Which lens would you recommend?

Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO
Sigma 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 DG MACRO
Sigma 28-200mm F3.5-5.6 DG MACRO

I have the D70 + Kit Lens.

From what I have read so far in the forums, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO should be a good addition to what I currently own, and at a price I can afford.

While looking at Sigma's website, I saw the 28-200 and 28-300 lens. What do you think? If I were using any of the two mentioned lenses, would it give me the same performance as using the 18-70 kit lens with the added benefit of 200 or 300mm?

Thank you.

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You already have the wide side covered with the kit lens, I would think the 70-300 would be a good choice. The 70-300 is already slow enough, but the 28-300 is even a stop slower at 300. Good luck with your choices.
I have the 70-300 and took my first macro with it a couple of days ago



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Scott_R said:

slow enough, but the 28-300 is even a stop slower at 300.

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it's only a third of a stop actually, F5.6 -> F6.3 , F7.1 would be 2/3 and F8 a whole stop - therefore the difference in light between the 70-300 APO and the 28-300 is negligable .. A GOOD copy of the 28-300 Macro is at least a match for the 70-300 APO, the problem is finding one .

Optically the Nikon 28-200 beats the lot of them, especially the Sigma 28-200 models

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Thank you Adam, looks like I learned something today. Actually found a neat web site that taught me about f stops just now:
http://www.uscoles.com/fstop.htm

As far as the 28-200G, I LOVE this lens. I use this lens more than all my others combined.
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Thank you for your advices. Anyway, I called up the distributor here in the Philippines. SIGMA 70-300/4-5.6 APO DG MACRO is being sold for PHP 11,800. FYI, USD $1 converts to PHP 51.12 or something like that as of today.

What do you think?

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leefamilyph said:

What do you think?

Click to expand...

You'll like it. I have a similar version, too. Some basics:

• Stop down to f/8 or f/11 if possible.
• The rule of thumb of "reciprocal shutter speed at least 1.5 times focal length" should be observed, i. e. for 70 mm 1/125 s or shorter, for 300 mm 1/500 s or shorter. Don't be afraid to raise ISO, often up to 1600, to get these speeds. I prefer high ISO noise to blurred pictures.
• The image quality is best in the 70-200 mm range. Towards 300 mm pictures get softer.
• Use a tri- or monopod for macros.

• I try to avoid backlit subjects. There's significant flare.
• Post-processing frequently improves images a lot. Play with levels, contrast, saturation, sharpening. Here's an example I posted some time ago:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=16229539

Good luck!

Scott_R said:

As far as the 28-200G, I LOVE this lens. I use this lens more than
all my others combined.

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Mine is almost a permanent fixture on the D50, it's cheap, performs better than the 18-200VR at the longer end (where it's needed as the aperture is slow) and as the D50 is a backup anyway, I may as well use it as a makeshift "Digicam" as well and the 28-200 is ideal ..

It even stands up to 10Mp wide open from about 35mm onwards, stop down to F4.5 at 28mm and leave it there, the lens will gradually move to F5.6 as you zoom and the lens will stay sharp across the whole range

Nikon D200 - 28-200 G 100% Crops Wide open -



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Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

Only my own humble opinion Lee, but at this range I personally would look very hard at a good, warranted, used 80-200 2.8ED Nikkor. With no disrespect to Sigma (we have two EX range Sigmas so this is not a personal bias) this legendary Nikkor will give far better results, in fact, optically, no amount of money will do better. The 70-200VR is a little quicker but no better optically.

To cover this range we have an 80-200 2.8ED, plus a 120-300 Sigma 2.8 EX DG HSM, but for most purposes the 200-300 range is less used and a good x1.4TC on an 80-200 before the big Sigma came along was a very acceptable compromise - and a much lower total cost to cover the entire 80-280 range at optimal quality. And constant aperture.

Regards

Ewen Cameron
Kent, UK