designboy
journeyman
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 59
Loc: belfast, co. antrim UK
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Hi - your wise words to get a 50mm 1.4 was great. Im very happy, but miss the zoom. So now I want to move into a zoom for doing portraits and bodyshots, I was about to splash out on the 18-200 nikon lens that is the all rounder holiday lens (seems to do the heap!) but its a f3.5 - 5.6 lens that puts me off as most things I do are indoors.
I then looked at the 70-200mm f2.8 from nikon (lovely) but too expensive at £1k-ish so I then found that tameron do a lens at £500-ish that is the same specs (minus VR). I was really wondering what would be better. I dont shoot full frame so the 18-200 lens is made for my camera, the others are made for 35mm cameras so will magnify up. Im just concerned that my sharpness will be blurry and I'll kick myself.
The question of all this is:
Which would you go for? the nikon 180-200 f3.5 or the tameron/sigma 70-200mm f2.8
I dont do wide angle at all, but having that seemed cool, I just want sharp shots - like anyone else!!
Thanks again,
this site has been great!
Chris
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Capture it while it lasts...
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deddard
newbie
Reged: 11/03/2008
Posts: 45
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It depends on what you want to do in the future.
If you are serious about photography and likely to upgrade cameras within the next few years, then if you have the funds, go for the Nikon.
The cost is a big factor, but replacing a defunct lens if you then switch to full frame later on is even more expensive.
If money is a big issue and you're happy with a DX lens, then I don't think you'd go far wrong with the Tamron, they do make some good lenses.
If you crank up the ISO then your shots should be reasonable if noisy inside, (unless you use flash of course)
edit....
if you're after a Nikon F3.5 instead of a 2.8 then I would edge towards the tamron/sigma
Edited by deddard (22/07/2008 13:43)
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 19533
Loc: Currently Unknown!
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50mm is a perfect lens for portrait work. It's what I mainly use when shooting them
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Fen.
- Fen's Flickr Fotos -
"One good photograph does not a photographer make."
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designboy
journeyman
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 59
Loc: belfast, co. antrim UK
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Yes, my 50mm is great and at f1.4 offers real creative options, but the dof from a 180mm zoom is best is it not?
- I seen this today and its got me thinking again lol:
http://www.tokinalens.com/products/tokina/atx535prodx-a.html
are they better/worse?
Chris
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Capture it while it lasts...
Edited by designboy (22/07/2008 16:43)
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9160
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
...but the dof from a 180mm zoom is best is it not?
Define best....... The DOF of a 180mm lens will be shallower than the 50mm 1.4 as lens to subject increases but is that what you want.......or do you want greater depth of field in which case the 50mm is best.......
Portraiture can be performed with any lens as long as you know what you wish to acheive and you can only learn that by practice. Your recent posts give me the impression that you are trying to run before you have learnt how to walk. I strongly advise learning what you can and can't do with the 50mm before buying another lens. This will not only improve your photographic skills but help clarify exactly what you wish to achieve and suggest the kit you may need to acheive it.
Harking back to you 180mm DOF question this picture was taken with a 70-210 f2.8 at somewhere around the 200mm mark and f4...
This picture on the other hand was taken with a200-400 f5.6 at about 300mm and f8...
In both cases the camera has an APS format sensor (Canon) so film equivalent focal lengths would be nearer 320 and 480mm respectively...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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Zou
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 2022
Loc: Edinburgh
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You could also think about a 90mm/100mm macro lens - great for portraits and great for closeups of wee things too. Two birds, one stone, Bob's your uncle. 
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Zou's Flickr Page
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3400
Loc: Up North, England.
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Is there a typo in there?
You talk about 18-200 or 70-200 and then 180-200. I assume that this is a typo?
If you're looking for a one lens does all go for the 18-200 but if quality is what you want you may be better going for the 70-200 as the shorter range zooms are often more highly thought of than the one lens does all type.
A "wide" is worth having though, IMHO.
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
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stenchbings
addict
Reged: 16/07/2007
Posts: 401
Loc: uk
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ive just done too shoots and the ones from the 50mm f1.8 came out the best. i also shot with a telephoto 70-300 and a 18-70 kit. i dont think you will have any problem taking great bodyshots with a 50mm.
move around your model instead of being static. works great for me.
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designboy
journeyman
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 59
Loc: belfast, co. antrim UK
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I love the 50mm lens, in fact my snaps so far with it have been really what I want, but I miss the option to zoom when there is action.
To fill you in on why I have started this totally fantastic world of photography; I work as a designer in a studio, we just started on the side for pocket money doing prints onto canvas and perspex prints from other photographers work (not stealing it!), they are essentially nice and good. But I do believe that we as a company can offer creative, fresh images with the option to touch up our prints with extra design work on top to provide a unique portrait is hard to find.
I love design - I have worked hard at it for 15 years and always had an interest in photography - just never the patience to read and learn it. Im now so happy I began to do it as its really paying off for me.
Back to the lens lol, I think throwing out the backdrop (or having the option to) is the best version for what I want to do, with the 50mm lens I can shoot a body with the head in focus and the rest blurred, great for nude work that I plan to offer. It's a journey and I'm so happy to find people like you that are willing to share your hard earned brains with me!
Thanks,
Chris
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Capture it while it lasts...
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