Driving myself slowly mad...

The23rdman

The23rdman

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Dean
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*Sighs*

I'm going a bit crazy trying to decide on a lens line-up that will do what I need. I'm VERY demanding of my gear and want the best value for money. I shoot children and families primarily, but with the odd wedding.

I currently use my 50mm f1.4G nearly all the time for shooting children, but need something wider too. I'm been considering the fast zooms in the 24-70 ish area, but cannot afford the Nikon version atm. I'm borrowing a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 HSM, which is a lovely lens, but front focuses a lot at the wide end.

I've bought and tried an older 35-70, which was sharp as a tack, but front focused by miles all through the range. I'm rapidly losing faith in all glass.

I'm considering a 35mm F2 D, but the reviews aren't exactly stella wide open.

I don't know if I'm looking for advice or just ranting. Perfection just isn't possible on my budget...or any?

The only lens I've bought recently that's been perfect IQ wise is my Samyang 85mm f/1.4, but it's MF and specialist.
 
I've never seen any wide open shots from one that make me happy, Scott.
 
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Could go for the 28-70, but don't really want to spend that money. The Tamron looks too dependant on a good copy.
 
The23rdman said:
I've never seen any wide open shots from one that make me happy, Scott.
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What is it that you don't like? Mine was excellent wide open, should never have sold it really. I can only think that samples you've seen are from duff copies (or duff photographers ;) )
 
Maybe I've only seen duff copies, but that bothers me too. I've also heard it's not very reliable focusing.
 
The23rdman said:
Could go for the 28-70, but don't really want to spend that money. The Tamron looks too dependant on a good copy.
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There's your trouble.
If you want a lens that's up to your obviously very demanding standards you're going to have to pay for it.
The 28-70 is a stupidly good lens for the money.
 
The23rdman said:
Maybe I've only seen duff copies, but that bothers me too. I've also heard it's not very reliable focusing.
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It's reliable focusing, but the one with the built in motor can take it's time getting there. The non-BIM one is said to be much faster. If I was to get one again, it'd be that one. One went recently (very quickly) on here for £200.
 
I have nothing but good things to say about the Tamron tbh, Dean I'm PM'ing you a link to .nef I took at 55mm f2.8 with the Tamron.
 
rogermbyrne said:
I have nothing but good things to say about the Tamron tbh, Dean I'm PM'ing you a link to .nef I took at 55mm f2.8 with the Tamron.
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Roger, that's really very decent. Is it equally good across the frame and at both ends?
 
mate you're getting far too technical for me ;)

if you need another shot just drop me a pm and i'll hunt through my library.
 
This stuff matters to me, Roger. I need to have confidence that my gear isn't going to let me down. :)
 
The23rdman said:
This stuff matters to me, Roger. I need to have confidence that my gear isn't going to let me down. :)
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Not sure where I questioned it mattering to you, but anyway the offer is there just let me know and I can do a test tomorrow if you like.
 
I didn't suggest you questioned it. :)

I'd be very happy if you'd do a test for me. I do like what I see in that shot though. It's a really nice selfie, by the way.
 
no worries, I've never done a test before, so what do you want? something flattish at 28mm f2.8 and same at 75mm f2.8?
 
Ideally something human focused on the eyes on the thirds, please. Animal will do, but if not then just anything with decent detail in decent light.

Much appreciated, Roger.
 
Dean, it's very much a case of you having a very, very capable camera body that would obviously be wasted with crap glass.

You know in your heart of hearts that a Nikon 24-70mm is one of the major considerations but as you say, money is going to be the deciding factor in what finally ends up attached to the front.

Just how much of a compromise you can make optically against value, that's only a call you can make.

The 28-70mm suggestion is a good one - £550 will get you one and that's bloody good VFM.

Tamron 28-75 - again a great suggestion as a budget buy that punches above its weight, but you have highlighted a major point.... can you fully trust a lens that may or may not be totally, 100% accurate.

Personally, I'd go 28-70mm because of the price for what it is but I know just how much of a dilemma things can be when you're trying to hold onto cash but up your game. I've just passed on my Tamron 170-50mm which was great, but just didn't perform as well for me as i wanted since I rented a Nikon 17-55. Nowt wrong with the Tamron but I fell in love with the Nikon's build and AF so had to sell a few things and put other financial aims on hold for a while to facilitate the changeover. It's been worth it for definite - I feel more confident and more assured.......
 
Dean,

Is it worth you buying a spyder lenscal, and micro adjusting the lens focussing on the camera?

Just a thought.
 
I have a d700 (and d5000).
I had a nikkor 24-70 f:/2.8. It was an amazingly good lens, but for £900ish I could not justify it.
I changed to a nikkor 24-85 for zoom and 50mm f/1.4G for low light.
I figured my couples shots were all at f/5.6 or f/8 if using flash. I have not regretted it. The lens is sharp, gives good contrast and colours almost as good as the 24-70. The 50mm 1.4 is excellent.

As an aside I also sold my nikon 85mm f/1.4 - I do regret that - the ultimate portrait lens. I may replace it with the new Sigma equivalent though.
 
specialman said:
Dean, it's very much a case of you having a very, very capable camera body that would obviously be wasted with crap glass.

You know in your heart of hearts that a Nikon 24-70mm is one of the major considerations but as you say, money is going to be the deciding factor in what finally ends up attached to the front.

Just how much of a compromise you can make optically against value, that's only a call you can make.

The 28-70mm suggestion is a good one - £550 will get you one and that's bloody good VFM.

Tamron 28-75 - again a great suggestion as a budget buy that punches above its weight, but you have highlighted a major point.... can you fully trust a lens that may or may not be totally, 100% accurate.

Personally, I'd go 28-70mm because of the price for what it is but I know just how much of a dilemma things can be when you're trying to hold onto cash but up your game. I've just passed on my Tamron 170-50mm which was great, but just didn't perform as well for me as i wanted since I rented a Nikon 17-55. Nowt wrong with the Tamron but I fell in love with the Nikon's build and AF so had to sell a few things and put other financial aims on hold for a while to facilitate the changeover. It's been worth it for definite - I feel more confident and more assured.......
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All good points that I've considered. It comes down to the fact I made funds available for a number of lenses and then our washing machine died and our boiler started it's descent into death.

david357 said:
Dean,

Is it worth you buying a spyder lenscal, and micro adjusting the lens focussing on the camera?

Just a thought.
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I've always understood that micro-adjustments only really work effectively for primes.

commjo said:
I have a d700 (and d5000).
I had a nikkor 24-70 f:/2.8. It was an amazingly good lens, but for £900ish I could not justify it.
I changed to a nikkor 24-85 for zoom and 50mm f/1.4G for low light.
I figured my couples shots were all at f/5.6 or f/8 if using flash. I have not regretted it. The lens is sharp, gives good contrast and colours almost as good as the 24-70. The 50mm 1.4 is excellent.

As an aside I also sold my nikon 85mm f/1.4 - I do regret that - the ultimate portrait lens. I may replace it with the new Sigma equivalent though.
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That's also very true. If I only ever shot couples with it I wouldn't need f/2.8 to be sharp, but I may be shooting more weddings.

I'm edging towards the 28-70 unless I can find a really good 35-70...
 
I had a mint 35-70mm 2.8, but really didn't rate it. Didn't seem sharp to me in the slightest and very susceptible to flare
 
Danny, the copy I had was sharp as a razor, but front focused so much it was unusable.
 
ecniv said:
Hi,

Just a thought, did you check whether the lens can be re-calibrated?
If it is as sharp as you want, then surely its an option? Dunno what the costs are like, but shouldn't be over the top? (Or maybe it is..)
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I sent it back after getting a quote. :)
 
Don't know what your budget is Dean but have you looked at the Voigtlander or Zeiss primes for Nikon. I'm hearing excellent reports on sharpness, build and speed.

Andy
 
Dean, I never noticed the Siggy front focus wide open - have you any examples? I've had a look through the shots I have here, and can't see any sign of it.

Not helping your search much, I grant, but puzzled all the same.
 
Here you go. Focus was on the Moosewood Restaurant book. I took a few outside as well and that was even more of a lottery as it sometimes back focused too.

5547034040_bcbf97f17e_o.jpg
 
Nowt wrong with a bit of MF you know. You youngsters are spoilt, when I werra lad everything was manual and I mean everything. ;)

Andy
 
Andy, I have a MF 85mm, but I don't think I trust my eyes to be good enough to MF under pressure of a wedding. :)
 
I, fair comment. I forgot you have that Samyang 85mm.

Andy
 
Very strange that mate - see what you mean from that image, but I never experienced anything like it on the D700 this end. How odd...!

This was at F2.8, 24mm?
 
Dean, rather than messing about with third party zooms, why not just go for a few Nikon non 'L' primes (sorry Canon speak but don't know what Nikon pro are called). The D700 is FF isnt it so why not a 35, 50, 85, and maybe something like a 135. I'm sure the Nikon ones at least match the Canon non 'L' primes for quality and you may be able to pick them all up one at a time and therefore keep in the game as you buy.
 
Now, this may well be a daft question Dean, but that image looks a tad grainy, so I am guessing it's a high ISO shot. Are you seeing this effect more at high ISO than shots in good light?

I've no idea whether I am about to be shot down in flames here, as I know the disciplines are very different, but with the stuff at work, we sometimes experience focus drift depending on the light levels. Often the solution to a fixed focal length setup is to get focus at dusk, so there is less drift in both daylight and dark. Never heard of that with DSLR's and lenses, but....?
 
braddersmd said:
Very strange that mate - see what you mean from that image, but I never experienced anything like it on the D700 this end. How odd...!

This was at F2.8, 24mm?
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Yep.

Marcus Geezer said:
Dean, rather than messing about with third party zooms, why not just go for a few Nikon non 'L' primes (sorry Canon speak but don't know what Nikon pro are called). The D700 is FF isnt it so why not a 35, 50, 85, and maybe something like a 135. I'm sure the Nikon ones at least match the Canon non 'L' primes for quality and you may be able to pick them all up one at a time and therefore keep in the game as you buy.
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you missed the 'money is tight' part of the thread, Marcus. :)

braddersmd said:
Now, this may well be a daft question Dean, but that image looks a tad grainy, so I am guessing it's a high ISO shot. Are you seeing this effect more at high ISO than shots in good light?

I've no idea whether I am about to be shot down in flames here, as I know the disciplines are very different, but with the stuff at work, we sometimes experience focus drift depending on the light levels. Often the solution to a fixed focal length setup is to get focus at dusk, so there is less drift in both daylight and dark. Never heard of that with DSLR's and lenses, but....?
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I took some outside in perfect light too, mate. They gave front and back focus issues.
 
Most odd. Looked through my complete collection tonight to find this "effect" without luck. Have you tried any zooms that don't show this trend? Want to borrow some of the others to try them out? have the 14-24, 24-120 or 70-300 that you can try.
 
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