to take a single lens with me.
I've also wanted one for a while, as none of the other lenses I have are really quick enough for shooting indoors with the exception of the Thrifty Fifty. I also enjoy shooting macro. It would likely be used mostly for indoors and so I like the wide angle. However, I also am not sure that 50mm is really enough zoom for things like aquariums or museums (places I'd likely use the lens).
I'm looking at these 4 options, but am open to other suggestions.
Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Autofocus
»www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3···_DG.html
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
»www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/2···_Di.html
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Macro
»www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5···_DC.html
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF]
»www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5···_II.html
I'm leaning slighty more away from the tamron 17-50 as it's a bit more expensive than the others, but if it's significantly better then it's a definite option.
Thanks in advance!
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Kringle
Dr.D
Premium
join:2004-02-27
Pierrefonds, QC
 ·Bell Sympatico
4 edits | Re: [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon Since you have a D80, I would suggest that you take a serious look at this lens: »www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3···_DG.html
It costs a bit more but I've found it to be a really sweet piece of glass. All of my California shots were done with it (it's all I brought with me). On my XTi, the AF works better than any other lens I have. It's something that I think would serve you very well for a long time to come.
My box shot: »Re: The One, The Only...Box Shot Thread! (part three)
EDIT: If you plan on doing any outdoor work, don't forget the 82mm CPL. It makes for a beautiful combination.
EDIT2: This is transformed from RAW and resized for posting to show how it does a macro shot (no other processing). I need to get extension tubes! Look into the Iris:
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
70mm 1/60th F10 ISO100
Macro Capability Sample (70mm)
BTW, click to view full. | |
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TigerNutz
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Premium
join:2000-12-23
Little Rock, AR | Re: [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon I second what Kringle says, I have that lens, great piece of glass.
Kinda big but a sharp lens.
But you can't go wrong with the Tamron lenses.
The 28-75mm has a reputation as one very fine lens for the money. | |
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bfreas
Premium
join:2001-06-16
Franklin, KY
 ·Comcast
| I'd lean a little more toward the 17-50. There's a huge difference between a starting point of 17 and 24 on the wide end. If the aquariums and museums are as tight quarters as I think, you'll wish you had the wider lens.
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Kringle
Dr.D
Premium
join:2004-02-27
Pierrefonds, QC
·Bell Sympatico
| Re: [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon I found that the 24mm wide end was pretty good in all kinds of museum situations. The aquariums, however, might be a different story.
My suggestion was based on the stated need for macro and general purpose indoor shooting. For what I do, 50 would be too short a tele end and I'd be stuck supplementing with another lens. What's the distortion like at 17mm? | |
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Kringle
Dr.D
Premium
join:2004-02-27
Pierrefonds, QC
·Bell Sympatico
2 edits | Re: [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon Thanks for that link! Looks like a very decent lens. From what I can see, the main differences are:
17-50
More plastic in construction (upside = a bit lighter to carry)
7 blade iris
Close focus = 1:4.5
24-70
Construction comparable to Canon "L" pro glass
9 blade iris
Close focus = 1:3.8 (better for macro)
Less Chromatic aberration than the 17-50
The differing number of iris blades will change the look of the diffraction sparkles in night shots ( »dptnt.com/2007/12/what-causes-th···-photos/ ) and, subjectively, the bokeh isn't quite as smooth with the 17-50.
Both lenses seem like very good choices and the final conclusion will obviously boil down to the intended applications versus total cost. | |
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Dream Killer
Graveyard Shift
Premium
join:2002-08-09
Forest Hills, NY
clubs: | I'd go with the Tamron. 17-50mm is the sweet spot in standard zooms. If you go with the 24mm or the 28mm models, you're really going to wish you had a wider angle. | |
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mhhack
Premium
join:2005-03-29
| Hi - I've got an older Nikon D70 and one of my still older film lenses is a 35-70mm f2.8 with macro capability. It is a fantastic lens and I used it in my film days, and am just beginning to try it with digital. You can read many reviews - even »www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/3570.htm has one. They are sometimes available on ebay and sometimes BH has them. By comparison with the short focal lengths of the above lenses it may be somewhat restricted for your purposes. | |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| f/2.8 won't seem so fast when you can't use your flash because you're constantly looking through the contorted lexan structure of the acquarium.
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UnaFragger
Hi There
Premium
join:2002-03-05
Richmond, VA
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon said by yock  :f/2.8 won't seem so fast when you can't use your flash because you're constantly looking through the contorted lexan structure of the acquarium. While I don't doubt that at all, it seems like it will be a bit better than my next-best option right now. That is either my 18-135mm which gets a max aperature of f/5 at 50mm, or my 50mm f/1.8 prime, which doesn't really offer any zoom. I would just take that, but 50mm seems pretty tight for the inside of an aquarium or museum or something.
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Overclocker Cafe - The hardware site for the rest of us. | |
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Kringle
Dr.D
Premium
join:2004-02-27
Pierrefonds, QC
·Bell Sympatico
| Re: [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon Excellent!!! You have analyzed the situation well and you've come up with a solution that will work best for you most of the time and save you some bucks in the process! Do let us know when you pull the trigger.  | |
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gugarci
Premium
join:2004-02-25
Bergen Co | Sorry but I don't like any of the current new Tamron lenses with the built in motors made for Nikon's. They focus too slowly compared to other lenses. I have played around with them at different times at Adorama and have yet to buy one. | |
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| jza80
join:2005-10-29
Sacramento, CA
| Re: [Lens] f/2.8 wide to normal zoom for Nikon said by gugarci :Sorry but I don't like any of the current new Tamron lenses with the built in motors made for Nikon's. They focus too slowly compared to other lenses. I noticed the same thing when trying out a old (no motor) and new (built in motor) Tamron 17-50.
The difference in focus speed is noticeable, so much so that I bought the older one without motor. | |
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