Camera suggestions

SandyF wrote:

Ceistinne, thanks very much for the info on the 17-70 f2.8-4 DC Macro HSM C. That's a zoom in the mid range I like. I photograph the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia so often (part of my backyard when at our country place) I like zooms rather than wide angle.. which squashes down our mountains LOL. Zoom makes them stand up more. They're not that high. Know anything about the 18-200. F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM C ?

I have a couple nice older zooms and primes. It might be sensible to pair the 30mmf1.4 Art often bundled with the SD Quattro with a mid range zoom. Then I have a very nice old 105mm Macro which does lovely distance too. I must pull out and play with the SD15 to see what lenses I have there. I have many discontinued lenses some excellent with the SD10/14/15. What ever happened to the 50mm prime? I have a lovely historic one which was my walk around prime on SD10/14/15.

Sigma stepped up to the 50mm f1.4 Art, which was widely recognized as being about as good as the expensive, manual-focus Zeiss, which cost thousands more. Now Sigma has a stellar 65mm f2 in L mount, but the 50mm f1.4 Art is a pretty big and heavy lens in comparison. Sigma makes a little 45mm f2.8 in L mount, but it isn't as sharp as that 65mm. Their new L mount 105mm macro is amazing. It's even sharper than that 65mm. It may be the sharpest lens in the World . . . and for a reasonable price. That macro and the 65mm are making me want to buy an L mount camera, though I might get them in E mount, and get a used E mount camera. I haven't decided, and frankly I might just try to be happy with what I have, because I think I may have a bad case of GAS. I've been buying Milwaukee power tools lately, because I sort of need them for work (yeah, I've been working here in Phoenix for a while). I'm trying to save up for a Sigma SD Quattro H. I think getting that just might be my best solution, because right now I have no camera to use my SA mount lenses with, and I live the quality of the photos I get with the SD Quattro H.

Of course . . . you won't beat that super-zoom for versatility. Have you ever had one? corners are soft, but the center of the frame is pretty sharp through most of the zoom range. It won't compare well with the amazing lens on your DP3 Merrill, but for the longer shots and wider shots at f8 or f11, like 180mm and 24mm, you really can't beat it for what it is, and you get OS, which can really help.