Starting Lens for D30

[kalli77]

Hello,

I want to buy a D30 and I am not sure with which lens I should start. I only have the money to buy a fairly cheap lens (less than 400$).
First of all I want to know if it is worth the money to buy a canon lens, or will a tokina or sigma lens do the job (I just do hobby-photography).
Are the benefits from a lens starting at 24mm worth the money compared to a lens that starts at 28mm?

The lenses I favour so far are:
24-85
28-105
28-200 (is the quality significantly worse because of the wide range compared to the 28-105?)
(Canon, Tokina or sigma)

Until I have the money to extend my range with additional lenses this lens should cover all the standard situations.

Lots of questions, but I hope you can help a beginner with some sort of advice.

Thanx in advance

Felix

[Malvin]

Hello, out of all the lenses you mentioned, I'd choose the 24-85mm personally. The extra 4mm is pretty significant on the D30, considering the 1.6x multiplier factor.

24mm --> 38.4mm
28mm --> 44.8mm

With the type of shooting I do (mostly landscapes - wide angle stuff), 24-85mm would be my starting lens. I rarely read any review on 28-105 & 28-200 but there are a lot of positive experience w/the 24-85 at dpreview.com. To see shots taken with the lens, go here: http://rijnders4.myweb.nl/ (amazing photographer btw).

Personally I would stick w/Canon lenses due to their quality and better resale value, but other brands do have some excellent lenses...cheaper too. If you're willing to fork out another $100-$150, the 28-135mm with IS is excellent.

Hope this helps! :-)

[Kenmc]

I have the 24-85mm and it is great... Outside. Inside it is too slow for my taste. I was looking at getting a 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 for indoor shooting.

The choice of the zoom is up to you on the top end, but I would stick with the 24mm on the bottom end.

[kalli77]

First of all I want to thank you for your quick responses.
The 1.6x factor really is an argument that speaks for buying a 24mm lens. Does anyone know where I can find a review or a test of the Tokina 24-200?

Second:
I read a lot about the slow autofocus of the d30. Does a Canon USM lens improve the AF compared to a non USM lens? For the means of noise I don´t care but speed would be an argument.
Thanks again for your support

Felix

[TulsaRod]

I started with a Tamron 28-300 lens on my D30. The price was right at about $300 (with a 100 rebate). This lens is great fun with its long zoom range, and it "will" take amazing photos... "sometimes".

Now and then I could get a photo that would rivial anything I've seen anywhere on the net. (check out my "kitty kat" shot on my page). But most of the time this just didn't happen. Although it can take great photos, when everything is just right, I still wanted something better.

After researching the net, reading reviews, looking at lots of samples, I decided on a Canon 70-200 f2.8 lens.

Yes its expensive, but after using it for about 5 minutes when I first got it just yesterday, I can tell its what I wanted. The difference is totally, completly, amazing.

If you just don't have the bucks, get what you can for now and save up for an "L" lens. Because eventually you will want one.

If you can, start with an "L" lens. The photos you take will please you from day one, and you'll have a better chance at getting the "shot" that a cheap lens probably will miss or won't be quite good enough (check out my eagle shots). Once the moment is gone, its gone forever and will never return.

So... now I'm off to catch new moments, hope the eagles are flyin today :)
See ya

http://members.home.net/rcmok4/page5a.HTML

[sasc]

I think if one is all you can afford you should consider the 28-135 Canon EF IS. If you need faster lens for indoors add the 50mm f1.8 (certainly f1.4 is preferable if you could afford it) You could also get grey market Canon at B&H with their own year guarantee and often they have excellent used lenses.

[mrbobco]

hi...

i, as well...have bought all my lenses with b&h...they do offer excellent deals on used (i.e. mostly new still in box or refurbished) lenses as well...

my very first d-30 lens was the 28-135 IS USM...an excellent starter that will retain it's value once you're ready to sell it and move up to "L" glass...i highly recommend it...

and...that 50 mm/f 1.8 is EXCELLENT too...you can't go wrong for $70! it takes superb shots...

all of these are of course a far cry from the 28-70/f 2.8 L (but then it spoiled me rather fast : ) the good part is...i was able to sell my 28-135 for exactly what i paid ($465 at b&h)

good luck : )

bob

[kalli77]

Thanx a lot for your replies!

I just ordered a D30 with the original 24-85 USM canon lens. I hope I will get it before Christmas so that I can try it out shooting snowboarding pictures.

Felix

[southern98]

I current have the SIGMA 15-30 & Tamron 28-200 Super II.

I tried out the Canon 28-135 IS USM yesterday.

Now, I am selling the SIGMA and Tamron.

I am tired of get bad shots with the Tamron its good but I get lots of out of focus shots.

The Sigma 15-30 is great (fast focus, fast aperature, fun lens, really wide) but I rarely use it and need the money for the Canon.

I ordered the Canon 28-135 IS USM from B&H today.

good luck.
hoang

[KHogan]

Hi Hoang,

How much do you want for your Sigma 15-30? Feel free to email me directly if you prefer. I'm looking to get a wide-angle and have been seriously considering the Sigma 14mm f/2.8. But, I could be persuaded by the Sigma 15-30 ... :)

Kharim