one more lens thread

[mattc]

ok i know theres a dozen lens threads and i read all the reviews on slrgear.com but i cant pick which lense i want. i just bought a new camera d200 and i just want one more fast lense and i'll be good in the lens department for a while now. so my choices are between the 18-50 2.8 HSM sigma or the 28-70 2.8 sigma NON HSM . is the hsm really gonna be worth the extra focal length i'll give up? i have a 10-20 so im not concerend about the overlap or the 8 mm im missing aswell. what to chose?

[XaiLo]

I'd go with the 18-50mm HSM rather than having to manual focus all the time. Between this lens and the 70-200 I doubt very much that you'll miss the 20mm.

[mattc]

so the hsm will me worth it then? i would like to use this lens for some club shoots too. remember this will not be going on a D40, im not really worried about the gap to my 70-200 either more or less HSM or not

[Rooz]

non hsm will be too slow and noisy imo.

[mattc]

ok heres a question when using an hsm or af-s does it use the motor in the lens aswell as the camera motor or just the one in the lens?

[Aldor88]

I'd go with the HSM as well, from what I've heard sigma non-hsm lenses are pretty slow and noisy.
Not sure about the focus meter question.

[erichlund]

AF-S/HSM lenses only use the motor in the lens. They do not have a connection to the camera motor. You could actually do something dramatic, like finding where the motor screw is on your D200, then looking at your kit lens (AF-S), and seeing that is has no way to connect to the camera at that point.

I'd go with the 18-55 f2.8. Not because of the HSM, though you will use it on your D40x (just trust me), but becuase is gives you a better useful range. 18-55 translates to 27-82.5, which is wide to short telephoto. 28-70 translate to 42 to 105, normal to shortish intermediate telephoto. You will miss the wide. You won't really miss the little bit of telephoto you lose.

When I say you, I'm referring to most people. You should look at the assortment of photos you have taken, and decide how important the two different ranges are to you. Are a lot of your photos at 18-27mm. Or, are a lot shot at 55mm and cropped because 55 wasn't quite long enough. That will make your decision better than any advice anyone gives you here.

[mattc]

AF-S/HSM lenses only use the motor in the lens. They do not have a connection to the camera motor. You could actually do something dramatic, like finding where the motor screw is on your D200, then looking at your kit lens (AF-S), and seeing that is has no way to connect to the camera at that point.

I'd go with the 18-55 f2.8. Not because of the HSM, though you will use it on your D40x (just trust me), but becuase is gives you a better useful range. 18-55 translates to 27-82.5, which is wide to short telephoto. 28-70 translate to 42 to 105, normal to shortish intermediate telephoto. You will miss the wide. You won't really miss the little bit of telephoto you lose.

When I say you, I'm referring to most people. You should look at the assortment of photos you have taken, and decide how important the two different ranges are to you. Are a lot of your photos at 18-27mm. Or, are a lot shot at 55mm and cropped because 55 wasn't quite long enough. That will make your decision better than any advice anyone gives you here.

good point that really puts it into a better prospective. for the couple times that it would be cropped it wouldn't be worth it i guess. plus if im shooting at clubs Dj's and whatever it is easier to get in that 5-10 extra feet if i don't want to crop and get a tight shot. not like im gonna be zooming from across the room getting 2 girls dancing. thats what the 70-200 is for:D (kidding obviously)