 Melissa Volker |
Sigma 18mm - 200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Autofocus Lens Looking for an 18-200mm lens for my Nikon D40. The one made by Nikon is easily $600. Sigma has theirs with autofocus less than half that. All I can see is that Sigma doesn't have VR..is that the only difference? Will I care? I'm getting very frustrated being out taking photos and missing shots having to change lenses. HOWEVER -- I really don't have the $600 right now. Will I be disappointed with the Sigma?
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Peter K. Burian |
Melissa: Note: The D40 is not equipped with a built-in focus motor (like higher level Nikon cameras.) So you will *not* be able to find a very affordable lens ... if you want autofocus. So, you *must* use an AF-S lens. (Those lenses have a built-in motor that provides autofocus with any Nikon camera.) Some Sigma lenses also have such a motor, called HSM, but the 18-200mm lens does NOT. So, you would not have autofocus! The Tamron 18-270mm lens DOES have a motor too, so it would provide autofocus with your camera. ($629) Not super fast autofocus perhaps. This lens also has an Image Stabilizer. See the test report at http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/tamron_18-270_3p5-6p3_vc_n15/page4.php The Nikon 18-200mm is very good for a lens of this type. $700. (It's very difficult to make a wide to telephoto lens at an affordable price; hence, none of them are superb). See www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_18-200_3p5-5p6_vr_afs_n15/page4.php Hope that helps. Peter www.peterkburian.com
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Melissa Volker |
Actually: Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 AF DC II Lens for all Nikon DSLR Cameras Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC for Nikon. This high zoom ratio lens, designed exclusively for digital .... So there is an autofocus Sigma for half the price of Nikon. What I'm wondering - and I have looked around at reviews -- is what users here felt about Sigma as a lens. Is it half the price cuz it's half as good a lens? And how much would I miss my image stabilizer/vibration reduction if I lost it (which I would w/ a Sigma)?
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Peter K. Burian |
Melissa: You're right. Usually, Sigma is specific as to whether a lens provides autofocus with the D40, D40x and D60. For this lens, they do not mention that at all on their Web site. **Many Sigma lenses in Nikon mount do not include the necessary focus motor for Autofocus with those Nikon cameras.** But the 18-200mm DC II lens does, apparently. ...Sigma has announced that it is to make its unstabilized 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC lens compatible with Nikon's D40 and D40x SLRs which lack an in-body focus motor. ... If you do not often shoot in low light, I don't think you will miss the stabilizer too much. Use a higher ISO level to make sure you have a shutter speed of at least 1/350sec. when using the long telephoto focal lengths. Cheers! Peter Burian,
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Melissa Volker |
awesome! Thank you for taking the time to answer and explain. It really does help me a great deal in making decisions.
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