Any limitations to using 3rd party lenses

[philwojo]

Ok I am pretty much a total noobie to this, but I am going to be getting a D50 (most likely) soon. I am mostly going to be shooting typical vacation stuff, with the occasional outdoor sports stuff (nephews).

I am looking at the Nikkor kit lens (18-55mm) but want to get a zoom as well. Do I lose anything going with a 3rd party lens like a Sigma? Do I lose any of the functionality of the camera or external flash with 3rd party lenses?

Like I said I am new and I have been reading some much that some of it is a blur, so any help would be great.

thanks,
Phil

[Erad]

for a zoom lens i actually reccommend the sigma 70-300mm APO DG, ive had it for a couple weeks now and im enjoying it, for what you pay for it, it puts out really good results.

[jcon]

You say you have been reading so much about 3rd party lenses. If you search this forum you will find many, many posts on here about Sigma and other 3rd party lenses. No, there arent limitations, I use two Sigma lenses on my D50 and they work just find with my SB-800. Ofcourse I dont know if there is a performance difference with Nikon glass compared to Sigma, because I am too poor to afford Nikon:D

[philwojo]

I haven't been reading up on 3rd party lenses, I meant I have been reading up on getting a dSLR and most of that reading relates to the KIT lenses that come with the D50.

So, there is nothing that is turned "off" or not functional, by going with a 3rd party lens, in the camera, no type of metering or AF is turned off.

Again, I'm sorry for the simple questions, just new and wanting to make sure.

thanks,
Phil

[K1W1]

The Sigma 70-300 DG APO lens is heavier than the Nikon 70-300G lens (the one that is usually offered with D50's), it is noiser when it focusses and it has Macro ability after a fashion. In addition it takes better photos than the Nikon 70-300G lens in all but perfect lighting conditions.
I've had both and I've now sold the Nikon and kept the Sigma.
The only reason I would use the Nikon would be if I were travelling somewhere where perfect light could be guaranteed and weight was an issue.

[philwojo]

K1W1 thanks for the reply, and I think that from what I am reading that there is no loss of functionality from the camera in terms of stuff like AF and metering, etc.

I know that based on optics and all the different factors involved with a lens that it will perform different, so it really wasn't a question of is Nikkor better than Sigma or anything like that. I just wanted to make sure that I will still get full use of the "auto" type features on the camera with the 3rd party lenses.

I know that once I get better I can start to dial things in more on my own and not rely on the camera, but I am not at that point as of yet.

Thanks again for all of the help.

Phil

[D70FAN]

K1W1 thanks for the reply, and I think that from what I am reading that there is no loss of functionality from the camera in terms of stuff like AF and metering, etc.

I know that based on optics and all the different factors involved with a lens that it will perform different, so it really wasn't a question of is Nikkor better than Sigma or anything like that. I just wanted to make sure that I will still get full use of the "auto" type features on the camera with the 3rd party lenses.

I know that once I get better I can start to dial things in more on my own and not rely on the camera, but I am not at that point as of yet.

Thanks again for all of the help.

Phil

For future reference on lenses. The camera makes little relative difference in these tests except where AF is a stated issue using 3rd party lenses on the Canon. Nikon cameras typically don't have AF problems:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

[coldrain]

Nikon cameras also can have AF problems with 3rd party lenses, it depends on the motor used. See for instance the Tamron 17-50 f2.8.

[D70FAN]

Nikon cameras also can have AF problems with 3rd party lenses, it depends on the motor used. See for instance the Tamron 17-50 f2.8.

Hence, the word typically.;)