Originally posted by WMBP Ben,
Glad to hear that you like the non-macro Sigma 18-50. I have heard good reviews of it, too. But I read somewhere - can't remember where - that the macro version was a little better. I actually ordered the non-macro version initially, then realized there were two versions of the lens, sent that one back and got the macro for a few dollars more.
I don't think it's bad at all. I've taken some shots with it that I'm happy with.
That statement intrigues me. How does manual focus reduce noise?
And what do you mean by "low noise mode"?
Will
Will, what I meant was audible noise, real noise! Some film cameras used to have (the F5, if I remember rightly...) a slowed-down motor function for silent operation in sensible surroundings. I wished, the K10/K20 had a "silent mode".
Regarding the Sigma lenses: The non-macro version is the old, original version of that lens, which was then replaced with the macro-model.
As it seems to be the case with the new Sigma 70-200/2.8 macro, adding a macro mode to an anyway complex optical system, affords even more compromises for the lens designer. Thus, the max. sharpness of those versatile lenses suffer. This is reportedly (from the tests I have seen) also the case with the 18-50 macro, compared to the older model. I cannot tell from own experience, whether this claimed reduction in overall sharpness of the current macro-enabled lenses is real or not, as I only have the older modells.
Ben