What lens

[curtisl]

I am thinking about getting a new lens to add to my kit lens and it's between these two

The Canon 50mm f1.8
http://www.jessops.com/Store/s12878/0/Lenses/Canon...

or

Sigma 70-300mm f4/5.6 macro
http://www.jessops.com/Store/s26774/0/Lenses/Sigma...

These choices are lenses from jessops as i have a £50 voucher.

What do you think would be the best bet? Personnally i am swaying to the sigma as i feel it has a wider range of uses.

[DIW35]

A lot depends on what you want to do. As you rightly say, the Sigma has a much wider focal range, and will be a much more flexible lens to meet a variety of situations.

If at any point you come back towards the 50mm 1.8 I can heartily recommend it. I've just bought one, and it's a cracking little lens given how cheap it is.

p.s. Don't buy it from Jessops - there are traders on eBay selling new ones for around £55 - say £60 to £65 when you include postage. (Assuming you use your voucher on the Sigma!)

Edited by DIW35 on Sunday 29th June 14:17

[curtisl]

DIW35 said:

A lot depends on what you want to do. As you rightly say, the Sigma has a much wider focal range, and will be a much more flexible lens to meet a variety of situations.

If at any point you come back towards the 50mm 1.8 I can heartily recommend it. I've just bought one, and it's a cracking little lens given how cheap it is.

p.s. Don't buy it from Jessops - there are traders on eBay selling new ones for around £55 - say £60 to £65 when you include postage. (Assuming you use your voucher on the Sigma!)

Edited by DIW35 on Sunday 29th June 14:17

I haven't got a specific use in mind, I take pics of absolutely everything, whilst i am still learning. With the 50mm that would give me focus to concerntrate on specific aspects of photography, ie. portraits and DoF, but tbh i don't enjoy taking portraits at the moment, i love looking at the pictures but not very confident in taking them, i feel a lot more confident with inanimate objects and have been keen to do macro stuff. Everyone recommends the 50mm lens so much tho which is making the decision harder .

[miniman]

The 50mm is a lovely lens and there is a lot to be said for a prime lens for forcing you to think about the composition of the shot. Buy from Kerso on eBay for a good deal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-CANON-50MM-F-1-8-M...

[Taffer]

If you have to buy from Jessops, get the 50mm lens.

Get the Sigma 70-300mm APO DG (better than the non-APO version) from somewhere such as Onestop Digital (115.99), cheaper than Jessops (159.99) and not much more than the non-APO version(99.99). It's a good first telephoto lens, and has a macro function too, so is quite versatile.

[curtisl]

I was hoping you guys would convince me that the sigma was the right route to take.

Damn you all!!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

miniman said:

The 50mm is a lovely lens and there is a lot to be said for a prime lens for forcing you to think about the composition of the shot. Buy from Kerso on eBay for a good deal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-CANON-50MM-F-1-8-M...

Yup. I've had my 50mm on the camera almost 100% of the time since I got it. It makes you get in the right position rather than just zooming in and hoping.

The only thing I would say is that for me on the full frame body it's great. On the 1D mk2 (1.3 crop sensor) it's ok, but on the 10D (1.6 crop) it's a bit too telephoto. I'd say a 35mm would be the best for that...but they're not as cheap as the 50mm.

On balance? Get the 50mm. With f1.8 you can have fun in the poor light too.

[Simpo Two]

Seems like a judgement between max aperture and range. You already have 50mm covered with your kit lens but nowhere near f1.8. Conversely you don't have 70-300 covered at all, and the Sigma would do this but not at big apertures.

I've never suffered from this 'what lens do I want?' scenario. I always know what I want to do next, or what my existing kit won't let me do, and then choose the most appropriate lens to do it.

As you don't seem to know what you want to do with this new lens, is this a case of just wanting to add to the toybox? Maybe wait until you do know what you want, *then* buy it...?

[curtisl]

Simpo Two said:

Seems like a judgement between max aperture and range. You already have 50mm covered with your kit lens but nowhere near f1.8. Conversely you don't have 70-300 covered at all, and the Sigma would do this but not at big apertures.

I've never suffered from this 'what lens do I want?' scenario. I always know what I want to do next, or what my existing kit won't let me do, and then choose the most appropriate lens to do it.

As you don't seem to know what you want to do with this new lens, is this a case of just wanting to add to the toybox? Maybe wait until you do know what you want, *then* buy it...?

Well the thing is, I now know what my current lens (28-90mm off the my old Canon eos 3000v slr as it has a better zoom than the kit 18-55mm) and i want a new lens. I originally wanted the 50mm lens as it is a lot quicker and comes highly recommended, but after a quick look on the jessops website the sigma lens ticks my boxes of what i want in a new lens, i would like to start panning at motorsport events, macro work and something with a bit of a zoom. My only real direction that i want to pursue is b&w and i can do that with both lenses.

What i should have asked is that if anyone has used the sigma lens? thats what i really want to know.

I think my decision has been made that i will get the 50mm now and get the sigma for my birthday in 4 months.

[VxDuncan]

curtisl said:

What i should have asked is that if anyone has used the sigma lens? thats what i really want to know.

Yes, and don't buy it. I agree with Taffer above - don't buy the non-APO sigma, now or ever. You'd probably get better quality stopping the 50mm down to F5.6 and cropping it to the cropped area of the 70-300mm. The chromatic abberation (colour fringing) is utterly dire. All the examples I have on the web have been 'shopped to hell to try and make the best of them, but if you want me to post some examples let me know.

I've owned both the sigma 70-300 non-APO (canon) and the APO versions (nikon). The APO is worlds apart and good value for money. The macro (ish - 1:2) feature is great too.

That said everyone should have a fast 50mm lens in their toolbox! Opens up a massive range of creative oppertunities - and whilst tricky to use wide open will make a massive difference to your photography.

[miniman]

I've used the Sigma, a friend has one. It's a decent walkabout lens. His is the non-APO version, though. In some respects, you can't beat it for value for money and sheer range of focal length. However in terms of image quality, it is nowhere near the 50mm 1.8. Also, when I used it I always found myself wishing for an extra stop or two, particularly at high zoom levels.

Probably my favourite shot with my 50mm:



I find the problem with good quality lenses is you just want more of them. I started with a Sigma 24-70 2.8, then bought a Sigma 10-20 (which is a cracking lens IMHO), then the Canon 50mm 1.8 and then I took the plunge into the Canon 70-200 2.8 L IS. So over time (quite a long time!) I have covered pretty much everything that the 70-300 can do (and I can add a 1.4x converted to the 70-200 to give me 300mm with only 1 stop lost) plus plenty more and the image quality and handling is so much better.

ETA - I also have the 28-90 from my old 3000V and believe me when I tell you that it is absolutely light years away from something like the 50mm.

Edited by miniman on Sunday 29th June 21:55

[curtisl]

VxDuncan said:

curtisl said:

What i should have asked is that if anyone has used the sigma lens? thats what i really want to know.

Yes, and don't buy it. I agree with Taffer above - don't buy the non-APO sigma, now or ever. You'd probably get better quality stopping the 50mm down to F5.6 and cropping it to the cropped area of the 70-300mm. The chromatic abberation (colour fringing) is utterly dire. All the examples I have on the web have been 'shopped to hell to try and make the best of them, but if you want me to post some examples let me know.

I've owned both the sigma 70-300 non-APO (canon) and the APO versions (nikon). The APO is worlds apart and good value for money. The macro (ish - 1:2) feature is great too.

That said everyone should have a fast 50mm lens in their toolbox! Opens up a massive range of creative oppertunities - and whilst tricky to use wide open will make a massive difference to your photography.

Job done. thank you very much. Although I am disappointed that the sigma is not as good as i had hoped, your advise has made up my mind. 50mm here i come.

Thanks for everyones input, great advise once again.

[_dobbo_]

I had the Sigma APO version (Nikon fit) and pretty much never used it. I sold it to a PH'er when I replaced it with an 80-400VR which I also never use.

On the other hand, the £60 50mm I had never left my camera until I replaced it with a £1000 lens...

f/1.8 impossible to beat for the money.




edit, looks like you made up your mind whilst I was writing this!

Edited by _dobbo_ on Sunday 29th June 21:55

[vRSLen]

I just wish I knew more about the black art of photography. I have bought quite a lot of equipment
over the years but still want something along the lines of a 40D. Would this help?

[vRSLen]

I just wish I knew more about the black art of photography. I have bought quite a lot of equipment
over the years but still want something along the lines of a 40D. Would this help?

[curtisl]

vRSLen said:

I just wish I knew more about the black art of photography. I have bought quite a lot of equipment
over the years but still want something along the lines of a 40D. Would this help?

in my opinion i would further my skills till i actually need the 40d. You could have the best camera in the world but if you don't know the logistics of a good picture, then it is only as good as your ability i suppose.

[Simpo Two]

Much the same as buying an F1 car won't make you a racing driver!

[curtisl]

miniman said:

ETA - I also have the 28-90 from my old 3000V and believe me when I tell you that it is absolutely light years away from something like the 50mm.

The lens feels terrible quality even compared to the usual 18-55mm 400d kit lens, but i went to london the other day and the little extra zoom that it gives come n handy, and the shots wern't that bad imo.

here they are http://picasaweb.google.com/leescurtis/London25062...

[CarMac]

_dobbo_ said:

I had the Sigma APO version (Nikon fit) and pretty much never used it. I sold it to a PH'er when I replaced it with an 80-400VR which I also never use.

That would be me. I've used it lots. You can't fault it for the price.

So, you don't use the 80-400?

[_dobbo_]

CarMac said:

_dobbo_ said:

I had the Sigma APO version (Nikon fit) and pretty much never used it. I sold it to a PH'er when I replaced it with an 80-400VR which I also never use.

That would be me. I've used it lots. You can't fault it for the price.

So, you don't use the 80-400?

Glad you're getting good use out of the lens! I'd say I've used the 80-400 about 4 times since I've owned it. I would sell it but we're planning a Safari holiday and I know I'll need it for that.