[Jim]

I really need a new lens to go on my D50 and F80.
I have 18-55 kit lens which auto focus has gone again on, warranty expired, will not be replaced
28-100 and 70-300 which I got off gruff ages ago, not brilliant but get occasional use (using 28-100 mainly at the minute till I get new lens)
50mm 1.8 good for portrait shots, not so good for climbing

have been thinking of getting 10-20 sigma like Dave but now I'm more swayed to getting a 18-35(3.5-4.5) or maybe a fixed 35(2.0) or maybe just get a 18-200(3.5-5.6) to cover all eventualities.

Anyway, I just can't make my mind up and would ideally like to only spend a few hundred to get a good quality general use everyday type lens that's good for climbing shots. What would you recommend?

[Jim]

this one has also caught my eye. may not be quite wide enough tho

[slackline]

Its a bit pricey, but I'm saving up to get the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR and I have to say that Digital Rev is the cheapest I've seen it yet.  Sorely tempted now.

It gets good reviews on quality, and given the wide range is handy to leave on as a walk around lens.  The VR technology means you can get the equivalent of  about 3 or 4 f-stops lower than what the lens actually goes to.

[Johnny Brown]

Best Uk price guide here:

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod125.html

Can recommend Digital Rev - cheaper than Uk second-hand prices, very quick delivery (3-4 days), refunded import taxes hassle free.

The 18-35 has a good rep, I've played with one and as a standard zoom for the dx cameras its the one I'd go for.

Are you after a lens to use on the film camera too? In which case it becomes more difficult. A 35/2 will do good service as a standard on the dx and fast moderate wide on the film.

When I was shooting film mainly, probably 75% of my shots were on either a 28mm or a 90mm prime, with the rest on 21mm, 50mm or long zoom. You can't easily match these on a dx, especially the wides. Your 50 is closeish to a fast 90, persevere with it, Dave rates his I know.

Ultra wide the choice pretty much comes down to Tokina 12-24 or Sigma 10-20 basically. i think there's a discussion on the merits of these in the archive.

[Jim]

got my 50 from digital rev as well.

Was looking to use lens on both camera's. The 50 just isn't wide enough for most climbing shots (what I mainly use the camera for).
I think I want a more general lens before I get an ultra wide one. I'm quite tempeted by the 35/2.
what do you recon to the 18-200 VR JB? I presume it'll be no good on the film body

[Johnny Brown]

Personally I'm not a fan of super-zooms, try to do everything and there's too much compromise. No, it won't work on the film body too well. You'll rarely use the 200mm end so you might as well have the capability in the bag in a different lens and have a much nicer to handle lens for general use.

The 35/2 is nice but not especially wide at all, makes it good on the film for group people shots as it doesn't distort faces in the corners. More of a wide standard lens than a proper wideangle.

Ignore the above about the 18-35, I meant the 18-70, see here:

http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/en_GB/products/narrow/393/overview.html
Only £150 now... nice compact standard zoom, might get one myself actually!
Other option might be Tamron 17-50/2.8, nice n'fast for those woods you like to hang about in.

[Jim]

I'm not overly sold on tamrons, and the nikon seems like a good choice (isn't that the kit lens with the D70?) although would like something faster ideally

[Jim]

is the tamron 2.8 straight though?

[Johnny Brown]

Think so. If you don't like Tamron, Sigma do an 18-50/2.8 also, its part of their EX range which means decent basically. I've got the 50-150/2.8 EX which is well brown. Both are 2.8 at all zoom settings.

[dave]

jim, i use the 50mm for most of my climbing photos, (along with the 10-20). If you dont want to be arsed changing lenses then the 18-200mm may be good although i personally wouldn't get one but the trouble and strife's dad uses his most of the time and rates it. Bear in mind the VR isn't the same as getting a lens that 3-4 stops faster - its great being able to hold a 200mm lens at 1/15th but its no good for climbing unless you're taking pictures of stamina sport climbers who move extremely slowly. i imagine the 35mm f2 is great but its not really that much wider than a 50, and it sounds like you want a wide angle. like JB says the 18-70mm is a great lens and amazing value. bearing in mind you can't get a lens that is fast, wide, well made, sharp, can be used on both film and digital and still be on budget. you may be best getting a 18-70mm and a 24mm prime, but then thats over budget. at a pinch you could try finding the nikon 18-35mm which is NOT DX so would be a wide zoom on digital and a super-wide on film:

http://www.bythom.com/1835lens.htm

[Jim]

some intresting ides, thanks Dave

[dave]

theres also oddball 3rd party offerings like this:
http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/index.php?id=23&product_uid=499
http://www.bythom.com/1530lens.htm

would be very wide on digital and ludicrously wide on film. of course you're playing the sigma build-tollerance lottery, i.e. each particular lens could be dynamite or complete bosley.

[Jim]

looks like its worth a dabble, I might get one

[Jim]

Well after much thinking and surfing I think I'm going to get a prime lens (around 24 ish) for use mainly on the f80 and also a zoom for the d50.
The prime can wait for now but I really want to get a zoom this week for taking to switzerland.
The nikon 18-70 seem like a great lens but I want something faster, ideally 2.8 or quicker so it boils down to the sigma or tamron which I still can't decide on, or maybe the 10-20. ahhhhhhhhh

[dave]

i'd be amazed if you can get a good wide zoom at 2.8 for what i would call reasonable money. bearing in mind the nikon 17-XXmm 2.8s are £700+ used. Are the sigma/tamron lenses the f/2.8-4 variable ones? you want to watch those, cos its fairly common on cheaper 3rd party zooms for the the variable aperture not to be very generous at all, i.e. Might be f/2.8 at 17mm, but for example could be down pretty quickly to f/3.5 by 19mm which is virtually the same as the nikon 18-70mm. its a common design trick to make apparently fast lenses cheaper. have you considered a 20mm prime? you can get the nikon 20mm 2.8 pretty cheap if you shop around (~£150ish, i've seen em as cheap as £80), still usefully wide on digital and its gravy for film.

Also if you're buying last-minute and not got time to check your lens out much then a prime lens is less of a risk of getting a dud than a 3rd party or zoom.

[Jim]

https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm
this is tempting me now, 2.8 straight through.
Where have you seen the 20mm nikkor for that money dave?

[Jim]

also how do you rate your 10-20, is it the sigma?

also the 20mm 1.8 sigma is very cheap, any good do you recon?

[dave]

what lens is that jim? the link is just to the frontpage.

the sigma 10-20 is ace, though hard to use properly at the very wide end, care required. a great lens if you can drop on a good copy.

I saw a nikon 20mm cheap ages ago cos it was a bit beaten (but probably still fine), but have seen a fair few at £150 relativley recently, though the prices may have nudged up a bit after they announced the D3.

https://secure.ffordes.com/Shop/Store/Itemdet.asp?Type=secd&sub=1&Code=NK&SubCode=AL&id=88183&promo=0
http://www.apertureuk.com/used-NAF.htm

[Jim]

its the tamron 17-50 2.8 straight through
https://secure.ffordes.com/Shop/Store/Itemdet.asp?Type=secd&sub=1&Code=NK&SubCode=AL&id=88473&promo=0

[Jim]

sigma 20mm 1.8
http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?language=en&currency=GBP&products_id=190

[dave]

could well be worth a shot if you're after a fast zoom. i'm not keen on tamrons cos they never seem to make owt truly outstanding, but it looks like good deal.

20mm-wise personally i'd take a second hand nikon 2.8 over a sigma 1.8. no-one really needs a fast lens that wide unless you like handholding in pitch black.

[Jim]

its the tamron 17-50 2.8 straight through
https://secure.ffordes.com/Shop/Store/Itemdet.asp?Type=secd&sub=1&Code=NK&SubCode=AL&id=88473&promo=0

gone for this one for the d50. will have a look at the 20 after christmas I think
Thanks for the advice

[Jim]

I can't help but thinking which lens Jerry would of bought?
probably a fucking big expensive one

[dave]

"thats a £500 lens" - Stone Love video.

[Jacqusie]

Anyone get one that they are using & can recommend?

I'm after a decent lens for my D80 & was looking at the 18-200 - but its been said its not really needed at that range?

cheers

Si

[Jim]

I'm quite taking by the tamron 17-50 2.8.

[Fatboy]

On a similar vain here guys and gals...

I have just bought an EOS 400D (loving it by the way, even though its probably not a job on what some peeps here are packing  ), and I'm looking to get a great lens for taking climbing pics (mainly bouldering and the like), and fill any gaps I have.

So far I have the 18-55 kit lens that came with it, a 50mm f1.8 lens for portraits etc and a 100-300mm f4.5-5.5 zoom lens too.

I have a little knowledge on the subject but nowhere near the expertise a lot of peeps on here have, so I'd like to open it up to the floor!!

Cheers,
Mark

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

I've wanted a wide zoom for a while and you can currently get the Canon EF-S 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM for not much more than £400 if you get a good web-deal then claim £55 back from Canon...
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=102681
then
http://canon20thanniversary.onlinerebates.com/howtoclaim.aspx

Also just noticed if you buy TODAY from Jessops they'll knock off 10% automatically off any lense which nearly matches the best price from the less reliable web only shops. I'm tempted.