Author Topic: Help choosing lens  (Read 3320 times)

DNSJR

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Help choosing lens
« on: August 26, 2017, 23:06:18 »
Hello, I would appreciate some help. I am looking for good zoom for my D7100; and have narrowed it down to Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD, Sigma ART 24-105mm f4 DG OS HSM, Tokina AT-X 24-70 F2.8 PRO FX.

I like the range of the FX lenses.

I am looking at used, my budget cannot afford new; except for the Tokina, I cannot find used, its about $950 new

Here are the DXO scores for the Tammy, Tokina and Nikon - https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/AF-S-Nikkor-24-70mm-f-2.8G-ED-on-Nikon-D7100-versus-Tamron-SP-24-70mm-F28-Di-VC-USD-Nikon-on-Nikon-D7100-versus-Tokina-AT-X-24-70-F28-PRO-FX-Nikon-on-Nikon-D7100__175_865_885_865_1453_865

Which does not include the Sigma. I have read several very good reviews for the Sigma

The used price for the Sigma and Tammy runs around $650 - $750

Thanks in advance for any comments

DNSJR

Jakov Minić

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2017, 02:18:57 »
get a 28/1.8 and an 85/1.8  :D
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DNSJR

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2017, 02:45:50 »
thanks Jakov here are my current lenses
NIKON  35mm  F1 .8G AF-S  DX
NIKON 18-140mm 3.5/5.6G  AFS  ED VR 
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro
Sigma 70mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro
Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD
Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro   

I am looking for a really good zoom, just to reduce lens switching

DNSJR

pluton

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2017, 08:00:50 »
A good friend of mine has the Tamron on your list..  I shot routine test shots with it and I have now seen her work for the past 3 years or so.  It is a respectable lens optically.  If I needed a 24-70 and didn't have the dough for a Nikon model, I'd get one.  Mechanically, it doesn't feel as nice as the expensive Nikon 24-70s, especially if you like to manually focus:  the focus ring is small, flush with the barrel(?), close to the body(?) and has a dead feeling damping.  The pictures are nice, however.
Keith B., Santa Monica, CA, USA

Les Olson

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2017, 09:55:38 »
I do not think that any of the zooms you mention would be materially better than the 18-140, except for f/2.8, which you have the 35/1.8 to cover.

The step up from the 18-140 would be the DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4.  It is a shade better optically than the older 16-85 f/3.5-5.6, and the larger aperture is welcome, but the older lens is still an excellent lens and now very good value on the used market. 

David H. Hartman

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2017, 10:20:16 »
I have experience with the AF-S 16-85/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX and am very pleased with it. It belongs to a friend. I've shot with it and done a lot of post processing for her. The one down side is it needs to be refocused after zooming. It's quite good close up. The AF-S 16-80/2.8-4.0G ED VR DX would offer desirable extra lens speed.

Dave Hartman
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paul_k

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2017, 12:23:38 »
Hello, I would appreciate some help. I am looking for good zoom for my D7100; and have narrowed it down to Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD, Sigma ART 24-105mm f4 DG OS HSM, Tokina AT-X 24-70 F2.8 PRO FX.

I like the range of the FX lenses.

If you indeed like the range of the DX lenses and want a, as far as angle of view is concerned, similar rendering with your DX D7100, all lenses you suggest obviously are not what you need in that respect

The 24mm on the wide side will become a virtual 36mm, in my experience (I have a D7100, next to my FX bodies, too) not a really spectacular wide angle of view (although very much appropriate for eg street photography, although I would then go for a smaller sized prime 35mm)
To get a FX 24mm-ish look on the wide side with a DX body, you will need a wide angle of at least 18mm

As said I personally find 35mm (on FX) a bit too short, reason why I sold my 2.8/35-70 AFD and got a (low priced 2nd hand) FX 3.5-5.6/24-85mm AFS instead, despite the lower IQ of the latter lens
Simply don't need a high IQ wide angle zoom, as I do very little to no serious shooting using wide angles, and basically only use it on the rare occasions I shoot parties or events
As far as 'speed is concerned, since I use it on a DSLR, that loss compared to the 2.8/35-70 is compensated by the higher ISO of a modern  DSLR compared to max film speed when the 2.8/35-70 was designed

I personally am not a fan of super zooms like the 18-180, 18-200 or 18-300.
Admittedly they offer a very convenient 'all in one' package as far as focal length is concerned, but as is shown in many serious lens test that comes at a cost as far as speed, sharpness etc is concerned

So IMO you should rather look at a 18 to 80-ish lens rather then a 24 to 85/100mm instead
Can't recommend any specific lens or brand though, never bothered to do serious research in those type of lenses

DNSJR

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2017, 12:36:37 »
thanks everyone for your feedback, most helpful; looks like I am going to re-think the lens choice, although the 18-140 is a good lens, it does have its limitations; thanks again
DNSJR

David H. Hartman

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2017, 14:17:37 »
To get an angle of view of a 24mm on FX you'll need something like 15.5mm to 16mm [for DX].

Dave
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ArthurDent

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2017, 02:10:16 »
How about the 12-24 f/4 and the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5? Covers DX 12-105, FX equivalent of 18-157mm. The second lens  is quite good (if you can find a good sample) and  very inexpensive. The first lens is very good as well.

chambeshi

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2017, 08:52:48 »
How about the 12-24 f/4 and the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5? Covers DX 12-105, FX equivalent of 18-157mm. The second lens  is quite good (if you can find a good sample) and  very inexpensive. The first lens is very good as well.
Concur on 28-105 AFD - including the Macro function. Bargain and it is an FX lens

Fons Baerken

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2017, 09:41:40 »
I sold my dx lenses with my d300 some years ago, particularly the tokina 12-24/4 and the 35/1.8.
Now that i have the d500 i had to rethink on lenses so i decided on a 17-55/2.8 2nd hand minty for less than half the new year,
they are still in production, no regrets.

arthurking83

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2017, 10:08:42 »
I do not think that any of the zooms you mention would be materially better than the 18-140, except for f/2.8, which you have the 35/1.8 to cover.

.... 

I'll have to contradict that a little, I'm afraid.
I don't have the 18-140 specifically, but I do have the older 18-105VR lens.
I thought about getting the 18-140 as a cheap update for the 18-105, but found it had the same issue as the 18-105 .. mainly that it loses a lot in transmission when compared to a better quality lens, for example like the Tamron 24-70 VC.
I don't know if it's due to the Fx frame coverage(ie. less vignetting from the larger frame coverage) or just better optic design, but the consumer zooms seem to lose about 0.5 - 0.7 Ev in transmission for the same aperture settings, compared to the 24-70/2.8
I only tested at f/5.6 and f/8 at 24mm and 70mm on both lenses.
From that I believe that a lens like the Tammy 24-70 VC will definitely become a step up in IQ, coupled with the f/2.8 aperture option will be an effective use of limited funds.

A massive downside to this lens tho will be the size of the lens. 84mm front filter threads, makes filtration such as polariser a very expensive proposition(if quality is considered!!). And it's so much heavier than the consumer zoom.

On a D7100 this will have an definite impact on 'handling'. I have a D70s for comparative purposes and it does feel a bit more cumbersome having the Tamron as opposed to the consumer zoom attached.
On the D300(heavier body) with a much more ergonomic grip the impact is less obvious, on the D800 the size and weight of the camera lessens the impact even more.
I haven't held a D7100 since they first came to market years back, but as I remember, it's weight/balance was more D70s like rather than D300 like.

The 2x faster aperture is not only good for additional light capture ability, but at about the 2m focus range(ie. at about where you may want to shoot portraits and a 70mm setting), the difference in aperture ability is definitely noticeable, so for closer in shots you have more background blur scope. While you'd have 140mm on the consumer zoom, at that focal length, you're still at f/5.6 .. and as you have the 105VR lens this one would be the preferred choice for portrait at that focal length anyhow(and it produces what I think is about as good bokeh as any lens can produce!!)
At farther out focus distances, I doubt bokeh and blur options become a major factor. And the bokeh of a 24-70/2.8 is at least an order of magnitude better than a consumer zoom blur quality(aperture design I guess).

While the VC on the Tamron is handy and usable, and the reason I updated to it .. don't discount the older Tammy 28-75/2.8 lens as an option either. (which is what I updated from)
Much cheaper, much more manageable in terms of size weight .. and far far cheaper! But if VC is a consideration(as it was for me) the price difference is worth the effort.

Overall, I'm disagreeing with Les Olsons summary and believe that a 24-70/2.8 lens acquisition will constitute a major upgrade choice from a consumer lens such as the one you have.
Arthur

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2017, 16:38:48 »
I'd sell the 18-140mm and buy a 16-80mm f/2.8-4.  I think this is the better solution for DX, giving you 24mm-e at the wide end and 120mm at the long end.  The aperture range with VR should solve any transmission issues I would think.  (I personally think it is an over-pay and over-weight putting a full frame zoom on a DX camera, unless for the telephoto range, like a 200-500mm for specialty purposes).


rosko

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Re: Help choosing lens
« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2017, 16:42:23 »
I bought 2 years ago the zoom Sigma  24-105mm art (for the purpose of a wedding). Very good zoom, but it wasn't balanced well with my Df, I resale it.It's really big and heavy.

So I don't know how it'd balance with your D7200. It worth to try it prior purchase, I'd advice.

I am now very happy with my cheap, old, manual, but very light 36-72mm zoom...

Francis.
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