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Nikkor 18-70 or its equivalent ..?

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Shmuel

Shmuel

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I have been using this 18-70 lens for the past 3-4 years, and am quite satisfied with its performance. I just wonder if someone here has knowledge of another lens of the same range (or as close to it as possible) that performs better, i.e., sharper, better color output etc.?
Any recommendations will be met with sincere gratitude.

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Shmuel
 
Well you did not mention budget - so Ill just say this - if you want the best lens close to that range - just buy the 17-55dx (about $1,200 USD). The sharpness, color, contrast, build quality, and speed (constant f2.8) are all wonderful. You may hear about sample variations, but both of the copies that my brother and I have are both incredible. It rarely leaves the camera these days.
Shmuel said:
I have been using this 18-70 lens for the past 3-4 years, and am
quite satisfied with its performance. I just wonder if someone here
has knowledge of another lens of the same range (or as close to it
as possible) that performs better, i.e., sharper, better color
output etc.?
Any recommendations will be met with sincere gratitude.

--
Shmuel
Click to expand...
--
'87.6% of all statistics are made up on the spot'

ShutterBugin
http://www.exposureproductions.smugmug.com

 
Thanks for this information. I wonder what experience any of you guys have in using the 18-200 VR as against the 18-70 in terms of image quality, sharpness, colors etc.?
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Shmuel
 
i think the 18-200 is very close (if not the same) to the 18-70 in IQ. I beleive (in months of research) that only one lens can 'step-up' from the 18-70, and that's the 17-55 DX.

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Nikon D50
50 1.8, 18-70 DX, 55-200DX, 70-300G, Canon 500D
SB600
 
I think it's a common misconception (based on price no doubt) that the 18-200mm is a step up from the 18-70mm. It isn't, it's a step across. The 18-200mm is essentially an 18-70mm with an extra 70-200mm tacked on with VR. No extra quality at all. Let me say I base this on playing with my boss’s 18-200mm copy when it came out, and reading every review I can find.

I agree with previous posters, the 17-55mm is your next step (although don't expect a night and day difference in anything else but build quality).

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Geoff
http://www.pbase.com/tuckeruk

WSSA member#68
 
Tamron 17-50 2.8 is supposedly real good if you can get a great copy. Some people have said that the picture quality is near that of the 17-55 Nikkor at about 1/3 the price.
 
The 18-70 and the 18-200 are about the same lenses. I have both lenses, I purchased the 18-70 for my D200 and when I purchased my second D200 I found myself needing a second lens for it so I purchased the 18-200. Of the two, my lens of choice is the 18-200, I love the VR feature that it has, and the idea that it is an all in one lens. When I purchased my first D200 I would have purchased the 18-200 if it was out then but at the time it was not available. They both give very good quality images, the 17-55 is a nice lens, but you must ask yourself if you really need that lens, a lot of people purchase that lens not needing it but just so they can have the bragging rights of saying that they have that lens. There are a lot of great lenses out there that are much less in price, and the qualities of their images are excellent.
 
I'd have to agree that the 18-200 VR is pretty well a match for the 18-70 over the same range. The stabilization, of course, greatly enhances its handholdability, if that's your bag.
 
IMHO, the 18-200VR is less sharp than the 18-70... still sharp, but less sharp.

18-70mm is f/3.5-4.5

18-200mm - as soon as it passes 40mm, it is already f/4.5
@ 50mm f/4.8
@ 70mm f/5.0
@135mm f/5.6
...through 200mm

So, if you don't need the reach... I would stick with the 18-70mm. But the 18-200VR can give you the reach you want... but... f/5.0-5.6 is wide open on the long end (70-200mm).

--Leung--



http://leungphotos.smugmug.com
 
Shmuel said:
I have been using this 18-70 lens for the past 3-4 years, and am
quite satisfied with its performance. I just wonder if someone here
has knowledge of another lens of the same range (or as close to it
as possible) that performs better, i.e., sharper, better color
output etc.?
Any recommendations will be met with sincere gratitude.
Click to expand...
Sigma 18-50/2.8. A bit sharper than my 18-70/3.5-4.5, and obviously faster.

larsbc
 
Well, the fact that I have been happy with the 18-70 lens for the past 3-4 years, does not necessarily mean that I should be staying with it forever... Why do people at all upgrade their cars, computers and cameras although they have been happy with them all that time?
For this particular lens switching, I have two reasons:

The VR thing which enables me to use the lens in darker light conditions without the need to boost up the ISO.

Being able to move freely from a close photography to a distant one without the need to switch glasses.

All this in one condition: that I shall not be compromising very good photography which I used to have with my 18-70 lens. According to what I have been reading here and elsewhere, it seems that I can meet all these conditions with the 18-200.
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Shmuel ( http://pbase.com/acumedico )
 
To truly step up you need to get two lenses.

Unless most of your 18-70 photos are in the 18-28 range, I'd invest in the nikon 28-70/2.8, probably nikon's sharpest zoom lens. You think your 18-70 is sharp, it's a joke compared to this lens.

If you can't live without the wide end, go with the nikon 17-35/2.8, it's almost as sharp as the 28-70, and is a lot of "fun" - you can physically get very close to your subject which is pretty interesting at 17mm.

Both lenses are fast and very sharp, even wide open. Of course, you get what you pay for, empasis on PAY. But hey, you said you were looking for an upgrade. Consider how much upgrading your car would cost, then your lens investment will seem paltry in comparison. I'd rather drive my old beater and use top-quality nikon glass, personally ;)

chris schmauch
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[hardware: dee.two-hundred + dee.seventy]
 
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