Got some dosh, what to do with it........

[andy_fozzy]

Hey guys n girls!!

I need help :nuts:

I've got some dosh (mostly in paypal).
Around £350.
What I basically want to do is get a nice walk-around, kind of a replacement for the Sony kit lens.

Idea's so far!!

1. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro
2. Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro
3. Sigma 24-70mm EX DG Macro

Or.......
Get a decent macro lens (ie Sigma 105mm)
and stick with the kit lens, as I actually think it's a good lens!

Or.......
Get a 10-20mm (which I don't think I'd use much!!!!!)
but would really love one!

Or.......
Just shut up and stop annoying people on the forum :lol:

Seriously, 1. is my fave option, due to the great things I've heard about it, macro capabilities etc.
But the 18-50mm F2.8 EX is also STUNNING!!!!

Hmmmmmmmm................

:shrug:

[ShawWellPete]

Shop carefully and you may be able to get the Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX DG and the Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro for that or very near to it.

The Sigma is a big upgrade from the kit lens.

[33L]

i though the sony kit lens was quite good!
what is letting you down about that lens?

[Ajophotog]

Hi Andy,
I've the 24-70 and it's a great lens I think, although heavy and noisy I love it and the f2.8 across the zoom is very handy too. It's great for portrait and general use. At 38mm - 112mm on my 1.6 crop it's very handy.
P.S wish I had some spare dosh you lucky so 'n' so;)

[DavidUK]

I wish I had £900 spare for a D300 body :sulk:

*considers selling SB800 and old Nikon 18-70mm kit lens to raise cash*

:shrug::shrug:

[Smiffy]

17-70 Sigma.....;););)

Nice lens, very good quality and feel, and a little more "forgiving" than the standard kit lens...

I've also heard that the Tamron 17-50mm is a superb lens

[rusty]

Got a Tamron 17-50 F2.8 as a replacement for the kit lens , I had it on whilst we taking pics at nite school on Mon and tutor commented on it favourably.
BTW did you manage to sell that 170--500 lens ? do you intent to replace that lens ? , I put my 135-400 on ebay last nite and it was bought more or less immediatley

[Sgt_Major]

Shop carefully and you may be able to get the Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX DG and the Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro for that or very near to it.

The Sigma is a big upgrade from the kit lens.

Just to add, if he sells the kit lens, there's a few extra quid too....

[Smiffy]

Just to add, if he sells the kit lens, there's a few extra quid too....

Yeah, but twenty five quid won't go far
:lol::lol::lol:;)

[Sgt_Major]

LOL! :D

[rusty]

You"d be lucky to get £25 for kit lens , I tried to sell on here and av forums and gave it away in the end lol.

[Smiffy]

You"d be lucky to get £25 for kit lens , I tried to sell on here and av forums and gave it away in the end lol.


All joking aside, I don't know why....for what it is, it's a very good lens.
But I suppose as the majority of new Alphas come with it, and anybody who buys "body only" obviously doesn't want the blooming things!
I still reckon it's quite a good lens

[walls]

isn't there a new version of the sigma 24-70mm 2.8 due out? maybe worth waiting or for prices to fall on the old version

or you could get a tamron 28-70mm (if it comes in a sony mount?)...in my opinion much sharper than the sigma varients but not as nicely put together

[AleksanderLoesch]

Well, if you have some dosh to spend, How about spending it on a new lens for me! :lol:

I would go for a decent macro lens if macro photography is something you want to get into. Don't know much about macro myself though!

I also like a fixed lens, always used to love something around 50mm on a film camera. Some are good on DSLR

[JPS]

All joking aside, I don't know why....for what it is, it's a very good lens.
But I suppose as the majority of new Alphas come with it, and anybody who buys "body only" obviously doesn't want the blooming things!
I still reckon it's quite a good lens


I half agree with you on this one Smiffy. I have some great photos with the kit lens and also some naff ones - not sure if it's the lens at fault or the operator......... :D

[andy_fozzy]

Thanks all for your advice so far......

Rusty, sold yesterday on ebay.
Same as you, it went very quickly.
for £290!!!!!!!

Nothing wrong with the old kit lens at all in my eyes, this is why I'm a bit weary of the 17-70. I would really gain much out of it.
Apart from the fact it's a stunning lens!!
I wouldn't really gain from F2.8 @ 17mm though. Now if it was F2.8 across the zoom range.......
This is why I'm thinking about a constant F2.8 lens.

Also after using the 50mm Macro EX (which I'm already regretting selling!!) I love the EX lenses.

There is absolutely naff all on ebay at the moment :razz:

[stan the man]

it's a shame sigma didn't do the 17-70 with a constant F/2.8...now that would be something.to be honest,it's the range on both the F/2.8 lens you have mentioned that put me off buying one of them.

[Smiffy]

it's a shame sigma didn't do the 17-70 with a constant F/2.8...now that would be something.

But then it would be at least twice the price Stan.
That would have put it out of my price range for a kick off.
The appeal to me was that a lens held in such high regard could be had for a shade over £200.00

[stan the man]

But then it would be at least twice the price Stan.
That would have put it out of my price range for a kick off.
The appeal to me was that a lens held in such high regard could be had for a shade over £200.00

hey,it's only money mate :lol:

but i agree..the 17-70 is a fantastic little lens,and a definate step up from the 18-70 sony kit lens IMO(as you know,as i told you ;)):thumbs:

[Smiffy]

hey,it's only money mate :lol:

but i agree..the 17-70 is a fantastic little lens,and a definate step up from the 18-70 sony kit lens IMO(as you know,as i told you ;)):thumbs:

Yep
When the £230.00 went out of our account I did mention that she should thank you
:shake::shake::shake::shake:;)

[andy_fozzy]

Ok, here's another couple of poss's.

Sony 24-105mm
Sony 16-105mm

I'd :love: the 16-105!!!!!!
The 24-105 would still be yummy, and is a bit cheaper......

Any thoughts?????

[stan the man]

Yep
When the £230.00 went out of our account I did mention that she should thank you
:shake::shake::shake::shake:;)

gulp....not sure i want to meet her now :eek: :lol:

[stan the man]

Ok, here's another couple of poss's.

Sony 24-105mm
Sony 16-105mm

I'd :love: the 16-105!!!!!!
The 24-105 would still be yummy, and is a bit cheaper......

Any thoughts?????

warehouse express have the 16-105 cheaper than the 24-105 :shrug:.

here's the bumf on it...


The Sony 16-105mm f3.5-5.6 lens is a beautifully compact zoom lens that delivers excellent all-around performance. The 35mm-equivalent range of 24mm wide-angle to 157.5mm telephoto, makes the Sony 16-105mm f3.5-5.6 lens ideal for shooting remote, or far-away subjects, sports events and landscapes, but also for close-up photography too. This lens incorporates one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lens element and two glass aspherical lenses for minimised colour aberration and excellent contrast across the zoom range.

Product Code: PBY4888 Manufacturer #: SAL16105.AE


you pays your money,you takes your choice :naughty:

[andy_fozzy]

Cheers for that Stan.

I'm seriously considering this 16-105 now,
but I need convincing it's worth over £300 :eek:

It must be a darn nice lens for that price.
Mustn't it......

:shrug:

[stan the man]

Cheers for that Stan.

I'm seriously considering this 16-105 now,
but I need convincing it's worth over £300 :eek:

It must be a darn nice lens for that price.
Mustn't it......

:shrug:

i can't help you andy as i've no experience of the 16-105,but you generally get what you pay for,and at £350+,i'm sure it will give pleasing results...

[Smiffy]

Cheers for that Stan.

I'm seriously considering this 16-105 now,
but I need convincing it's worth over £300 :eek:

It must be a darn nice lens for that price.
Mustn't it......

:shrug:

Mixed reviews on Dyxum Andy, but doesn't come out too bad.
http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/reviews.asp?IDLens=417

The Sigma 17-70mm....(your original choice)??
http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/reviews.asp?IDLens=241

But then I guess you've already read them until your eyes hurt
:thinking::thinking::thinking:

I don't have any focusing issues with my copy, it's super quick and tack sharp.
As I've said, if you want to meet up and borrow mine for a few hours trial you are more than welcome.

Bear in mind the Sigma is about £100.00 cheaper too :love::love::love:

[andy_fozzy]

Mixed reviews on Dyxum Andy, but doesn't come out too bad.
http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/reviews.asp?IDLens=417

The Sigma 17-70mm....(your original choice)??
http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/reviews.asp?IDLens=241

But then I guess you've already read them until your eyes hurt
:thinking::thinking::thinking:

I don't have any focusing issues with my copy, it's super quick and tack sharp.
As I've said, if you want to meet up and borrow mine for a few hours trial you are more than welcome.

Bear in mind the Sigma is about £100.00 cheaper too :love::love::love:

I am VERY bearing that in mind Rob!!!!
I would LOVE to get the Sony, but I really don't think I can.
I know it sounds daft, but I'm finding it hard to spend £350 on a lens :nuts:
I could get the 17-70 and have lots of change for £350.

I mean, the only real benefit I can see with the Sony is the extra 1mm at the wide end, and the extra reach at the zoom end. It's not even a really 'fast' lens.
So apart from that, there's not really much going for it.

So why would I BLOODY LOVE ONE :bang:

:lol:

[Smiffy]

Just spend the money you tart!!

Once it's gone, it's gone

;)

[leaky5]

Not sure if this helps your dilemma or not, Cardiff Camera centre had 3 16-105's on ebay a week or 2 ago, £310 + P&P. They were new out of a700 kits. Might be worth contacting them to see if they have any more.