The Lens Thread!

off-roader

Expedition Leader
12-24 tokina, 28-75 tamron, 28-105 tamron, 80-200 nikkor, 150mm sigma

12-24mm f/4 Tokina is a great wide angle lens although I must admit I need to practice my wide angle composition/technique. Purchased new for $500. This is the lens I use most frequently off road after the 28-105mm.

28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron is a great lens for parties and low light situations however in most cases I rely on my 28-105mm due to its greater focal range. Purchased used for $250.

28-105mm f/2.8 Tamron is an excellent lens for parties and all around use except it is a large lens. When people see you with it, they consider it big and do ask questions. Purchased used (no longer available new) for $250. FWIW, this is the lens I use the most off road as well as at parties due to it being a fast f/2.8 and having a wide focal range.

80-200mm f/2.8 Nikkor (push pull version) is sharper than any of the above IMHO. I use it when I need the reach such as shooting formal events, or where I want to isolate a subject from afar. Like the 28-105 this is a big len (2x larger than the 28-105) and draws attention to you so I only use it when I don't mind the attention or really need to get the shot.

150mm f/2.8 Sigma is probably my sharpest lens which I use primarily for macro work and/or outdoor portraits.
Coupled with a 2x TC, it's allowed me to get some amazing bug and flower shots although I try to use it w/out the TC since the TC does reduce the IQ.

HTH. Feel free to ask me questions on any of these lenses.

Now on my wish list...
18-200 f/4 w/ VR: Yes this lens does not exist, but it would likely sell like hotcakes if it did at say the $1600 pricepoint. Cest la Vie as they say.
70-200 f/2.8 VR: Unfortunately I can get so much other stuff for $1800 and already have the 80-200mm that I haven't bought one yet.
50-500 Sigma (aka Bigma): or a fast long reaching zoom which I want primarily for motorsports use.
 
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nwoods

Expedition Leader
I had that 28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron. I agree, it was a great lens, particularly for the price. Perhaps this is trival for some, but the focusing mechanism on ithe Tamron turns the opposite direction from all my Canon lenses, and it drove me nuts. I sold it and replaced with with the 16-75mm EF-s lens, which was crap. I considered and test drove the 24-105 F2.8 L, but it just wasn't wide enough, and so opted for the 16-35mm F2.8 L that I posted above, and I love it.
 

Lost Canadian

Expedition Leader
For my money though, I might get a Canon body and that new 17mmT/S lens if you are hot and heavy for that look.

The eyeball a cometh. LOL. Actually it's not the tilt-shift look I'm after though, although I would most certainly experiment. I'm actaully looking for a lens with perspective control to, hold on,...correct perspective. I know who'd a thunk it. I really enjoy the correct perspective wide angle look that you can get with traditional large format, and I would like to get close to that with digital. Obviously that's where PC lenses come into play.

Michael Slade said:
Now we've just crossed over into a discussion about shooting style and photographic philosophy and headed out of the original intent of 'The Lens Thread'.

This is the kind of discussion that I particularly enjoy. Talking nuts'n'bolts is fine, but talking about imagery is more finer.

I'm with ya there!


sinuhexavier said:
You guys with the fancy gear and all you need is an iPhone...
Preach it brother..:ylsmoke:

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Mike S

Sponsor - AutoHomeUSA
For general shooting with my Nikon D2X I use Nikon's 80-200 f2.8, a Nikon 35 -70 f2.8, a Nikon 60mm Macro (AF).

But my favorite lens is my Nikon 24mm f2.0 fixed. A great piece of glass, but most useful on my F4 shooting film.

80-200 f2.8
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35-70 f2.8

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60mm AF Macro:

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JayGannon

Adventurer
Auto:
Nikon AFS 17-55mm f2.8 is my go to lens for pretty much everything. If you shoot Nikon buy this lens it will be the best investment in your shooting you can make hardware wise.
Nikon AFS 70-200mm f2.8 is long lens for climbing and wildlife.
Sometimes Ill rent a 300mm f2.8 for a specific shoot.

Manual:
Nikon 50mm f1.4 AIS is my low light lens and is usually on my Nikon F3.
I have 28mm and 21mm AIS Lenses but never get much use out of them.
Nikon 35mm f2.8 AIS is far too soft for my liking.

Bodies are D2x and D2hs love them and prefer them to my 1d's that I used to shoot on, will eventually move to a D3 based setup and swap my DX lenses out.
 

BMWGSer

New member
the 18-200 was my default walkabout lens for a couple of years, but was sold when I moved to full-frame. I think others have summed it up well, its a cracking lens for the ££ - the new VRII version is supposed to be even better.

Nowadays, its the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 70-200 f/2.8 all the way - awesome glass but they certainly dont qualify as lightweight and they're in a differnet price league to the 18-200!


I'm with you. The two lenses that are always in my camera bag are a 24-70 2.8L and a 70-200 2.8L IS. I usually have a 50 1.8 along too. I shoot primarily with a Canon 1D MkIIN. For support I primarily use a Gitzo 3531 Carbon Fiber Mountaineer with a RRS BH-55 Ballhead.

Some people are surprised when I pull up on my big BMW GS and pull out that kind of camera gear. The photo's are part of the joy of traveling for me though. I'm hooked on L lenses.
 

wikid

Adventurer
Admittedly, I am not very good with technical camera use. I am looking for a Macro? lens for my wife. She needs to take very close pictures of artwork she makes. Finances are somewhat tight . Is there a descent Macro ,in the 200-300 dollar range? Her Camera is a Canon XSI
thanks
Don
 

Lost Canadian

Expedition Leader
Admittedly, I am not very good with technical camera use. I am looking for a Macro? lens for my wife. She needs to take very close pictures of artwork she makes. Finances are somewhat tight . Is there a descent Macro ,in the 200-300 dollar range? Her Camera is a Canon XSI
thanks
Don

The Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro is one of the sharpest lenses made, by any manufacturer, you can check the resolution figures for yourself here. Keep in mind that was from an 8mp camera as well, so those numbers are outstanding. There is a used one that will work with your camera for sale right now on KEH. These lenses don't last long on the used market so I'd move fast if you're interested.
 

wikid

Adventurer
The Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro is one of the sharpest lenses made, by any manufacturer, you can check the resolution figures for yourself here. Keep in mind that was from an 8mp camera as well, so those numbers are outstanding. There is a used one that will work with your camera for sale right now on KEH. These lenses don't last long on the used market so I'd move fast if you're interested.

Thank you so very much for the great hook-up. I went ahead and purchased it. I really am lost when it comes to the technical end of cameras and photography. It seems you know your stuff, so I she will be happy with her new toy.
I may try and take some photography classes to get up to speed on the subject
again thank you
Happy Holidays
Don
 

Stan the Man

Adventurer
I've been really looking into Canon's 70-200mm F2.8 IS USM lens. Does anybody have any real world experience with it? Its not a cheap lens, but I've been told by a lot of people to buy now and expand later. Anybody know what that means?
 

nwoods

Expedition Leader
This lens is widely regarded as Canon's sharpest zoom. It's an amazing lens. A bit hefty to lug around and attention getting white in color, but it's image quality is absolutely a joy to capture images with.

Not too long ago I shot in indoor volleyball tourney (USA Mens Team). I was up in the cheap seats, far from the action, in a poorly light indoor stadium, without a tripod, sitting on bleachers that were vibrating from the crowd. Optically, very challenging conditions! I was limited what I could do because of motion blur issues ni the low light and unsteady hold. I shot the 70-200 by itself, and at times, with a 1.4x teleconverter for a bit more reach. Those photos are here: http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/?p=54

I use this lens as a portrait lens also. I can stand unobtrusively far away and take amazingly sharp photos. Not "good" images in an artistic sense, but certainly sharp!

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Works pretty good on the trail too:

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photoman

Explorer
Hi Scott. I see that you and Sexy6chick are using Olympus. I have been seriously thinking of moving to either Olympus or Pentax. Would you mind posting which model of Olympus you are using. My thoughts towards Pentax was for weather sealing plus all the available lens and Olympus for too many reasons to list. Thanks, George

I shoot Olympus as well.

I have two E-500's and an E-3

Lenses that I have with me most of the time

Zuiko 14-54mm F2.8
Zuiko 50-200mm F2.8
Zuiko 7-14mm F4
Zuiko OM 50mm F1.8
 

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