S5 Pro users ...

I need a recommendation for a fast, all-around zoom for my S5 Pro, i.e. traditional walk-around range (18-50 or so) and f/2.8 or larger. I'm looking for a lens that will bring out the best of what the S5 Pro has to offer but that won't break the bank. Nikon's kit lens, the 18-55 VR, is very good for what it is ... a bargain in fact. It's just too slow and color rendition leaves something to be desired.

Thanks.

I have the non-VC version, & it is a great all round lens; it's very good WO, stopped down eve to ƒ3.5-ƒ4 it's already excellent.

I've used the S5/17-50 combo for my pro work for years; I only recently replaced them with the Nikon D610 & Nikkor 28-105mm.

JF69 wrote:

I have the non-VC version, & it is a great all round lens; it's very good WO, stopped down eve to ƒ3.5-ƒ4 it's already excellent.

I've used the S5/17-50 combo for my pro work for years; I only recently replaced them with the Nikon D610 & Nikkor 28-105mm.

Thanks. Yes, I'm considering that one. Enjoy your D610!

I'd say that the S5 requires high quality glass like primes, I enjoyed it a lot with the 50/1.4D but also with the old school 35-70D, if you don't mind great apertures the Tamron should do fine but give a try at a couple primes.

Many S5 shots in my flickr

My S5 pro came with an older tamron 28-105mm F2.8 and i didnt care much for its output. I later bought a Nikon 50mm F1.8 AF-D and was quite pleased before i sold the whole setup. I tried a tamron 17-50 F2.8 for my pentax K5 and didnt really care for that either, but im sure it was a lot better then the kit lens.

I tend to favor the primes or overpriced zooms.

Try the sigma 17-50 or 18-35 1.8.

Ignore the Nikon 17-55, I had it and IQ is not worth it.

Try them and see if u like them. If u have big bucks get Nikon 16-35 f4 or the pro FF lenses. U won't regreat it.

Sigma 18-35 F1.8 - excellent lens, best zoom you can buy, it even beats primes
Sigma 17-70 2.8-4 OS HSM Contemporary - great value for the money, sharp, stabilization around 3 stops (so at 70mm f4 translates to f1.4 from exposure perspective), nice zoom range, good close focus capability
Both can be calibrated at home via Sigma USB dock.
I have no direct experience with those lenses (just own first generation of 17-70, above mentioned is third gen.) but last month I'm considering new lens for S5.

Duri

The Sigma 18-35 is certainly superb but both expensive and over kill on a S5 Pro.                    The tamron 17-50 is a good choice for sure. Very sharp lens. None VC version is sharper !

Another perfect lens for the S5 is the Nikon 18-70 F3.5-4.5   A bit faster with greater range than the standard zoom and produces excellent quality results. Top this with silent fast autofocus and weather sealing ring on its base and it takes some beating.

Sharpness comes from the lens though... as such, my choice would perhaps be the Tamron !

The Sigma 18-35 is certainly superb but both expensive and over kill on a S5 Pro.                    The tamron 17-50 is a good choice for sure. Very sharp lens. None VC version is sharper !

Another perfect lens for the S5 is the Nikon 18-70 F3.5-4.5   A bit faster with greater range than the standard zoom and produces excellent quality results. Top this with silent fast autofocus and weather sealing ring on its base and it takes some beating.

Sharpness comes from the lens though... as such, my choice would perhaps be the Tamron !

mistermejia wrote:

The Sigma 18-35 is certainly superb but both expensive and over kill on a S5 Pro. The tamron 17-50 is a good choice for sure. Very sharp lens. None VC version is sharper !

Another perfect lens for the S5 is the Nikon 18-70 F3.5-4.5 A bit faster with greater range than the standard zoom and produces excellent quality results. Top this with silent fast autofocus and weather sealing ring on its base and it takes some beating.

Sharpness comes from the lens though... as such, my choice would perhaps be the Tamron !

No no no. Those lenses are NOT overkill. The S5 deserves the best glass. The best bang for the buck are the sigma lenses. I'm not a fan of the tamron lenses, even if the non VC is sharper. The stabilization of the sigma 17-50 is excellent.

I was refering to the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 only which also happens to be expensive.

I tried a sigma 17-50 on a D7100 the other week. I sent it right back as it had compatability probs with the D7100. It seemed ok IQ wise but my old Tamron seemed sharper and notably so.

I have come to value VC though so it is something to take into consideration for sure. If I still had my S5 i would myself stick the Nikon 18-140 on it  Seems the OP wants f2.8 though

Westmill wrote:

mistermejia wrote:

The Sigma 18-35 is certainly superb but both expensive and over kill on a S5 Pro. The tamron 17-50 is a good choice for sure. Very sharp lens. None VC version is sharper !

Another perfect lens for the S5 is the Nikon 18-70 F3.5-4.5 A bit faster with greater range than the standard zoom and produces excellent quality results. Top this with silent fast autofocus and weather sealing ring on its base and it takes some beating.

Sharpness comes from the lens though... as such, my choice would perhaps be the Tamron !

No no no. Those lenses are NOT overkill. The S5 deserves the best glass. The best bang for the buck are the sigma lenses. I'm not a fan of the tamron lenses, even if the non VC is sharper. The stabilization of the sigma 17-50 is excellent.

I was refering to the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 only which also happens to be expensive.

Yes I know.  But that lens is not an overkill.  Only one of fuji's prime lenses can cost the price of the sigma.  The price of that lens is a bargain.

I tried a sigma 17-50 on a D7100 the other week. I sent it right back as it had compatability probs with the D7100. It seemed ok IQ wise but my old Tamron seemed sharper and notably so.

Yes, there is compatability issues with the D7100 and some sigma lenses, that doesn't have anything to do with the S5.

I have come to value VC though so it is something to take into consideration for sure. If I still had my S5 i would myself stick the Nikon 18-140 on it Seems the OP wants f2.8 though

All i can say is that the sigma with OS was giving me sharper images than my previous nikon 17-55. The OS really helps for still shots mainly, but it does make a difference indeed.  I think my local samy's camera store is having a sale on sigma lenses this month, possibly, and I'm also having a difficult time deciding which of the two sigma lenses i will get.

The nikon 16-35 F4 is a gorgeous lens too, but THAT is a bit over priced  

mistermejia wrote:

... The S5 deserves the best glass. The best bang for the buck are the sigma lenses. I'm not a fan of the tamron lenses, even if the non VC is sharper. The stabilization of the sigma 17-50 is excellent.

Yes, the S5 Pro certainly does deserve the best glass. It's a stunning performer in many respects; it has always been an underrated camera.

And, yes, Sigma does deliver the best bang for the buck much of the time. But their quality control is fairly unreliable. I've bought and used many Sigma lenses over the years and have had to return all too many of them due to issues. It's not the end of the world to return something for adjustment but it's a pain, and it takes time.

I find Tamron lenses, as third party lenses go, to be far more predictable and issue-free compared to the Sigmas ... although I believe Sigma is getting better at it these days with their newer Art and Contemporary lenses. Still ... I'd opt for the Tamron 17-50 over the Sigma 17-50 simply from a reliability viewpoint. They're both very good lenses.

If I ever buy additional sigma lens (I have 3 now) it will be a model compatible with USB Dock so I can tweak AF to my needs in case of any issue.

2 of my sigmas went calibration (30 f1.4 and 50-150 f2.8) and it really helped.

Duri

veroman wrote:

mistermejia wrote:

... The S5 deserves the best glass. The best bang for the buck are the sigma lenses. I'm not a fan of the tamron lenses, even if the non VC is sharper. The stabilization of the sigma 17-50 is excellent.

Yes, the S5 Pro certainly does deserve the best glass. It's a stunning performer in many respects; it has always been an underrated camera.

And, yes, Sigma does deliver the best bang for the buck much of the time. But their quality control is fairly unreliable. I've bought and used many Sigma lenses over the years and have had to return all too many of them due to issues. It's not the end of the world to return something for adjustment but it's a pain, and it takes time.

I find Tamron lenses, as third party lenses go, to be far more predictable and issue-free compared to the Sigmas ... although I believe Sigma is getting better at it these days with their newer Art and Contemporary lenses. Still ... I'd opt for the Tamron 17-50 over the Sigma 17-50 simply from a reliability viewpoint. They're both very good lenses.

May I ask if you bought all your sigma lenses new or used?  Which models did you buy?  Did you buy them on line?  What i do know is that BOTH sigma and tamron vary in quality a lot, but yes, i also think sigma has improved a lot.  Some of the tamron long lenses are REALLY good too.

My dad has the sigma 17-50 and he has never had any problems.  I have borrowed it too.

Tokina 11-16 2.8 - wonderful

Tamron 17-50 2.8 (non VC) - excellent

Tokina 50-135 2.8 - fabulous, hard to find. Alternative Sigma 50-150 2.5 with OS - expensive, but it worth

Tamron 70-300 VC - MUCH better than Nikon 70-300 VR II. Cheap and fantastic

Sandu

I assume that sigma 50-150 2.5 is typo. AFAIK sigma have 3 50-150 lenses and all for them are 2.8.

50-150 F2.8 - oldest one

50-150 F2.8 II - same as previous with minor tweaks

50-150 F2.8 OS - most recent, huge lens, similar to 70-200, excellent optics (but really heavy)

Duri

Sigma 50-150 Is ooooooo yes !

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3618195#forum-post-53179864

Although I might be selling it