Simpo needs a new lens

[simpo two]

Graagh. I was at an Awards Ceremony last night, and whilst most of the work was done at 100-200mm, I also needed wider. Something like a 28-200mm would be handy, or 50-250mm, but the Nikkors and Sigmas aren't AF-S/HSM. I need fast focusing, no hunting, and a decent aperture would be handy too. However, all the impressive-looking fast lenses seem to start at 70mm, which is too long.

Any thoughts folks? If not I will have to grind my own from milk-bottle bottoms and a Pringles tube...

[simpo two]

V6GTO said:

Sompo, if you had a decent camera you could get the press' favourite lens, the Canon 35-350L. Martin.

Ah, Conons... indeed.

[simpo two]

Thanks Luca. However I don't think they're silent wave - and they're far too small to impress the punters!

[simpo two]

dcw@pr said:

don't get a 28-200/300, i have used both types quite lot in the past. Get either an 18-55 or a 28-70 depending on your preference. there are plenty of decent 28-70s around not made by Nikkor, although they are the best if you have the money. I almost bought a Tokina 28-70mm once, but my bid didn't make it. Both those lens are (or at least are available in) f/2.8. Then get anohter body, it really is very useful, apart from having a sore neck after a few hours.

Thanks, I have 18-70 and 70-300; the main problem is not aperture but length - the end of the 18-70 is often not long enough, yet the start of the 70-300 is often too long and has a lousy close focus distance!
Better get those milk bottled back in... World's first 'Simppor' 18-300mm f2.8 AF-S IF VR ED coming up...

[simpo two]

V6GTO said:

It must be a Macro lens as well, say...X2?

Arse, I'd nearly finished the prototype too... I think I can squeeze 1:1 out of it if I use a bean tin as well.

[simpo two]

dcw@pr said:

Sounds good, but not nearly as nice as my 10-700mm f/1.4 AF-S VR which clicks into fisheye mode at 10mm. I've finished the lens design, im currently working on the forklift truck mountings to carry it around

Mine has retractable wheels and is self-propelling, no fork-lift needed.

[simpo two]

_dobbo_ said:

What? No anti-gravity mechanism?

Jeez, what do you expect for £25K???

You'll be needing the Pro range...

[simpo two]

On the same theme I believe there's a nice Hasselblad free to anyone who can collect - it's on the Sea of Tranquility!

[simpo two]

Bad news on the lens front; the Pringles tube collaped under the strain.

But I'm starting to get a hankering for one of these:
www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telezoom/70-200mm.htm
It's HSM and half the price of the equivalent Nikkor - in fact they're on eBay for as little as £370 (imported).

28-200 would be handier but they're not silent focus and have only average aperture:
www.europe-nikon.com/details.aspx?countryid=20&languageid=22&prodId=249&catId=119
www.europe-nikon.com/details.aspx?countryid=20&languageid=22&prodId=390&catId=119

Does anyone have the Sigma 70-200 f2.8? If so I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on it.