 Karen Rahlf |
18-125mm vs. 18-200mm I'd like to get a good all around lens for my Digital Rebel XT. I'm down to three, the Sigma 18-125mm, Sigma 18-200mm and the Tamron 18-200mm. I'm not sure I'll need to go all the way out to 200mm that much but I'm thinking it would be nice to have it available. Do you think saving $100 now would be better and then get a 70-200mm later? Is the quality better on lenses that have a smaller range? I take mostly landscapes and misc. travel photos, some macros and plenty of candid family/friends photos. I'd like a lens that responds fairly fast, although just upgrading from a point and shoot seems to have taken care of a lot of missed shots (kids with closed eyes and turned heads). I'd also like some opinions on Sigma vs. Tamron if I decide to go with an 18-200mm lens. I really am "just an amateur" and probably won't be printing anything larger than an occasional 8x10, mostly just 4x6. Thanks for any help you can provide.
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Steven Gunnerson |
Hi Karen - I recently had to make the same decision as the one you are faced with now. I elected to purchase the Sigma 18-125mm and I am very pleased with the lens. Based upon several reviews that I found, both 18-200mm lenses suffer from pronounced distortion and chromatic aberrations throughout the entire zoom range (especially bad at the extremes). The 18-125mm rates much higher in this regard. I have also seen a couple of complaints about the AF speed and AF low light effectiveness of this lens, but have not experienced the same problems. The AF is a bit noisy , but that doesn't bother me. Which ever lens you choose, I suggest you make sure you can return it if there is any problems.
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Karen Rahlf |
Wow! I wish you'd responded sooner. I'm in awe of your photos (your beach sunset pictures blow me away) and would have gone with your suggestion. I wanted the lens ASAP because my class is starting today so I already ordered the Tamron 18-200mm. I'm hoping that the reviews (I read some too) are overly picky and that my untrained eye will not notice the distortion. As you said, reviews also complained about noise and speed in your lens, but you haven't had problems in those areas. I'll let you know what I think once the lens arrives.
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Steven Gunnerson |
Thank you Karen! Well maybe it's better that you didn't get my message in time... I think often times the reviews can be a bit overly critical. Also, 18-200mm is much more convenient then carrying around two lenses with you all the time, especially as a travel lens. I'm eager to find out what you think of the lens and see some of the photographs you make with it.
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