Are Sigma, Tokina etc, lenses universal for...

[ConnieZ]

all cameras. I keep seeing on sites where it says, example; Sigma 24-70mm for nikon. Then it will say the same for Minolta, Canon etc....? The same is true for Tokina and Tamron.
Also, which of the three brands seem to be the best, quality wise?

Thanks
--
Connie
http://www.candlphotography.com

 

[fishcatcher]

Lenses by third party lens companies are camera specific. You must get a lens with the mount that fits your camera brand. The exception is older Tamron lenses which allowed interchangeable mounts for different cameras. I do not believe they make a modern line of those anymore. Camera lens mounting systems are very sophisticated electronically and have to match the camera mount precisely.

All the aftermarket lens makers you have mentioned make SOME very excellent lenses. But that must be judged on a lens by lens basis. Many of their cheaper lenses are just that. But so are many of the cheap lenses made by major companies like Nikon, Canon, etc. In lenses, you by and large get what you pay for.

 

[Caoedhen]

The lens internals are the same, the camera mount portion is made to the specs of the various brands.

Tamron used to make one lens, and adapters for the various mounts. That was in the days of manual focus and zoom. Now they make lenses specific to the mount, just like the others.

As to quality... some are known to be quite good, some not. There have been variations even among specifc lenses. If you search the forums for a brand, say Tamron, you will find opinions both ways.

If you have a specific lens, or lens range in mind, it would a little easier to say yay or nay.

--
Crime Scene Photography

 

[ConnieZ]

--
Connie
http://www.candlphotography.com

 

[NWatson]

I have this lens. I'm very pleased with my copy. I picked it up Used on Ebay for under $250, and I don't think it had hardly been on a camera. The zoom was extremely stiff for a while, but has loosened up with use. I've used it in a variety of situations, but have particularly liked it outdoors for landscaping work.

Some examples....

















Some Panoramas....





Some people pics...





I have used it indoors some, but I don't have anything posted up on my website to share. I like the wider end (though I desire something even wider than 24mm right now). It's a big clunker of a lens. It's physically long and takes an 82mm diameter filter. It's no light weight.

Fair warning do to it's size, the onboard flash will create some problems in the form of a shadow at the bottom of your photos. If you are using an Sb600/800 that problem should be mitigated somewhat.

It is one of my favorite lenses to go landscaping with though.