A 28-200 for the digital world

[D70FAN]

After trying out a 70-300 Nikon lens I realized that the wide angle side of it was just way to narrow for an amateur like me. I bought the Tamron 18-200 today ($400) and I really like what this thing can do as far as versatility. The low end is exactly the same as my Nikon kit lens, and the high end is terrific. I'm sure I'm not going to get the same quality shots as if I had gone up market looking for a lens, but this thing seems like the ideal solution for me, a pure amateur. As a bonus, it's hardly any larger than my Nikon 18-70 (maybe 1/4") and it's about the same weight.

Anyone want to buy a Nikon 18-70 DX lens?

Grossie, How about posting some of those shots at different aperture and zoom settings. None of the local stores seem to have these and I'm very interested in expanding from my 18-125 Sigma.

Thanks.

[Bullitt]

Grossie,

You seem to be happy with the Tamron 18-200 lens, I think I will look at this or the Sigma 18-200 when it is available. I have read here that the Tokina 24-200mm lens produces sharper images but I do not wish to lose the wide angle on the lower limits of one of these lenses. I also may have an 18-70 DX for sale along with a Coolpix 8800...

[Grossie]

I may be out with the camera today, so if I shoot anything worth posting I will do so.

As for availability, my local "real" camera store didn't have it, but Ritz camera did! Since I'm a typical American I went with instant gratification over customer loyalty (actually the "real" camera store also did something that pissed me off a little, so I feel no guilt).

[Grossie]

Here are some shots, I did them in my kitchen just for fun. All were shot at ISO 400. I had to dumb them down quite a bit in order to get them onto this website. Let's see how they look here (nothing spectacular really)

[Grossie]

They're pretty grainy, but I guess you can get the idea about what's in there. They look nothing like this on my computer, obviously clarity is much better in real life. I hope this can at least give you an idea.

I have done some shots with both lenses (the Tamron and Nikkor) side by side and find that I can't notice a difference in image quality, but I haven't done anything terrifically challenging.

[palmbook]

They're pretty grainy, but I guess you can get the idea about what's in there. They look nothing like this on my computer, obviously clarity is much better in real life. I hope this can at least give you an idea.

I have done some shots with both lenses (the Tamron and Nikkor) side by side and find that I can't notice a difference in image quality, but I haven't done anything terrifically challenging.

good images. However they're not grainy, but muddy cos of quality-dump-down.

[jeisner]

You are right, I missunderstood the facts about the aperture range, thank you very much for your time... I will tray the Sigma 18-125...

Andres

Well yes and no... For example a 20mm f2 lens will be as Bright on digital as on film, and it will have the equivelant FOV of 30mm (1.5 crop) on digital... But it will not have the DOF of an f2 30mm lens on digital it will actually have the DOF of a 30mm f3 lens.... This is why those small sensor Prosumer cameras are not capable of shallow DOF photos... They may have a 4x crop factor so an f2 lens has the DOF of a f8 lens...

[D70FAN]

Well yes and no... For example a 20mm f2 lens will be as Bright on digital as on film, and it will have the equivelant FOV of 30mm (1.5 crop) on digital... But it will not have the DOF of an f2 30mm lens on digital it will actually have the DOF of a 30mm f3 lens.... This is why those small sensor Prosumer lenses are not capable of shallow DOF photos... They may have a 4x crop factor so an f2 lens has the DOF of a f8 lens...

Very good point, and one obvioulsy overlooked in most discussions. Thanks.

[jeisner]

Very good point, and one obvioulsy overlooked in most discussions. Thanks.

I only found out when I had my FZ20 because I was hell-bent on knowing why I could never get a shallow DOF, one of the big disadvantages of smaller sensors IMO..