Need a good short range lens in the $500 range

[Scott6]

hey, I have about $500 to buy a lens for my D50, I have a 50mm prime and some glass in the 100-300mm+ range. So I am looking for some good glass on the wide side. Idealy it needs to start in the 17-20mm range and finish off higher than 50mm

Sugestions?

[Scott6]

larger apture the better...

[Blob]

The Nikon 18-70 Kit lens that comes with the D70 is a favorite. There's also the Sigma 18-125, tokina 12-24 f/4 to name a few.

[Scott6]

ehh the kit lens dont really apeal to me..

Any one with work on the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD, its about $450

[jcon]

Sigma 18-125mm for about $300-$350.

[Scott6]

My boss has the 18-200 for his XT, its seemed to be a good lens, and I am strongly considering it. I was jsut wonder if my 500$ can get some a few more F stops down... 2.8 range..

JCON, what do you think of your Sigma 18-50mm 2.8? compared to the 18-125.

[jcon]

The 18-50mm 2.8 is a great lens, its very sharp, especially around F9 or so, but since you already have the great 50mm prime, I dont think you would need that lens, I mainly use my 18-50mm for portrait/weddings, for that you can use your 50mm prime. I think you would be more suited for the 18-125mm, it gives you more range as a walk around lens and is pretty darn sharp itself! I think with the money you saved from purchasing the 18-125mm, you could put it towards the SB-600 flash($200) or the SB-800 flash($300). Or even a tripod.

[Scott6]

But I have nothing but the Prime thats under 100mm, and 50mm is not wide enough for shootin in my house. (I know I use it inside all the time as its my widest lens)

[jcon]

What do you plan on using this new lens for?

[coldrain]

For indoor lowlight a 35mm f2 prime is ideal.

[D70FAN]

I have the Nikkor 35mm f/2 and it is a good lens, but not wide enough for normal indoor shooting (house size interior). You would probably be better served by the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8. I have a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 that does a good job in tight spaces as well, but there are times when having 18mm on the wide end at f/2.8 would be nice.

You might want to give the 24-70 f/2.8 a try (in the store) and compare it to the 18-50 f/2.8.

Lenses are always a compromise of cost versus performance and range.

[Scott6]

Hmmm Reading around it looks liek the tamrom 17-50mm 2.8 tops the sigma version just a tad.


I also noticed the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR II, while its more than i wanted to spend, it looks to be a great peice of glass. Any thoughts?

[K1W1]

I also noticed the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR II, while its more than i wanted to spend, it looks to be a great peice of glass. Any thoughts?

It depends whether you want a lens now or whether you are prepared to wait up to two months. The Nikon 18-200 has been almost impossible to get hold of since it was released late last year.

[Scott6]

It depends whether you want a lens now or whether you are prepared to wait up to two months. The Nikon 18-200 has been almost impossible to get hold of since it was released late last year.

yea i was just noticing that

[tygersclaw]

The Nikon 18-200 has a waiting list of between 6 to 9 months. I ended up getting a Tamron AF18-200MM F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD ASPHERICAL (IF) MACRO with my eye now on the Nikon AF S 70-200 F2.8 G VR as my next lens.

[Scott6]

Hmmmm, the local camera shop said he can get me the Nikkor 18-200 VR in 1 week... wonder how that is... but he wants like 180 more than etailers for it

[coldrain]

Hmmm Reading around it looks liek the tamrom 17-50mm 2.8 tops the sigma version just a tad.


I also noticed the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR II, while its more than i wanted to spend, it looks to be a great peice of glass. Any thoughts?
Well, it's not a great piece of glass, it is a great piece of glass for its type. It is a convenient all in one, not designed for outstanding optical performance but convenience. And such designs have faults.

So, if you can live with the faults, it is a convenient lens. Compared to that Tamron 17-50 f2.8 for instance, it vignets more, it distorts a lot both in 18mm (barrel distortion) and from 50mm up (pin cushion distortion). Its build quality is not impressive, and it's not very "fast" (regarding aperture).

Nice lens FOR ITS TYPE, just like the cheaper Sigma 18-200mm, which lacks the VR of course.

[TNB]

The Nikon 18-200 has a waiting list of between 6 to 9 months. I ended up getting a Tamron AF18-200MM F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD ASPHERICAL (IF) MACRO with my eye now on the Nikon AF S 70-200 F2.8 G VR as my next lens.
I recently purchased the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom and received my $100 rebate check today--one reason I purchased it when I did was because of the ongoing rebate. It's very fast compared to my Sigma lenses and of course, I was able to take some indoor photos without a flash while I had to use a flash with my Sigma lenses. I also took some night photos without a tripod which didn't come out too bad.

[Scott6]

Well, I think im gonna go with either the 18-50 2.8 sigma or the 17-15 2.8 tamron (leanin onthe tamron)

Dose anyone know if the tamron 17-50 2.8 comes with a lens hood?


I have another option and that is sell my D50 body to a guy at my work for $450 and upgrade to a D200... hmmm.....

[K1W1]

We need to remember to compare the proverbial apples with apples here.
Here is Australia the Nikkor 70-200 f2,8 costs around Aus$3000.00 as opposed to the Nikkor 18-200 VR at around Aus$1200.00 or the Sigma 18-200 at around Aus$450.00.
I for one would wnat to see a HUGE improvement in any images taken in the 70-200 range with the Nikkor f2.8 to justify it's price. If there was no noticebale difference I would be very, very pissed off.
Apart from anything else the Nikkor 70-200 doesn't really qualify as a "good short range lens for $500" IMO.

[TNB]

I have another option and that is sell my D50 body to a guy at my work for $450 and upgrade to a D200... hmmm.....
One of the locals offered to purchased my D50 (which isn't that old), but I decided to keep it. I thought it better to keep the D50 as a spare even if I upgraded camera bodies.