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Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM ED G-Series Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens
Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM ED G-Series Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 21 minutes ago
Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM ED G-Series Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens (Electronics) Much better image quality than lesser 70-300 and 100-300. Step better than Minolta 70-210 f4. Expensive but worth it. Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM ED G-Series Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens (Electronics) As other reviewers have noted, this is a bright light lens. If you can't figure that out from the aperture rating, you probably aren't ready for this lens..
Read more...Sigma APO Teleconverter 2x EX DG
Sigma APO Teleconverter 2x EX DG
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 24 minutes ago
Sigma APO Teleconverter 2x EX DG for Canon Mount Lenses (Electronics) I am using this doubler on a Canon T2i with a Sigma 120-400 APO. The first thing you should know on most of the Canon line this teleconverter will disable the AF function. There's a way around that (just google it) but my camera didn't like it and focused poorly, so you are forced to re-learn how to focus manually. We have all been spoiled by AF I think. :) I usually shoot only hand-held, that is no monopod or tripod. With the doubler on I couldn't get a sharp image to save my life. I at first thought maybe my eyeglasses were throwing off my focus so I switched to my contact lenses and had the same issue. I was a bit frustrated at this as most of my photography is of wildlife and I have always found tripods slow me down. I next tried the setup with both my monopod and my tripod. The results were like night and day! The images were sharp, not quite as sharp as without it mind you but extremely acceptable, and the ability to focus improved now that I wasn't spending all the energy trying to keep the camera still. So, unless you have the eyes of an eagle and the steadiness of a demolitions expert, buy this doubler with the idea of using it on a monopod or a tripod for best results and you won't be disappointed. .
Read more...Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Lens
Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Lens
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 27 minutes ago
Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Lens with Case and Hood (Black) (Electronics) The Pentax 43mm f1.9 is just right for me. I bought it because I used to own a 50mm f1.4 that never felt wide enough and after that I owned a 35mm f2.8 that always felt too wide. For an everyday walk around lens this lens is just right for me. Using this lens with my Pentax K-5 is a joy. Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Lens with Case and Hood (Black) (Electronics) The 43mm f1.9 limited was the first of Pentax's limited series FA lenses. It's been around for some time now. And, in recent years, it has not received as many glowing reviews as the other FA limiteds (these being the 31mm f1..
Read more...Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 30 minutes ago
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera) I've had this lens for a couple of days and have shot in a variety of situations. The image is somewhat soft at f/1.4, but sharpens quickly as you stop it down -- f/1.8 looks much sharper and f/2 is excellent. From a purely practical standpoint, you can shoot in lower light w/o external lighting, and you can run higher shutter speeds in low light for better action-stopping when shooting people or animals. I was also amazed at the incredibly small depth of field I could attain -- for example, I was able to narrow the focus down to a single stem of a plant and have every other part of the plant far out of focus. Not something I've been able to do with my Canon 17-85mm and 10-22mm zooms. It's a heavy lens but it balances well on a 20D. Autofocus seems nearly as fast as with my Canon lenses. My one complaint is that the focusing mechanism (in auto or manual) isn't as smooth or quiet as with my Canons -- it sounds a bit rough in auto, and makes a slight "barking seal" sound as you go from close to distant focus manually. Nice of Sigma to include the lens hood and case, instead of charging exhorbitant amounts for the hood as Canon does. Overall, this is a very useful addition to my zooms, and it will definitely allow me to get usable natural-light photos in situations where I couldn't before. .
Read more...PENTAX DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED
PENTAX DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 33 minutes ago
PENTAX DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED (IF) Fish-Eye Lens for Pentax Digital SLR (Electronics) Talk about a fun lens. I am doing fun stuff again. Of course too many fish-eye shots are not well received in a wedding shoot but the option to shoot in tight surroundings like stairs, or group up the groomsmen and bridesmaids and add a little flair is great! I've found nothing wrong with this lens and it's fun to see people's reactions to the shots. After some Photoshop lens correction the shots are can also be acceptably distortion free. Once again Pentax provides the value for the money. PENTAX DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED (IF) Fish-Eye Lens for Pentax Digital SLR (Electronics) This is fine lens but I wish I had purchased a regular wide-angle lens. The fish-eye effect is great in certain instances but grows old quickly..
Read more...Nikon 300mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Super Telephoto Prime Lens
Nikon 300mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Super Telephoto Prime Lens
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 36 minutes ago
Nikon 300mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Super Telephoto Prime Lens (Electronics) I've used this lens for a week and it exceeds all my expectations. Although it's heavy I'm still able to handhold it while photographing birds in flight. All I can say is I wish I had made this investment years ago. See the results here: [...] Steve Christensen Nikon 300mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Super Telephoto Prime Lens (Electronics) Summary: Get one. The new car/house etc. can wait. Pros: Just about the sharpest lens I own. VR system works really well and settles fast - about h
Read more...Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical
Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 38 minutes ago
Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera) Alot of people are choosing between the Tamron 17-50mm and the considerably more expensive Canon 17-55 IS. Canon obviously believes this focal length will appeal to the broadest group of consumers, hence why the 18-55 IS is included with the XSI kit. I personally have both the Canon 17-55IS and the Tamron 17-50 and like them both for very different reasons. There are alot of technical reviews that discuss barrel distortion, vignetting, etc, but my review is focused on how well the lens performs if you're a first time DSLR owner like myself who has barely a clue about photography.What I like about the Tamron 17-50: -Very small and lightweight. I have it mounted on my Rebel XT, so it makes for a very compact DSLR with a range great for wide angle shots and portraits of people. -Images are VERY sharp, pretty comparable to the 17-55IS. I shoot in RAW, so I can't comment on color quality much. -I like the lens cap; its easier than the Canon lens cap to remove while the hood is on. -Barrel lock: you can lock the barrel so if the lens is stored facing down, it doesn't extend. My Canon 28-135IS does that, and it is annoying. -It has a maximum constant aperture of 2.8. It is very difficult to find a zoom lens that is this fast for as price as low as this Tamron (the Tamron 28-75 being the other lens that comes too mind). Definitely, NONE of the fast Canon zoom lenses with a constant aperture are in that price category. I think the closest may be a f/4, of you're looking at consumer grade lenses that have apertures that change with the focal length (i.e. f/3.5-5.6). -Price: It is less than half the price of the 17-55IS. If you have the skill to coax the best out of the lens, your prudent purchase will reward you handsomely, and you'll have money left over to buy a nice camera body.What I don't like about the Tamron 17-50 as compared to my 17-55IS: -Autofocus isn't as precise as with the 17-55IS. I have a higher percentage of blurry photos with the Tamron than I do with the Canon. -Focus ring turns in the opposite direction of the Canon lenses. This makes removing the lens kind of annoying. -No IS. Some people say that you don't need IS at this focal range. But I do. Maybe I drink too much coffee, but I love IS. I have less blurry photos of my dogs using the 17-55IS than I do with the Tamron. I do get sharp photos with my Tamron, but you don't want to have to sort through literally hundreds of photos just to find a few sharp ones. -Low light/indoor performance not as good as the 17-55IS. I've discovered I love photos with great depth of field/bohkeh, so I tend to shoot on wider apertures as often as possible. Even when its wide, the Tamron doesn't perform as well as the 17-55IS in low light situations. It is likely a result of a combination of its autofocus/lack of IS. If you're out and about on a sunny day, or are using a tripod, you will likely not experience this too much. But if you're inside on a rainy day, you'll notice this.The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens will certainly give you better photos than the kit lenses will. If you have a smaller DSLR like the Rebel XT, XTI, XS, or XSI, you'll appreciate the small size of the Tamron while giving you very sharp photos. However, I believe you need to have some skills in order to reap the benefits of this lens. Price is a considerable factor as well; you could purchase this lens and an XS body for about the price of the 17-55IS lens alone. We actually picked up this lens and highly discounted Rebel XT as our *small* camera because combined it was about the price of a G10. We bring our 40D w/17-55IS out when we want the low light performance, of we know we're going to take photos. We bring the XT/Tamron 17-50 combo out when we want a camera just-in-case, and we want the photos to be really good. We bring our Canon A570IS when we want something that's very small and don't really care about photos.If you have the funds, or only want one lens, I would recommend the Canon 17-55 over this lens. It is better built (though its a considerably larger lens), has IS, and has the same optics that Canon's "L" series lens has. On average, the photos of family and friends that I take with the 17-55 turn out better and sharper (and I have fewer discards) than with the Tamron. My skill level is mediocre at best, so I need all the help I can get, and the Canon provides, while the Tamron emphasizes how bad I am at holding the camera steady, though it does reward me just enough that I kept it.You won't go wrong with the Tamron lens, and for the money and size, it is a great lens. It is worth upgrading to this lens if you only have your kit lens. But keep in mind that after purchasing the Tamron, you'll still want the 17-55IS. EDIT 12/9/11: I want to point out that Tamron seems to have recognized the consumer's preference for image stabilization (IS) or vibration control (VC), which I stated was one of the reasons I preferred the 17-55IS over the Tamron 17-50.
Read more...Sigma 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Fisheye Lens
Sigma 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Fisheye Lens
posted by abcnoonoi 1 day 5 hours 41 minutes ago
Sigma 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Fisheye Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics) I bought this Sigma 10mm f/2.8 full frame fisheye lens for use with my Canon 30D. I really like the lens image quality, build quality and overall operation. I've already taken some fun pictures with it. I use it to complement my Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 wide angle zoom. If you like take unique photos with an unusual perspective, you'll enjoy the Sigma 10mm fisheye and it's amazing depth of field. The lens also comes with a nice fitted case. Sigma 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Fisheye Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics) Built like a tank, fast and quiet autofocus, awesome optics. Beefier than the Nikon, the Sigma 10mm fish eye is an amazingly flexible lens. Well worth the investment! ..
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