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Which company has the best cheap lenses

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Birch_Tree

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I am in the market for a new dSLR and was wonder which 'brand' has the best quality 'inexpensive' lenses. I need a few of the functions of a dSLR but do not require the 'top end' image quality and speed of the high end lenses.

As much as I would love to only own high end lenses I can in no way justify the price.
 
If you're willing to live with manual aperture, manual focus, Pentax screwmount SMC/Super Takumars are good values. Just need to buy screwmount adapter for the camera body you are using, then a whole new world of good old quality lenses become available to you.
 
I would answer the questions.

a) I live in New Zealand but I purchase items worldwide.

b) A budget is difficult because I would be willing to spend more on a lens if it would cover a number of different tasks. In general looking at spending under $350USD per lens.

c) what sort of photography you plan to do?

Everything.... Mainly generic holiday/family photos. The more 'specialised tasks' would be 'long exposure' low light photography and photographing interesting wildlife when I have the urge. I also like to photograph the moon and caves.
 
Nikon has more "kit" zoom lenses than most:

18-55 f/4.5-5.6
18-55 f/4.5-5.6 VR
18-70 f/3.5-4.5
18-135 f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4.5-5.6
55-200 f/4.5-5.6 VR

All mfrs have one or two such lenses but Nikon has more choice. None of those lenses is a fast good low light lens. Such lenses always cost more particularly if you buy the mfrs' product. But there are good f/2.8 faster lenses from Tamron and Sigma that will fit most makes.

Take a look at the prices for a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and a Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 and you will get the idea

That greater supply of kit lenses also trickles down into the used market as people upgrade.

I suggest you take a good look at the 18-135mm lens.

P.S. If you are considering a Nikon D40/D40x/D60 you need to be sure you have the current version of Tamron and/or Sigma lenses. Older ones will not AF on those cams (A complete list is here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond60/page3.asp )

You will find reviews of most lenses here:

http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/overview
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showcat.php/cat/2

But beware you cannot compare lenses easily across brands because of the different crop factor.

--
Chris Elliott

Nikon D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile

http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/
 
Pentax. The bodies are compatible with all PK lenses and their primes are some of the absolute best. Prices are quite reasonable, especially considering the quality.
 
Birch_Tree said:
I am in the market for a new dSLR and was wonder which 'brand' has
the best quality 'inexpensive' lenses. I need a few of the functions
of a dSLR but do not require the 'top end' image quality and speed of
the high end lenses.
Click to expand...
... in which case a good solution for you might be a DSLR body and a lens like the Tamron 18-250, which covers all the zoom range you are likely to need in one lens. It has a good reputation as being the best of the 'superzooms'.

best wishes
--
Mike
 
When it comes to high quality entry level and mid-grade lenses, Olympus has them all beat. Go to SLRGear.com and see for yourself... heck, you can even see the reviews on this site for that matter.
--
TANK

'Why is it everytime I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?' - Dr. Venture
http://www.myspace.com/servantoflove

 
TANK_JONES said:
When it comes to high quality entry level and mid-grade lenses,
Olympus has them all beat. Go to SLRGear.com and see for yourself...
heck, you can even see the reviews on this site for that matter.
--
TANK
Click to expand...
Olympus DOES make some nice lenses. and Olympus cameras can take more old lenses than anyone....with stabilisation on the E510 and E3. They also make the only f2 zooms.

Having said that there are far fewer current lenses than for anyone else and the good ones are very expensive.

Now lets look at dpreviews tests.
there are only 2 from Canon, Nikon,Pentax,Sony and Olympus.
there is one "kit" lens and one other for each.
Kits lenses.

Olympus

Detail Rating (out of 10)
Build quality 6.5
Ergonomics & handling 7.5
Features 6.5
Image quality 7.5

Recommended

Sony

Detail Rating (out of 10)
Build quality 6.5
Ergonomics & handling 6.5
Features 7
Image quality 6

no recommendation (not recommended)

Nikon

Detail Rating (out of 10)
Build quality 6.5
Ergonomics & handling 6.5
Features 7
Image quality 7.5

Recommended

Canon

Detail Rating (out of 10)
Build quality 6
Ergonomics & handling 6.5
Features 7
Image quality 7.5

Recommended

pentax

Detail Rating (out of 10)
Build quality 7.5
Ergonomics & handling 8
Features 7
Image quality 7.5

Recommended

The other lenses tested are all completely different...the Oly is the only highly recomended but is also the only one with 2.8 and far more expensive...more highly recommededs should appear as more high end lenses are tested....but then again since I would expect them to tst current lenses there will be fewer to test for Oly right now....plus they do not even test it on Oly cameras in order to get the best out of the lens.

The Oly kit lens scored 28 points at a cost of US $250
The sony 26 points at US $190
The Nikon 27.5 points at US $200
The Canon 27 points at US $175
The Pentax 30 points at US $110

I deleted the value ratings as they are not cross comparable (according to dpreview).

The Pentax is cheaper (less than half) the Oly and scores more!...AND it has been replaced by a BETTER lens!

neil
 
neil holmes said:
The Oly kit lens scored 28 points at a cost of US $250
The sony 26 points at US $190
The Nikon 27.5 points at US $200
The Canon 27 points at US $175
The Pentax 30 points at US $110

I deleted the value ratings as they are not cross comparable
(according to dpreview).

The Pentax is cheaper (less than half) the Oly and scores more!...AND
it has been replaced by a BETTER lens!
Click to expand...
Curious then that both Canon and Nikon kit lenses get 9 for value for money and the Pentax 8.

--
Chris Elliott

Nikon D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile

http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/
 
In the world od digital single lens reflex cameras, the low-priced lenses from all the name brand manufcturers, even including Sony, are good.

The latest Canon 18-55 kit lens, with image stabilization, is better than its predecessor, without IS, but even that makes nice 12 x 18 prints.

Plus Sigma, Tokina and Tamron make good inexpensive lenses.

Some argue, with some justification, that Nikon's kit lenses are particularly good value, but that may be altered a bit with the advent of the new Canon 18-55IS.

BAK
 
Chris Elliott said:
neil holmes said:
The Oly kit lens scored 28 points at a cost of US $250
The sony 26 points at US $190
The Nikon 27.5 points at US $200
The Canon 27 points at US $175
The Pentax 30 points at US $110

I deleted the value ratings as they are not cross comparable
(according to dpreview).

The Pentax is cheaper (less than half) the Oly and scores more!...AND
it has been replaced by a BETTER lens!
Click to expand...
Curious then that both Canon and Nikon kit lenses get 9 for value for
money and the Pentax 8.

--
Chris Elliott
Click to expand...
That has in fact been "explained" by DPR on the rather dubious basis that the Nikon lens, for example, has SR included. Which, given the the Pentax lens does not need SR as the body has it, leaves one rather scratching one's head ... So yes it is curious, not to say daft. I think in fact they were rather caught out by the question and hadn't really focused on the anomaly.
--
tim
 
Chris Elliott said:
neil holmes said:
The Oly kit lens scored 28 points at a cost of US $250
The sony 26 points at US $190
The Nikon 27.5 points at US $200
The Canon 27 points at US $175
The Pentax 30 points at US $110

I deleted the value ratings as they are not cross comparable
(according to dpreview).

The Pentax is cheaper (less than half) the Oly and scores more!...AND
it has been replaced by a BETTER lens!
Click to expand...
Curious then that both Canon and Nikon kit lenses get 9 for value for
money and the Pentax 8.
Click to expand...
Yes...Because it does not make sense to me...the pentax scores more and costs much less...even given the explanation that it is the value of the lens to the system...and that is why dpreview says its not cross comparable. The Canon and Nikon lens supposedly get the extra value for the IS/VR...while the Oly. Sony and Pentax do not need it on some cameras....in Pentax and Sonys case on ALL their current cameras...they say its not part of the lens so is considered in the camera test...but when they do the camera test they do not test all available lenses!

Does not make sense to me at all....plus you would think for Oly and Pentax with fewer lenses ...more so Oly...that the kit lens is much more important to the system.

I like the reviews, just wish they would look at it from an equal point of view (ie the result of the combination tested at this speed, this speed and that etc)...I do think given the close score the Sony gets to the others that it is a bit harsh to not recomend it...especially since it IS stabilsed om Sony cameras and that would have given it a point or more if it was Canon or Nikon. maybe the Pentax might have got a mark or two less if it was done now (look forward to the new pentax kit test...it SHOULD only go up).

neil
 
For the best deal on a macro, Phoenix 100 mm f3.5 can't be beat. For quality cheaper than the two makers - Nikon and Canon - the Tamron 90 can't be beat. For best longer macro lens at a reasonable price, the Sigma 150 f2.8 can't be beat.

No one company makes all great lenses, including Nikon and Canon, and there are some good buys out there. You purchase a lens to do a job, what job do you need done?
--
Rationally I have no hope, irrationally I believe in miracles.
Joni Mitchell
 
Birch_Tree said:
I am in the market for a new dSLR and was wonder which 'brand' has
the best quality 'inexpensive' lenses. I need a few of the functions
of a dSLR but do not require the 'top end' image quality and speed of
the high end lenses.

As much as I would love to only own high end lenses I can in no way
justify the price.
Click to expand...
Take a look at the Sigma EX line of lenses. Inexpensive and comparable to much more costly lenses. If you go to PBase.com, and check their "camera database" galleries, you can see photos shot with just about every lense made.

--

'If they're not screaming at you to get out of the way, you're not close enough' http://www.ChuckLantz.com
 
rsn48 said:
No one company makes all great lenses, including Nikon and Canon, and
there are some good buys out there. You purchase a lens to do a job,
what job do you need done?
Click to expand...
If you had troubled to read the thread you would know the question was long ago asked:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1002&message=27497276

and answered:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1002&message=27498259

--
Chris Elliott

Nikon D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile

http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/
 
If you stik with the same camera company, you will be able to use the very same lenses for many camera bodies. So the money you spend on lenses will go much farther on thel lenses than anywhere else.

That being said, you should look into the non-manufacturer brands for lower prices. And the "kit lenses" sold with many bodies are also a bargain.
Birch_Tree said:
I am in the market for a new dSLR and was wonder which 'brand' has
the best quality 'inexpensive' lenses. I need a few of the functions
of a dSLR but do not require the 'top end' image quality and speed of
the high end lenses.

As much as I would love to only own high end lenses I can in no way
justify the price.
Click to expand...
--
Chris, Broussard, LA
 
and you can choose the camera system to go with those lenses.
Birch_Tree said:
I am in the market for a new dSLR and was wonder which 'brand' has
the best quality 'inexpensive' lenses. I need a few of the functions
of a dSLR but do not require the 'top end' image quality and speed of
the high end lenses.

As much as I would love to only own high end lenses I can in no way
justify the price.
Click to expand...
--
Rafy Sugiri
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafysugiri/sets/
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/dna.php?username=79015415@N00

 
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