[amitk26]

Originally Posted by ampere

Can some one summarize between Tamron, Sigma and Canon Lenses. I see that for the same specifications, the pricing between the three varies quite a bit. I was looking at the 18-200 IS Canon system and realized its way too expensive compared to equivalent Tamron/



Any inputs?

PS: I have troubled TSK enough with PMs. Thought I will spare him for the time being

Tamron 18-270 vc is a very good lens as single walkaround lens. Canon 18-200 is reported to have barrel distortion at far end for same focal length sigma 18-200 os is lot cheaper and better

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by navin

1. so can I record and AF at the same time? my subject move and move suddenly.
2. cant this be done in a firm ware upgrade?
3. I wont carry a big camcorder and SLR at the same time either but 1 SLR that does both is fine.

You can do AF during video, but every time you want to focus, you have to half press shutter.
I am not sure about how fast or convenient it is.
I guess you will have to walk into a shop, put on a 50 1.8 and than try to video a moving subject.

[phamilyman]

Ampere,

there's no 'summary' except DPR et al.

Please realize Canon 18-200 is f5.6 at the tele end, while Tammy/Sigma are f6.3. The value buy is often the 18-250 Tammy (supposedly better optics than 18-200, google, ymmv). The 18-270 is ~2x costlier being more complicated (having more elements).

[ampere]

Thanks Amit and Phamilyman.

So the summary is Tamron 18-250 may be a better budget buy as compared to 18-270 Tamron and the 18-200 Canon.

Here is the 18-250 Tamron link :
Amazon.com: Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras: Gateway


And the 18-200 Canon Link:

Amazon.com: Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras: Electronics

[thalavoy]

May be slightly off topic. Can any one point me where in bangalore, can I get a M42 (screw mount) to K-mount (Pentax) adapter? Thanks.

[rajatsingh78]

Thanks for the input,
I decided over the weekend to pick the D5000 body only from India would cost me anything between 29,000 to 31,000 depending upon the store,

I am getting the lens from US and they are coming out to be considerably cheaper than India, following is what I am planning -
- One 18-400mm : this would be a full time lens
- One 50-300mm : this would be when I am clicking birds/wildlife etc.

Any suggestions, links, info, better info are always welcome

Originally Posted by R2D2

Nikon DSLRs do NOT have international warranties (film SLRs, flashes, lenses do), therefore a camera bought in the US is not covered under warranty in India. I am not sure about Canon's policies.

So, if warranty is key consider buying the camera in from an authorised Nikon dealer with a Nikon india warranty. It may work out to be more expensive but offer you peace of mind.

Cheers!

[tsk1979]

Third party 10-20x kind of lenses (18-200,18-270) have max aperture of 6.3 at full zoom. This means IS is a must if light is not optimum. AF speed can also suffer in such cases, as AF always happens at max aperture.
Moreover, 18-270 lens has specific IQ issues which come with such zooms on large sensors.
So stick to 18-200 with Image stabilization. It will do fine for you.
Later, if you want to get into a birding kind of scenario, but a third party 400-500mm max zoom lens

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by thalavoy

May be slightly off topic. Can any one point me where in bangalore, can I get a M42 (screw mount) to K-mount (Pentax) adapter? Thanks.

I ordered one on e-bay and waiting for packet to arrive :-( .
Normal Camera stores do not keep them and the old man sitting in Whizz ( Forum Mall) who claims to be knowledgeable and gets offended very easily by customers like me even does not know there is something known as M42 , Pentax K Mount is a rarer commodity.

heard that in Gandhinagar area few shops which sell M42 to EF-S adapter but they are overpriced and could not spare to roam around and hunt there.

BTW which M42 lens you have procured ?

[rajatsingh78]

Thanks tsk,
Just finalized Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras from Amazon for $366, it has both auto focus and image stabilization.

Just saw Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens for $250, any suggestions

Now looking for a 200-500mm with variable focus because even a Sigma 200-500 mm f/2.8 is for a whopping $24,000 (Yes! twenty four thousand US Dollars) any suggestions ?

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Third party 10-20x kind of lenses (18-200,18-270) have max aperture of 6.3 at full zoom. This means IS is a must if light is not optimum. AF speed can also suffer in such cases, as AF always happens at max aperture.
Moreover, 18-270 lens has specific IQ issues which come with such zooms on large sensors.
So stick to 18-200 with Image stabilization. It will do fine for you.
Later, if you want to get into a birding kind of scenario, but a third party 400-500mm max zoom lens

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by rajatsingh78

I am getting the lens from US and they are coming out to be considerably cheaper than India, following is what I am planning -
- One 18-400mm : this would be a full time lens
- One 50-300mm : this would be when I am clicking birds/wildlife etc.

What lenses are these i.e. brand and model? I haven't heard of a 18-400 and 50-300 zoom in the Nikon range. Are these Tamron or Sigma?

Be careful in your choice of lenses, a slow lens with a large zoom range won't allow you to use high shutter speeds that capture birds in flight. Of course stationary subjects are easy. Fast telephotos can be very, very expensive.

A suggestion is the Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR zoom that costs about US$ 520 in the US and about Rs 26K with b&w in India. This lens is real value for money and when used in the 70-200 mm range and in day light or bright light takes photos that are sharp and contrasty, just as good as the professional zooms costing 4-5 times more. Low light performance (focus and photo quality) is satisfactory and naturally not as good as the pro lenses. Read about it on the net. I own one and use it with a FX DSLR and film SLR too. I am very happy with it. It will serve my purpose till I save up for more serious glass.

Keep in mind that lenses are more important than the camera body.

Cheers!

[navin]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

but every time you want to focus, you have to half press shutter. I am not sure about how fast or convenient it is.
I guess you will have to walk into a shop, put on a 50 1.8.

I have a 50/1.4 and intend to borrow a friend's 550D to check this out. Currently my 50/1.4 is with the same friend and when I asked him over the phone he told me he likes the fact that a moving object can enter and leave the focus area. My needs are different I often need DOF to cover 3 kids at different distances.

[rajatsingh78]

Thanks for the info,

I have shortlisted -

Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras from Amazon for $366

OR

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens for $250

I am getting inclined more towards the Sigma because it has more range (18-200) as comparted to the Nikkor (55-200), Nikkor in the Sigma spec is almost double the price,

Since I am an amateur, I think this will be good enough for beginning and then later can buy better lens as and when funds are available..what say?

Originally Posted by R2D2

What lenses are these i.e. brand and model? I haven't heard of a 18-400 and 50-300 zoom in the Nikon range. Are these Tamron or Sigma?

Be careful in your choice of lenses, a slow lens with a large zoom range won't allow you to use high shutter speeds that capture birds in flight. Of course stationary subjects are easy. Fast telephotos can be very, very expensive.

A suggestion is the Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR zoom that costs about US$ 520 in the US and about Rs 26K with b&w in India. This lens is real value for money and when used in the 70-200 mm range and in day light or bright light takes photos that are sharp and contrasty, just as good as the professional zooms costing 4-5 times more. Low light performance (focus and photo quality) is satisfactory and naturally not as good as the pro lenses. Read about it on the net. I own one and use it with a FX DSLR and film SLR too. I am very happy with it. It will serve my purpose till I save up for more serious glass.

Keep in mind that lenses are more important than the camera body.

Cheers!

[thalavoy]

Originally Posted by amitk26

I ordered one on e-bay and waiting for packet to arrive :-( .
Normal Camera stores do not keep them and the old man sitting in Whizz ( Forum Mall) who claims to be knowledgeable and gets offended very easily by customers like me even does not know there is something known as M42 , Pentax K Mount is a rarer commodity.

heard that in Gandhinagar area few shops which sell M42 to EF-S adapter but they are overpriced and could not spare to roam around and hunt there.

BTW which M42 lens you have procured ?

Thanks. From where did you order the adapter. To your Nikon or do you have a Pentax body?
I had gotten a 200/3.5 Vivitar lens. Hope to put this into use because after that I got a AF 80-200/2.8 which probably will used more than this 200/3.5

[phamilyman]

Rajat Sarkar,

You are buying lenses the wrong way. I would suggest BBS a camera for a day, then see what you're shooting.

IMHO, We obsess over zoom lenses while the vast majority barely use it. guess what - the bulk of us end up taking 90% of our images at 18-55 or 50mm (for the portrait lovers).

I'd recommend a 17-50 f2.8 VC Tamron (an object of severe gear lust and domestic discord - to be purchased within this FY), a 50mm, AND if you must - like absolutely MUST ... something like a Sigma 135-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG Telephoto Zoom Lens - 727101 - Compare Prices and Buy at PriceGrabber for 550 USD.

Even in the 200mm range, the best pref is the 70-200 for street photography. The 55-200 or 250 are a decent lovely budget compromise but just that. atleast i didnt use it enough to justify the price i paid - but then i got it as a package so i'm not complaining too much!

Fact is, I have a 250mm and its useless to get up close to birds. if you buy the sigma, it gives you f6.3 at 200mm which means little quality in birding. The 18-200 is just a fantastic all around travel lens (but tammy is better value) - ideal when you don't have the time to change lenses and want to just shoot peacefully.

If you wanna bird, the 400mm is the way to go. In which case, go Canon and buy a 400mm f5.6 prime in $1200 (cheaper than the 100-400) which gets uber shots (see surya@64 's shots in thephotographer.in).

Basically to sum up. 18-200 for travel with family where IQ is less important than taking nice shots quickly
70-200 for street photography
400mm for birding
17-50 f2.8 for what alot of people shoot 90% of the time. You have a toddler na? It'll be THE affordable fast lens for indoor shots
50 or 35mm for portraits. Ditto for kid shots but only portraits

Don't jump into a collection - figure out what you'll need. Order one by one. With 3rd party lenses, make sure the guy rcving it can verify the quality lest there be QC issues.

[pawan_pullarwar]

@phamilyman:well explained on lens buying tips. Even I ended up buying Canon 55-250 mm which is not suitable for bird photography.