Next lens decision: Help?

anubis404 · Nov 30, 2008

Christmas is nearing, and this is my situation. I want another lens for my D70S, and was looking at the Sigma 18-50 F2.8 HSM. After discussing it with my parents, they agreed to purchase an 18-50 for me for Christmas assuming that my GPA would be 4.0 or above. This would allow me to sell my Nikkor 18-70mm, and I estimate I will get around $100-200 from the sale, which is nice. I will also have some Christmas gift money coming in. Here is my dilema. These are the lenses I'm considering:

Tokina 100mm F2.8 Macro
Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro
Sigma 70-200 F2.8
Tokina 50-135mm F2.8
Sigma 18-50 HSM

I am into very general photography. I enjoy Landscapes the most, but get very little chance to shoot them. I am wanting to get into portrait and people photography. Here are my options as far as a setup:

Get the Sigma 18-50 HSM, sell the 18-70, and start saving for a Tokina 100mm Macro or a Sigma 105mm Macro.

Keep the 18-70, put the Christmas money toward getting a Tokina 50-135, or maybe a Sigma 70-200 (a long shot).

My main question is the amount of improvement from the 18-70mm to the 18-50? And is the 18-70 a good enough lens for a semi-advanced photographer to be using? I'm also assuming the Tokina 50-135's quality is on par with the 70-200, or at least past the Sigma 18-50.

Priorities for buying a lens (in order):

1) Image quality
2) Build quality
3) AF
4) F stop
5) Size (assuming it fits in my Tamrac Adventure 7).

EDIT: I would also like to know if the Tokina (or the Sigma) macro is on par image quality-wise with the 70-200.

kundalini · Nov 30, 2008

Get the Sigma 18-50 HSM, sell the 18-70

This doesn't make too much sense to me. You are wanting to replace one consumer lens with another consumer lens that has less focal range. Yes, you would be getting a constant f/2.8 aperture, but are you convinced that image quality will be improved? Price difference on new products is only ~$40 more for the Sigma. Without researching, that makes me want to go Hmmmmm?

Personally, I would consider a focal length that you are missing and need rather than getting less than you have.

Just my 2¢.

Oh, and for another 1¢..... Nah, hell, I'll throw this in for free....use the lens hood provided with whatever you decide on.

anubis404 · Nov 30, 2008

kundalini said:
This doesn't make too much sense to me. You are wanting to replace one consumer lens with another consumer lens that has less focal range. Yes, you would be getting a constant f/2.8 aperture, but are you convinced that image quality will be improved? Price difference on new products is only ~$40 more for the Sigma. Without researching, that makes me want to go Hmmmmm?

Personally, I would consider a focal length that you are missing and need rather than getting less than you have.

Just my 2¢.

Oh, and for another 1¢..... Nah, hell, I'll throw this in for free....use the lens hood provided with whatever you decide on.

Huh? The sigma is nearly double the price of the 18-70, and is supposedly on par with the Nikkor 17-55 F2.8, a near-pro lens. This seems like quite a large jump to me, but I could be wrong. That's at least what I have read.

The 50-135 is also looking more appealing by the minute. From what I've read, it has pro-level quality and is not too far out of reach of my budget. Now I just have to make sure it fits in my Tamrac Adventure 7

.

kundalini · Nov 30, 2008

Maybe I pulled up the wrong Sigma 18-50 F2.8 HSM. After rebate, it is only $377. Perhaps you can provide your link.

JerryPH · Dec 1, 2008

You can find them for under $370US any time at Sigma4less.

As far as quality... this lens has beat out $1500 Nikkor lenses in 3 photography shootouts last year. It is an incredible lens, period... add in the fact that it is 1/4 the price of a Nikkor and has a 3:1 macro, something NONE of it's competitors have, makes this choice a complete no brainer if this is the range you are looking for.

I own this lens and can tell you it is incredibly sharp and of good quality.

Orgnoi1 · Dec 1, 2008

I cant speak for all of the lenses on your list... but a fellow moderator on my site uses both the 18-50 and the 70-200 Siggies... and they are both EXTREMELY good lenses for the prices... you wont find a lens on par for IQ for anywhere near the price ranges with the same specs...