50mm 1.8 or Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto???

[iNick]

If you buy a Sigma 70-300, you really would be best off buying the APO version of it. You do not mention your camera brand, but there is a 70-300 G Nikkor that sells for $95 or so used. It's cheap, and okay from 70 to 200-220 mm but the longer end has purple CA pretty seriously on high-contrast edges. The Sigma 70-300 APO models, for apochromatic, are designed to tame the CA (chromatic aberration) that tends to occur in longer focal lengths above 200mm. Price range last time I checked was $179 on the Sigma APO model.



With summer coming up, the slow aperture speeds of a 70-300 consumer zoom are not that big a drawback; the f/4~5.6 speed lenses,as well as the f/4.5~5.6 models, are basically "good weather zooms"; fine in the brighter months of the year, not so good indoors or in the darker months of the year. I think for summertime, a 70-300mm would be much more fun,and much more-valuable than a fast 50mm lens.

That's a solid point, i had thought about that as well actually. I use a T1i btw sorry i didn't mention that. Considering i do most of my shooting outside here in SC where it's BRIGHT all the way till 8pm i might be better off with the zoom.... hmmm decisions decisions....

just checked amazon, the APO model is only $15 more so that's a no brainer. Thanks Derrel!

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I second Ron's advice. You could get the 50mm which is probably a more useful focal length than the 70-300 lens overall if you do not shoot wildlife or things where you need reach. You do not need a full set of tubes to reach 1:2 macro. I would think that a 25mm tube would suffice.

 

[iNick]

I think I'll go with the 50 for now, I had planned on getting it for a while and already have some
Shoots planned out for it. I also wanted to do a bit of video too. I'll be picking up the sigma in a few months tho for sure. Thanks for all the help guys!