Favorite or Most Used Zoom?

ShoSho · 02-11-2011, 07:01 PM

I just started with digital, and I have quite a few old primes I'm going to explore first, but I want to start thinking about my first zoom purchase. I shunned the kit lens. So what is the first zoom lens would you want? What zoom can you not live without? (I do realize this is a based on the type of work each individual likes to do.) I'm just being nosy. I also thought there might be some mentioned that I hadn't even considered. And I'm just infinitely curious what others love. Thanks for playing.

psychdoc · 02-11-2011, 07:04 PM

DA* 50-135.
Takes lovely portraits. Good for the kind of sport shooting I do too.

Eagle_Friends · 02-11-2011, 07:11 PM

on the cheaper side, probably the DA 55-300mm

SpecialK · 02-11-2011, 07:18 PM

The 12-24 is a very useful range for architectural, landscape, car shows, etc. The Tamron 28-75 is a good mid-range complement to it. The Tamron 70-200 is excellent for the longer end. Beyond 300mm is pretty limited, but the Sigma 150-500 is decent. If I could have only one of the above, it would be the 12-24.

**Clarkey** · 02-11-2011, 07:18 PM

16-45mm if you like wide. Very good lens for the money.
I just traded/bought the 18-135mm, and while expensive, it is good for daylight shooting.

ponyt27 · 02-11-2011, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by ShoSho

I just started with digital, and I have quite a few old primes I'm going to explore first, but I want to start thinking about my first zoom purchase. I shunned the kit lens. So what is the first zoom lens would you want? What zoom can you not live without? (I do realize this is a based on the type of work each individual likes to do.) I'm just being nosy. I also thought there might be some mentioned that I hadn't even considered. And I'm just infinitely curious what others love. Thanks for playing.

Hello,
I went from kit lens to a Sigma 17-70 f 2.8-4.5 .... quite happy with it for portraits,weddings ,...... great close-focus(about 4 or 5 inches),not true macro tho.
I`ve been using primes a bit more lately.... just involves more footwork !!results are worth it most the time.
Best of luck with your choice!

clockwork247 · 02-11-2011, 07:41 PM

the 17-50 or the 28-70 f/2.8 or the 50-150 f/2.8.

I find the 70-200 quite good, but it's probably not ideal. the ideal range would be something like a 35-135 f/2.8, not sure if anyone is making them, with the crop sensor the 50-150 is a bit long IMO, the 28-70 is very usable unless you do landscape

.

pxpaulx · 02-11-2011, 07:48 PM

Definitely the 50-135mm.

Also had the hardest time selling my 16-45, a great, relatively inexpensive option for wide angle.

Ed n Georgia · 02-11-2011, 07:56 PM

For me... Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. Might soon be replaced by the DA 18-135......

Ole · 02-11-2011, 07:57 PM

I can not live without the FA*28-70/2.8 - my most used lens, by far! Sharp, fast focus, nice color rendition, bright, not too heavy and bulky despite being a full frame lens.

RioRico · 02-11-2011, 08:04 PM

The DA18-250 is my basic lens. All others are specialty items.

That's for digital. For M42 film, it's the Vivitar Series 1 Version 1 70-210/3.5 beast, or a Sears-Tokina 55-135/3.5. Great stuff. Much cheaper than AF zooms.

gokenin · 02-11-2011, 08:07 PM

The Tamron 24-135 is my walk around lens and most used zoom. second is the sigma 17-70

clockwork247 · 02-11-2011, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

The DA18-250 is my basic lens. All others are specialty items.

That's for digital. For M42 film, it's the Vivitar Series 1 Version 1 70-210/3.5 beast, or a Sears-Tokina 55-135/3.5. Great stuff. Much cheaper than AF zooms.

the 18-250 is a sick lens, i almost snatched one for 200, but the seller backed out at the last sec for some reason (probably found out the real price), I'd love to get one for 200 but i doubt it.

**kiwi_jono** · 02-11-2011, 08:59 PM

Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5
Not perfect but much better than kit lens (especially in useful range - love the 70mm). Sits on my K-x the most.
Next favourite zoom at moment the DA-L 55-300

twitch · 02-11-2011, 09:44 PM

I've got 4 zooms; my 2 favourite by far are the DA12-24 and the DA*50-135 which is a simply stunning lens.

02-11-2011, 07:01 PM	#1
ShoSho Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 8	Favorite or Most Used Zoom? I just started with digital, and I have quite a few old primes I'm going to explore first, but I want to start thinking about my first zoom purchase. I shunned the kit lens. So what is the first zoom lens would you want? What zoom can you not live without? (I do realize this is a based on the type of work each individual likes to do.) I'm just being nosy. I also thought there might be some mentioned that I hadn't even considered. And I'm just infinitely curious what others love. Thanks for playing.

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02-11-2011, 07:04 PM	#2
psychdoc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bham Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 949	DA* 50-135. Takes lovely portraits. Good for the kind of sport shooting I do too.

02-11-2011, 07:11 PM	#3
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971	on the cheaper side, probably the DA 55-300mm

02-11-2011, 07:18 PM	#4
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	The 12-24 is a very useful range for architectural, landscape, car shows, etc. The Tamron 28-75 is a good mid-range complement to it. The Tamron 70-200 is excellent for the longer end. Beyond 300mm is pretty limited, but the Sigma 150-500 is decent. If I could have only one of the above, it would be the 12-24.

02-11-2011, 07:18 PM	#5
Clarkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,456	16-45mm if you like wide. Very good lens for the money. I just traded/bought the 18-135mm, and while expensive, it is good for daylight shooting.

02-11-2011, 07:31 PM	#6
ponyt27 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Medicine Hat,Alberta Posts: 68	Originally posted by ShoSho I just started with digital, and I have quite a few old primes I'm going to explore first, but I want to start thinking about my first zoom purchase. I shunned the kit lens. So what is the first zoom lens would you want? What zoom can you not live without? (I do realize this is a based on the type of work each individual likes to do.) I'm just being nosy. I also thought there might be some mentioned that I hadn't even considered. And I'm just infinitely curious what others love. Thanks for playing. Hello, I went from kit lens to a Sigma 17-70 f 2.8-4.5 .... quite happy with it for portraits,weddings ,...... great close-focus(about 4 or 5 inches),not true macro tho. I`ve been using primes a bit more lately.... just involves more footwork !!results are worth it most the time. Best of luck with your choice!

02-11-2011, 07:41 PM	#7
clockwork247 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 360	the 17-50 or the 28-70 f/2.8 or the 50-150 f/2.8. I find the 70-200 quite good, but it's probably not ideal. the ideal range would be something like a 35-135 f/2.8, not sure if anyone is making them, with the crop sensor the 50-150 is a bit long IMO, the 28-70 is very usable unless you do landscape .

02-11-2011, 07:48 PM	#8
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867	Definitely the 50-135mm. Also had the hardest time selling my 16-45, a great, relatively inexpensive option for wide angle.

02-11-2011, 07:56 PM	#9
Ed n Georgia Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 940	For me... Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. Might soon be replaced by the DA 18-135......

02-11-2011, 07:57 PM	#10
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	I can not live without the FA*28-70/2.8 - my most used lens, by far! Sharp, fast focus, nice color rendition, bright, not too heavy and bulky despite being a full frame lens.

02-11-2011, 08:04 PM	#11
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	The DA18-250 is my basic lens. All others are specialty items. That's for digital. For M42 film, it's the Vivitar Series 1 Version 1 70-210/3.5 beast, or a Sears-Tokina 55-135/3.5. Great stuff. Much cheaper than AF zooms.

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02-11-2011, 08:07 PM	#12
gokenin Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: lowell,ma Posts: 1,899	The Tamron 24-135 is my walk around lens and most used zoom. second is the sigma 17-70

02-11-2011, 08:10 PM	#13
clockwork247 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 360	Originally posted by RioRico The DA18-250 is my basic lens. All others are specialty items. That's for digital. For M42 film, it's the Vivitar Series 1 Version 1 70-210/3.5 beast, or a Sears-Tokina 55-135/3.5. Great stuff. Much cheaper than AF zooms. the 18-250 is a sick lens, i almost snatched one for 200, but the seller backed out at the last sec for some reason (probably found out the real price), I'd love to get one for 200 but i doubt it.

02-11-2011, 08:59 PM	#14
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 Not perfect but much better than kit lens (especially in useful range - love the 70mm). Sits on my K-x the most. Next favourite zoom at moment the DA-L 55-300

02-11-2011, 09:44 PM	#15
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I've got 4 zooms; my 2 favourite by far are the DA12-24 and the DA*50-135 which is a simply stunning lens.