Sigma 55-200 vs Tamron 55-200 FULL REVIEW!

[olly_k]

Originally Posted by Raze

Hi Raze I hope I didn't upset you but these threads do go off topic from time to time I have been guilty myself (I think on this one ) Also, should be fine putting a link and stating clearly link not 55-200! or "can the 55-200 do this..."
Anyway, it really might be to your benefit to start a fresh topic in the right section, as there will no doubt be a lot of people with excellent suggestions and experience of your specific requirements who have stoped reading this thread, just because they aren't interested in this lens!
See if Nick can do some low light tests for you but I think it would be tough to find a similar environment!!!

Sorry Nick, another challenge for you!

[Nick_C]

Originally Posted by Raze

Great review Nick!

Newbie here so please be gentle....

Is this lens a good all purpose lens? Or only good for telephoto?

I am thinking about getting the 400D body and will need a lens to go with it, my only real requirement is it can take good portraits (of people and pets), eg like this one:

http://antonipildid.net/07.03.30_Koo...2_filtered.jpg

(Where the backgound is blurred).

How much xzooms is the lens? Equivilent to 10x or more? (told you I was a nube!).

I don't really want to spend more than £150 on a lens so any recomendations would be helpful. I'll post a general topic about this too - but was particularly interested in your thoughts

Hey,

Ok to blur the background you need a larger aperture, this is why people go for lenses like the 85mm F1.2, but we are not talking Sigma 55-200 money now, they are considerably more expensive.

The 55-200 at 55mm is F4.0, this isnt really good enough to blur the background, but there is another way of getting nice blurry backgrounds.

If you zoom to 200mm which is F5.6 & get as close to your subject as you can so that it fills the frame, you will have a nice blurry background.

Its not all to do with the aperture, sure a F1.2 lens will blur the background & have less depth of field than a F4.0 lens, but you can get more blur on your backgrounds & less depth of field by zooming to a longer focal length & getting closer to your subject, its all these things that help.

This is what I mean, this was taken at 200mm F5.6 close to the subject.



I havent tried any portraits with this lens as its not really my area of photography.

Nick

[purelithium]

LOVE this thread, Nick. Thanks for making me spend another 200 dollars! haha! I will have my 17-70 and this baby in my bag, hopefully will quench my need for a tele-zoom for a while

Great test.

[Nick_C]

Originally Posted by purelithium

LOVE this thread, Nick. Thanks for making me spend another 200 dollars! haha! I will have my 17-70 and this baby in my bag, hopefully will quench my need for a tele-zoom for a while

Great test.

Yes quite a few people have gone out & got this lens after my review, if I worked for Sigma I would be asking for a pay rise

That's exactly what this lens has done for me, quenched my thirst for getting a lens of this type, I was looking to get the Canon 70-300IS, obviously a much better lens than the 55-200 but in a totally different price bracket.

Nick

[Raze]

Thanks for the help Nick.

I would appreciate it if you could take some 'everyday' pics with the camera - say 10 photos, just to give me an idea of what the lens could be used for.

Say one indoors, one of a house 10 feet away from it, a car as close up as you can pysically get to get a pic etc No probs if you are too busy. I am just trying to figure out if I can use it as an only lens for a while.

Thanks again for your help.

[Nick_C]

Originally Posted by Raze

Thanks for the help Nick.

I would appreciate it if you could take some 'everyday' pics with the camera - say 10 photos, just to give me an idea of what the lens could be used for.

Say one indoors, one of a house 10 feet away from it, a car as close up as you can pysically get to get a pic etc No probs if you are too busy. I am just trying to figure out if I can use it as an only lens for a while.

Thanks again for your help.

Ok mate, give me a day or two & I will see what I can come up with.

Nick

[purelithium]

I just picked mine up. It feels more plasticky than my 17-70, but still much more solid than the canon kit lens. I'm going to take photos at a hunt dog trial, so I should get some kick-ass shots of dogs in action for this thread on Sunday night.

I think I'll make a mini-review myself and post it here too, guys!

[Nick_C]

Ok it was nice weather today & so I decided to do some ordinary real world shots.

This time I decided to forget about the testing side & just mounted the lens on my camera & went around the house snapping everything that was going on at the time, I only made sure that my shutter speed was high enough, as for aperture I just shot at whatever I felt would suit the image, not concerning myself with what aperture is the lenses best or anything like that.

All shots were taken handheld.
ISO values between 100-400.
Aperture Priority was my mode of choice (I usually use that one)

I will spread these images over a few posts, here we go:

Subject 1: Brother working on his car:











100% crop of the above image:



More to follow......

[Nick_C]

My pet tortoise's were out hunting around for food today as the weather was warm so I managed to get some images of them munching away

Subject 2: Tommy the tortoise





What is he trying eat dirt now? daft thing



A bit of tongue



More to follow....

[Nick_C]

Im not sure why I took these ones but what the heck, this is my trusty transit 280 turbo diesel, im always doing 600mile round trips in this thing, not the most comfy of rides but it sure holds a LOT.

Subject 3: My ride! (it aint no mustang thats for sure)



100% crop of the above image:







Now im no expert on what is or isnt good Bokeh, but this next image looks creamy smooth to my eyes, its of the left indicator incase your wondering



Now this is me trying to take artistic shots, lol..



More to follow....

[olly_k]

Originally Posted by Nick_C

What is he trying eat dirt now? daft thing

I had a green Iguana Nick, and he was dumb so I guess the two go had in hand with reptiles Still very adorable creatures though!
Don't suppose you want to swap your 55200 for a 7ftx6ftx3ft cage do you

Nice piccies - I am still waiting for that bird shot though Ooh, what about the moon it is a crescent tonight if you have clear skies?!

[purelithium]

Hey Nick. You must have a really fantastic copy of that lens! What were your shutter speeds like on those? I may just be getting poorer results because I'm new to long tele's

[Nick_C]

My parents were out in the garden doing what parents do at their age, gardening!

Subject 4: Parental units doing gardening







Couldnt resist another 100% crop of the above image:

[Nick_C]

A hanging basket mum made up, shame the flowers werent out:



Time to see that pleasing blurry background again





More to follow...

[Nick_C]

Last few shots were just a house along from us:

Subject 5: A messy house (obviously rented!) lol



100% crop of the above:



Well thats all I have for the moment.

I will be doing another 600mile journey in my van next week sometime, I will take my camera & get some better shots then, that is IF I can stay awake long enough to take anything decent! lol

Nick