[Adam Lincoln]

Anyone got one? For the price, they seem to get good reviews.

After a lens for bouldering shots really. Already got a decent fisheye.

What lens's are you lot using and like? Johnny B?

[Jim]

I got one of these for my D50 and think its excellent. Nice and wide and fast straight through and good value IMO. Seems to cover most thinks bouldering quite well

see my thread here

[dave]

depends on what camera you're using it on adam. for a digital you'll almost certianly want something wider. a good starter is the 18-70mm.

[Johnny Brown]

Assuming you're on digital? That's a lens for a film body and as such the range isn't great on a digi.

For climbing, I currently use a Tokina 12-24/4, Nikon 35/2 and Sigma 50-150/2.8. I'm a big believer in buying lenses designed for the small sensors if possible, the ranges are more useful and the lenses are smaller.

However I am missing a general zoom for those times you only want to take one lens, and am jonesin' for the new Nikon 16-85. They're about £400 but would cover 90% of stuff.
The cheaper option is the 18-70, as Dave says, still a step-up in quality from the bundled lenses though.

If you want something fsater go for an independent like Jim's.

[Adam Lincoln]

Thanks guys... Its for a D200.

[Adam Lincoln]

Whats your camera Adam? I assumed you would be an old skool slide man?

[slackline]

Whats your camera Adam? I assumed you would be an old skool slide man?

The first sign of madness is talking to yourself Adam.

The second is forgetting what camera you have. 

[Johnny Brown]

I've got a D200. And a Mamiya 645 for nice stuff. I've still got a bunch of Olympus OM gear for when the others are too bulky - the OM-4ti is still the best handling camera I've used.

[Adam Lincoln]

How do you find the d200? I have had mine a few days and took a bit if getting used to after my D70. I am impressed though. Battery life no where as good, but just ordered the battery grip and a couple of extra batterys.

[Johnny Brown]

Its a very capable camera, I can't really find fault with it. However I don't enjoy using it, its very uninspiring after a manual camera.

As for a battery grip, I think its already too big. Battery life has never been a problem, I carry a spare and that has done me for 4 days out and 4gb of images.

[dave]

Adam (Lincoln), if you find your batteries aren't lasting you need first to make sure you're using them right. For a kickoff they are the type that last better if you constantly top them up, rather than the type you use in mobile phones which perform better if you full discharge them before charging. I found my D70 battery performance dropped off a lot after i forgot to charge them regularly (a symptom of the battery life being so good, you forget that they need charging!). So try putting your battery on charge every night for a week and then see if they hold charge longer.

But having said that, the D200 battery is the same as the D70, and since the D200 will make greater demands on it then yeah it won't last quite as long, but should still be ample, unless you're using the built-in flash maxed out for every shot, cracking the AF in and out and having the screen on 24-7.

[Adam Lincoln]

Will bear that in mind about batteries Dave. Though had heard that about them.

Just bought one of these http://www.photographyreview.com/mfr/sigma/35mm-zoom/PRD_88759_3128crx.aspx which i really like so far. More if my everyday lens. And it was cheap. Going to get a wider lens when i see something cheap.

Thanks guys.

[Johnny Brown]

Seems like a strange choice to me. How much?

[Adam Lincoln]

Seems like a strange choice to me. How much?

Shop demo down to £120. They said i could use it for a few days to try it. Retails for £260ish mark. You think i should have gone wider?

[dave]

zooms that are 24-xxmm or 28-xxmm are really film camera legacy lenses, that lens you've got is equivalent FOV to a 35-100mm, which even for a film camera is quite an unpopular length, especially as a do-it-all type lens. but if it works for you then great - i would recomend testing it out though cos even brand new sigma's QC can be shakey.

[slackline]

Adam (Lincoln)

It would seem I failed to realise that JB is using a pseudonym.

Apologies to Adam Lincoln no offence intended.

[Adam Lincoln]

Adam (Lincoln)

It would seem I failed to realise that JB is using a pseudonym.

Apologies to Adam Lincoln no offence intended.

None taken.

[nik at work]

Adam (Lincoln)

It would seem I failed to realise that JB is using a pseudonym.

Apologies to Adam Lincoln no offence intended.

How silly of you Mr Line, or can I call you Slack?

[slackline]

How silly of you Mr Line, or can I call you Slack?

Either is fine, or Neil if you prefer.

[Adam Lincoln]

Adam (Lincoln)

It would seem I failed to realise that JB is using a pseudonym.

Apologies to Adam Lincoln no offence intended.

How silly of you Mr Line, or can I call you Slack?

[Johnny Brown]

You think i should have gone wider?

What Dave said basically. I'd be more bothered about the size of the thing - most of which is to provide coverage for a 35mm frame so is wasted on a D200. I think Sigma's qc 'problems' are overestimated on the web by nitpicking leicophile types on forums. Mine is the sharpest AF lens I own. My old Zuiko macro on a home made adaptor still blows it away though.