Bipin Gupta wrote: > Hello Malcom, choice of lenses have always been the most difficult > decision for most of us. So how do we finally decide. > Ask simple rational question like: > a) Genre of photography > b) Predominantly wide or tele user. > c) Bright or Low Light photography > d) Percentage of use for a particular zoom or prime lens > e) Consumer Reports > e) Weight, length, ease of use > f) Do you change lenses often > g) Cost of course and how much can you afford. > h) Others, Miscellaneous > > Example, I am a wide shooter, Travel photography being my genre, and > even that 1 mm matters when I am in Europe. So the natural choice is > the 16-85, all others being equal. > Of course I use the Sigma 10-20 EX DC 50 % of the time in my travels. > The Tamron 17-50 f2.8 30 % > In bad weather all the lenses get replaced by the 18-135 WR + a very > high quality auxiliary Wide Angle + 1.4X & 1.7X TCs. > > I note from internet reviews that the 18-135 is a good all around lens > with sufficient reach hand held. > > Now I have a fetish for sharp lenses mostly zooms - never buy limited > or "star" lenses. So I will go on buying the same lens till I find one > that is brutally sharp. > > I hope I have been of some help, though the points I have raised are > all obvious common sense.
Comprehensive reply Bipin, many thanks. My photography falls mainly into three areas, abstract, landscape and equestrian (mostly horse care and stable management). I rarely use flash, I will do anything in my power to avoid it, although I will if pushed. I therefore regularly carry a reflector or two and I'm not adverse to pushing the ISO up. The latest DSLRs are really great at performing at higher ISO in ways the *ist D could only dream of. I'm not fussed about carrying equipment and I use my tripod on many occasions. I'm happy to swap lenses, although I will take an older body with a different lens if I am taking a car to somewhere I will be taking photos, and I know that it would get silly swapping lenses otherwise. I'm wary of reports in magazines which tend to then have a tie up with advertising of a certain manufacturer (whichever one it may be), and much prefer reports from those who have bought and used the lenses/equipment in real life, day to day. I like mirror lenses; I know these are often regarded as a poor option because of their slightly soft image, narrow depth of field and doughnut shaped bokeh, but I've had years of practice to obtain the image I want from them. Still looks like the 16-85mm by the way! Malcolm -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
