d50 newbie and lens selection

[babaman]

Hi all,

I bought myself an entry ticket to the DSLR world (a d50 body only and a 50mm f1.8) about a week ago, and I'm enjoying it. However, to me the 50mm is not wide enough but sharp. I did not buy the 18-55 (d50 kit lens) because I heard it's only an average lens.

I have narrowed down my choices to these 3 "everyday lens", NEW nikon 18-70, NEW sigma 18-125 or a USED tamron 18-200. They are all about the same price. If you were in my shoe, which lens would you choose? You may suggest other lens as well.

Maybe I should have just spent abit more and get the d70s kit instead?

Hope to hear from you all soon

[RichNY]

So your budget is approx. $325, correct?

First what type of photos are you looking to shoot?

Will you be shooting in good light or do you need a lens fast enough for low light?

Which is more important to you, very good optical quality or decent quality with the ability to have more focal range to capture your shots?

None of the lenses you've indicated are good in low light.
Nikon 18-70 f/3.5-4.5
Sigma 18-25 f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 18-200 XR f/3.5-6.3

I believe that these might be better choices for you to consider as they will allow you to take low light shots that you would either miss with the lens choices you made or be very grainy because you had to set the ISO up so high.

Sigma EX DG 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG $429
TamRON SP AF 17-50mm /2.8 XR DiII LD Aspherical (IF) $450
TAmROn SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) $390

Rich

[jcon]

What do you shoot primarily? You said the 50mm wasnt wide enough. Do you need more zoom also or just wide? If you need just wide I would suggest a wide angle lens. It all depends what you shoot, that will get you more useful suggestions!

Edit.....Looks like Rich posted the same time I did, I think he covered it well. One lens he didnt mention is the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 I have this lens myself and am very happy with it.

[babaman]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions.

I mainly shoot street/candid shots with good lightings, some landscape, some night shots. Based on these information, I guess I'm more on the wide-angle.

As a beginner, I don't think I will see much difference between a 'very good optical quality lens' and a 'decent quality lens' yet. I'm still learning slowly. So a 'decent quality lens' would be good start for me.

The reason why I mentioned the nikon 18-70 is due to the rave it's been getting. The sigma 18-125 and tamron 18-200 for its convenience of not changing lens if needed.

I live in New Zealand and my budget is about 600NZD which is roughly 350USD. These are the price I have found in one of the New Zealand camera shop. The sigmas are priced alot higher than in the US.

Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 = ~USD620
Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 = ~USD610
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 = ~USD480
Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 = ~USD430

I also plan to use this lens I will be getting for my Japan trip in the near future. Therefore something light is preferred. Perhaps a 70-300mm lens would be handy for the trip too?

Sorry if I blabber too much.


So your budget is approx. $325, correct?

First what type of photos are you looking to shoot?

Will you be shooting in good light or do you need a lens fast enough for low light?

Which is more important to you, very good optical quality or decent quality with the ability to have more focal range to capture your shots?

None of the lenses you've indicated are good in low light.
Nikon 18-70 f/3.5-4.5
Sigma 18-25 f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 18-200 XR f/3.5-6.3

I believe that these might be better choices for you to consider as they will allow you to take low light shots that you would either miss with the lens choices you made or be very grainy because you had to set the ISO up so high.

Sigma EX DG 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG $429
TamRON SP AF 17-50mm /2.8 XR DiII LD Aspherical (IF) $450
TAmROn SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) $390

Rich

[K1W1]

Hi,
I mainly shoot street/candid shots with good lightings, some landscape, some night shots. Based on these information, I guess I'm more on the wide-angle.

As a beginner, I don't think I will see much difference between a 'very good optical quality lens' and a 'decent quality lens' yet. I'm still learning slowly. So a 'decent quality lens' would be good start for me.

The reason why I mentioned the nikon 18-70 is due to the rave it's been getting. The sigma 18-125 and tamron 18-200 for its convenience of not changing lens if needed.

That is where you may have gone wrong. By your admission you will be using the wider end of the new lens. It is generally agreed that the 18-55 is as good if not better than the 18-70 in the 18-35 type range - exactly where you will be shooting. Maybe the 18-55 would actually be worth looking at.
Just have a peek at the Nikkor group on Flickr, look at the 18-55 lens photos and then say that the lens is no good.


I also plan to use this lens I will be getting for my Japan trip in the near future. Therefore something light is preferred. Perhaps a 70-300mm lens would be handy for the trip too?

For light weight the Nikon 70-300G lens can't be beaten but unfortunately it only works really well in very good lighting conditions. For overall value for money the Sigma 70-300 APO DG lens is great but noticeably heavier than the Nikon.

When I was home visiting the rellies in March during the entire two weeks I was travelling between Ak and Wgtn I only every used the 18-55 kit lens and I'm very very happy with the way most of the images came out. The thing I missed was a decent flash for the overcast Wgtn weather or forested areas of the central North Island rather than more reach or more sharpness.

[babaman]

Woohoo another New Zealander in this forum!

I'm living in Christchurch, haven't been to Auckland for ages. Hehe. You got a good point Kiwi, maybe I should have bought the d50 kit set instead. Oh well, live and learn. At least now I could buy something faster, hehe.

Currently looking at these two 2nd hand (~USD220) (The Tokina is a bit cheaper) They are not wide enough on a crop sensor, but I plan to add a wider lens in the future. :)

Tokina 28-70mm F2.8
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8

Has anyone used any of them? How are they? Which one would be better?

[coldrain]

If you are thinking about buying the tamron 28-75 f2.8 or Sigma 24-70 f2.8 you better still think of the Nikon 18-55 kitlens.

The kit lens gives you some wide angle that the other two lenses miss.

And like KIWI says, the 18-70 does not really deserve its good reputation (or, the 18-55 does not deserve its bad reputation).

Then you can save up for for instance a Tokina 12-24 f4 wide angle zoom after your trip to Japan.

If you just want a single lens, the Sigma 18-125 is a very good idea. It is a good lens.