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Best lenses for your money...
- Thread starter RobE
- Start date
These are the best bang for the buck amongst the lenses I've actually used. I will say however that I no longer own #2 and #3 below anymore because "best bang for the buck" is not = to "best". From my experience however, the Tokina stands up well to the 28-70L and the Sigma is as sharp as or better than the Canon (although the build quality of the Sigma isn't as good).
1. Tie (50mm f1.4 / 85mm f1.8)
2. Tokina 28-70mm f2.8 ATX Pro II
3. Sigma 20mm f1.8
1. Tie (50mm f1.4 / 85mm f1.8)
2. Tokina 28-70mm f2.8 ATX Pro II
3. Sigma 20mm f1.8
MLynnL
Senior Member
Here are a couple of 100% crops from a 75-300 III that I borrowed from a friend last week. They are from a 10D with no post processing. on the right are the full frame pictures so you can see where the crops came from.
http://www.pbase.com/image/17531724
Greg
http://www.pbase.com/image/17531724
Greg
Dana Jacobsen
Leading Member
I agree that the 85/1.8 is a great lens and the price is quite good at $315. While I enjoy a zoom lens and the 70-200/2.8 IS gets a lot of use around here, the 85/1.8 takes fabulous portraits on a camera like the D60. It's a bit short for the 1Ds, where the 135/2 is better, though it is expensive.
The 50/1.8 isn't the best lens, but at $65 it is a great buy for many people. If you're used to expensive good lenses, having one around can't hurt -- if you're used to 28-300 zooms, then it can be a quality eye opener. The size and weight doesn't hurt either.
I haven't used one, but the 70-200/4 looks like a heck of a deal at $540. If we had two camera bodies I'd be tempted to buy one as a backup for the 70-200/2.8 IS.
The 50/1.8 isn't the best lens, but at $65 it is a great buy for many people. If you're used to expensive good lenses, having one around can't hurt -- if you're used to 28-300 zooms, then it can be a quality eye opener. The size and weight doesn't hurt either.
I haven't used one, but the 70-200/4 looks like a heck of a deal at $540. If we had two camera bodies I'd be tempted to buy one as a backup for the 70-200/2.8 IS.
Adam-T
Forum Pro
the one I have matches the best 100-400L IS shots for sharpness at infinity, but that's not saying a great deal, the 70-200L F4 Hoses on both of them and the 80-200L beats the F4 ..
IF you need IS and more than 200mm in a zoom, there are only two choices, the 75-300IS and the 100-400L, both are slow and no great shakes wide open at infinity compared to the 70/80-200L series or a non-IS prime like the 300F4L or 400-5.6L
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Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=27855
Adam-T
Forum Pro
These are mainly at Infinity (all bar the 300mm one on the bottom right) ..
100% Crops straight from a D60 with no post processing Wide open .. it's a coke bottle next to an 80-200L , 135F2L or 300F4 Non-IS but then you'd expect that, it's good enough for me until the Sigma 80-400OS arrives and I can test it - I still have reservations about the 100-400L despite it being tack sharp at close range..
--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=27855
100% Crops straight from a D60 with no post processing Wide open .. it's a coke bottle next to an 80-200L , 135F2L or 300F4 Non-IS but then you'd expect that, it's good enough for me until the Sigma 80-400OS arrives and I can test it - I still have reservations about the 100-400L despite it being tack sharp at close range..
--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=27855
OK Mr.T, I have a situation here. Found a mintish used Sigma 70-200/2.8HSM for about US$350. This time i'll take test shots and analyse them on my PC before I commit and if it delivers, should I get it? Or get a new 70-200F4 instead?
Here's some picture taken with my 75-300IS at a fashion show. No unsharp mask, just resampled to a smaller size. Do I have a good one?
Here's some picture taken with my 75-300IS at a fashion show. No unsharp mask, just resampled to a smaller size. Do I have a good one?
M
Mark B.
Guest
Adam-T
Forum Pro
they look great to me......
As for that Sigma, I'd be VERY reluctant to buy a used Sigma anything unless either I knew the seller personally and could try the lens OR it was from a dealer with a returns policy - the 70-200EX IS a very good lens IF you get a good one (it's no 80-200L but then, nothing is) - I tried one NEW out of the box and it was lousy at F2.8 bar between 135 and 150mm - at least with a new one you can swap it until you get a good one..
i'd bite the bullet and get a new F4 or a new Sigma 70-200EX - you really landed VERY unlucky in getting the only mechanically trashed 80-200 I've heard of and wouldn't like to see you follow it up with a Sigma someone is selling because it's a lemon copy
--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=27855
As for that Sigma, I'd be VERY reluctant to buy a used Sigma anything unless either I knew the seller personally and could try the lens OR it was from a dealer with a returns policy - the 70-200EX IS a very good lens IF you get a good one (it's no 80-200L but then, nothing is) - I tried one NEW out of the box and it was lousy at F2.8 bar between 135 and 150mm - at least with a new one you can swap it until you get a good one..
i'd bite the bullet and get a new F4 or a new Sigma 70-200EX - you really landed VERY unlucky in getting the only mechanically trashed 80-200 I've heard of and wouldn't like to see you follow it up with a Sigma someone is selling because it's a lemon copy
--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=27855
they look great to me......
As for that Sigma, I'd be VERY reluctant to buy a used Sigma
anything unless either I knew the seller personally and could try
the lens OR it was from a dealer with a returns policy - the
70-200EX IS a very good lens IF you get a good one (it's no 80-200L
but then, nothing is) - I tried one NEW out of the box and it was
lousy at F2.8 bar between 135 and 150mm - at least with a new one
you can swap it until you get a good one..
i'd bite the bullet and get a new F4 or a new Sigma 70-200EX - you
really landed VERY unlucky in getting the only mechanically trashed
80-200 I've heard of and wouldn't like to see you follow it up with
a Sigma someone is selling because it's a lemon copy
--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=27855
The 100 F/2.8 Macro is a fantastic lens. The 50 F/1.4 seems over-priced given it isn't any sharper than the 1.8 and I don't believe you get ring USM (like the 85 F/1.8) with the 1.4.
I happily sold my 75-300 IS III even though it was sharp -- the 70-200 F/4 produces so much sharper images even with an el cheapo $50 Tamron 1.4x teleconverter.
(See profile for equipment I own -- questions welcome.)
I happily sold my 75-300 IS III even though it was sharp -- the 70-200 F/4 produces so much sharper images even with an el cheapo $50 Tamron 1.4x teleconverter.
--
(See profile for equipment I own -- questions welcome.)
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