A Plea For A Review

[Pogbellies]

Pretty please.....

Could you do a review of 3rd party lenses vs camera manufacturers lenses using Canon and Nikon bodies please. It would also be useful if this was of the most often bought focal ranges for both full frame and APS C both high end and low end.

E.g. EOS5D & D700 using Canon, Nikon and Sigma 50mm f1.4, 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8.

and EOS7D and D300 with Sigma 18-50mm, Canon and Nikon 18-55mm plus 50-200mm equivalents.

Hopefully this would help new buyers and up-graders determine if it is worth paying extra (or otherwise) for manufacturers lenses.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

I normally check out the owners comments at the Fred Miranda Site. I pay particular attention to the low scores.

Obviously it's not infallible, and the more views the more likely the average scoring has some meaning, but as I normally purchase my lenses used, it's a good place to check whether the lens I'm interested in has QC aspects, and whether I should buy new from a company with a no-quibble return policy. Unfortunately when I have bought new, I've had a high proportion of dissatisfaction leading to warranty repairs or replacement.

[TimF]

it's a good place to check whether the lens I'm interested in has QC aspects

Indeed. One on-line reviewer has had to obtain second and sometimes third(!) samples of many recent lenses from both Canon and Nikon.

[El_Sid]

AP regularly do group lens tests - eg they recently compared the Tokina and Nikkor 12-24 wide zooms and a group of 18-200 offerings - so I'm not quite sure what more you want...

[daft_biker]

WDC did a nice wee group test of 50mm lenses from various manufacturers in the Feb 2010 issue.

I don't think the reviews of the 50mms are online yet but there's loads of lenses reviewed by WDC here.

[Learning]

A review of the scope that you request would occupy a year's worth of a magazine's lens review space. Now if all that appeared in one bumper issue who would buy a subscription? If you look at the last year or two's AP you will find what you are looking for, albeit in small pieces for self assembly. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
Edit. Actually I still would subscribe; the gear tests, as good as they are, are not the main attraction of the mag.

[Roger_Provins]

Not having either a Nikon or a Canon camera can't say I'd be that interested.

[Pogbellies]

A review of the scope that you request would occupy a year's worth of a magazine's lens review space.If you look at the last year or two's AP you will find what you are looking for

Sorry, but having read the last two years APs, few such reviews exist. There are single tests but not comparative ones of the type mentioned, comparing like with like.

The reviews need not be in one issue, much like the recent Elements 8 one, they could be spread over a series of weeks.

I think most of us would still buy the mag but it doesn't hurt to ask.

I would also disagree that this is not of interest to non Canon or Nikon users; it would give a frame of reference for 3rd party manufacturers products (albeit the only one with a decent line up at the moment is Sigma.) It would probably be unreasonable to expect Pentax, Sony (Zeiss might be interesting though) Olympus et al to be included, not that I would mind!