Introduction and question: Sigma 18-125mm OS...or....?
Hi All,
I recently joined this site. I hope to learn a lot from you guys and will also contribute when I can.
20 years ago I was heavily into B/W photography. I mainly used Minolta camera's (X-GM, SRT101 etc...) and also owned a little darkroom with which had lots of fun.
I somehow lost interest however en didn't really pick up a camera until the kids came. Recently I suddenly noticed I was having more and more fun while framing, composing and shooting. Our camera (Minolta d'Image Z5) didn't quite cut it in low light conditions and allthough possible, the manual modes aren't really intuitive. So that's my wife's camera now and I bought a Powershot G9 for myself (along with RF's extra grip and the lensmate for my polfilter.).
I love this camera! Pictures are crisp and bright and I really have the feeling I can control what it does. I mainly use the aperture priority to control DOF and bokeh, but when needed also M or shutter priority. Also for me it is pocketable enough (whithout the lensmate that is).
Thing is: I don't like composing on an LCD. The viewfinder doesn't really work, it's small, has a lot of paralax (which is inevitable in this type of camera, I know), is partly blocked by the extended lens and worst of all: it doesn't show any info like shuttertime, aperture, lightmetering etc...
I really want to shoot through the viewfinder, it gives me much more a feeling of connecting to my subject...if you know what I mean...like I'm more a part of it.
Bottomline is: I plan to buy a SLR. After comparing many types I will eventually choose between the 450D of the 40D. The 40D is a little (200 euro) more expensive, has less MP, but I rather like the tougher feel of the body and the placement of the controlbuttons. The weight and size don't really bother me: I'll still have my G9 for walkies :)
Then again: it _is_ more expensive and the 450D is well built too. Nothing wrong there...
At the moment I would probably go for the 450D. I also actually like the fact that it takes the same SD cards as my G9...
But: which allround lens to buy? Shall I stick with the kit lens? And then add the Canon 55-250mm?
Or shall I go with the new Sigma 18-125mm OS? Or perhaps the Canon 17-85? Or even the Sigma 18-200?
I know that it all depends on what I want to shoot, under what conditions and on my budget, but I tend to go with the 18-125 OS as it seems a nice allround compromis. Has any of you had any experience with this lens?
18-200 seems like to large a range to maintain a good quality in the extremes...or is it?
I plan to buy some dedicated primes too, but one good-ish allround zoom would be nice.
I know many of you've been there too....
EDIT: additional question: buying at a webshop saves me some 15%, which is rather a lot at that pricelevel. Is it advisable to buy like that? Or would you rather pat 15% more and buy in a live shop (my preference....but 15%....hey!)?
Thanks,
Jesse
I recently joined this site. I hope to learn a lot from you guys and will also contribute when I can.
20 years ago I was heavily into B/W photography. I mainly used Minolta camera's (X-GM, SRT101 etc...) and also owned a little darkroom with which had lots of fun.
I somehow lost interest however en didn't really pick up a camera until the kids came. Recently I suddenly noticed I was having more and more fun while framing, composing and shooting. Our camera (Minolta d'Image Z5) didn't quite cut it in low light conditions and allthough possible, the manual modes aren't really intuitive. So that's my wife's camera now and I bought a Powershot G9 for myself (along with RF's extra grip and the lensmate for my polfilter.).
I love this camera! Pictures are crisp and bright and I really have the feeling I can control what it does. I mainly use the aperture priority to control DOF and bokeh, but when needed also M or shutter priority. Also for me it is pocketable enough (whithout the lensmate that is).
Thing is: I don't like composing on an LCD. The viewfinder doesn't really work, it's small, has a lot of paralax (which is inevitable in this type of camera, I know), is partly blocked by the extended lens and worst of all: it doesn't show any info like shuttertime, aperture, lightmetering etc...
I really want to shoot through the viewfinder, it gives me much more a feeling of connecting to my subject...if you know what I mean...like I'm more a part of it.
Bottomline is: I plan to buy a SLR. After comparing many types I will eventually choose between the 450D of the 40D. The 40D is a little (200 euro) more expensive, has less MP, but I rather like the tougher feel of the body and the placement of the controlbuttons. The weight and size don't really bother me: I'll still have my G9 for walkies :)
Then again: it _is_ more expensive and the 450D is well built too. Nothing wrong there...
At the moment I would probably go for the 450D. I also actually like the fact that it takes the same SD cards as my G9...
But: which allround lens to buy? Shall I stick with the kit lens? And then add the Canon 55-250mm?
Or shall I go with the new Sigma 18-125mm OS? Or perhaps the Canon 17-85? Or even the Sigma 18-200?
I know that it all depends on what I want to shoot, under what conditions and on my budget, but I tend to go with the 18-125 OS as it seems a nice allround compromis. Has any of you had any experience with this lens?
18-200 seems like to large a range to maintain a good quality in the extremes...or is it?
I plan to buy some dedicated primes too, but one good-ish allround zoom would be nice.
I know many of you've been there too....
EDIT: additional question: buying at a webshop saves me some 15%, which is rather a lot at that pricelevel. Is it advisable to buy like that? Or would you rather pat 15% more and buy in a live shop (my preference....but 15%....hey!)?
Thanks,
Jesse
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jesse van Oort on -
I hear what you're saying. For that reason I would not go with the 18-200 for example.
I do want to add some dedicated primes to though...I know they're more capable than zooms.
Thing is: I will only have one lens in the beginning....so my first lens has to be allround...better lenses will follow...
Thanks for the advice though! Is the 17-85 also a considerably better lens than the alternatives in your opinion? Or is it just the name that makes you trust the quality more than Sigma or Tamron?
Jesse
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Permalink Reply by Jesse van Oort on
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Ok. Advise taken. One thing that bothers me a little however is: the standard kit lens, allthough of decent quality, has its frontring turning while focussing. Does this make using a polfilter difficult? Or is it stil doable?
I read a lot of reviews, but in the end it's still fifficult to decide. But I guess when the kitlens performs as well or even better than the Sigma 18-125 or Canon 17-85 there's no point in not buying that (and the 55-250 perhaps to go with it).
Next lenses will probably be a prime 50/1.8 and a 10/22 zoom, both Canon.
Thanks for the reply.
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Permalink Reply by Jesse van Oort on
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Yep...you confirm my own thoughts about the matter....
I'll let you people here know what and when I bought....
Thanks!
Jesse
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Permalink Reply by nwhc on -
hi mate i bought a 40d and got the sigma 18-200 OS and it is shocking trying to get money back now so disappointing, stick with canon
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Permalink Reply by Jesse van Oort on
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Ok, that's bad news. What exactly was the problem?
I bought a 450D (XSI) and a Sigma 18-125 OS + Canon 50mm 1.8. I'm quite happy with it, but cas see that the results of the 50mm are more crisp than those of the SIgma, but nothing I can't live with though...I guess it is about prime vs. zoom...have to make consessions somewhere when you want a large focal range I'm afraid...
Jesse
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Permalink Reply by nwhc on
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i had the same 18-200 but not OS on my 350d and loved it! but it all got stolen out of my car, i upgraded to the 40d and got the same lens but OS version and i cant get a sharp picture to save my life the stock 18-55 lens walks all over it upon researching it apparently some 3rd party lens aren't 100% compatible with higher end camera's?
Any way like i said thats with the 40d im sure it will be fine on the 450 but in future if you want to keep you lenses and upgrade your body i would stick to canon.
cheers Karl
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