One day in the Big Apple - which lens?

Buddha Jones · 07-28-2009, 07:23 PM

I spent a week in NY and my DA*16-50mm got the aperature stuck wide open so I had to resort to using the DA35LTD... it was no where near wide enough, take the kit lens.

lunelson · 07-29-2009, 11:30 AM

I say take the Sigma, as I like getting a little tighter rather than using WA lenses. The FL of the DA 18-55 would be fine on paper, but it's really not very good at its longer focal lengths.

audiobomber · 07-29-2009, 11:45 AM

There's no way I could do this with one lens. I'd need a wide to tele zoom for outside and a fast prime for indoors.

Steve Beswick · 07-29-2009, 12:08 PM

I would just take the 18-55 / 70-210 combo I took last time, but I'm concerned with how slow they are. Other than the aperture issue and the IQ of the 70-210 it makes for a good travel kit.

dafiryde · 07-29-2009, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by Steve Beswick

I would just take the 18-55 / 70-210 combo I took last time, but I'm concerned with how slow they are. Other than the aperture issue and the IQ of the 70-210 it makes for a good travel kit.

well i tell, you. its amazing the things you read

1- your original post you said you only want to take one lens

2- your original post you did not mention you had a 70-210 :ugh:

why dont you start all over and rewrite your original post, so we can help

Dave

Steve Beswick · 07-29-2009, 08:22 PM

Originally posted by dafiryde

well i tell, you. its amazing the things you read

1- your original post you said you only want to take one lens

2- your original post you did not mention you had a 70-210 :ugh:

why dont you start all over and rewrite your original post, so we can help

Dave

did you read all of page 1?

axl · 07-30-2009, 12:28 AM

Originally posted by dafiryde

well then , take the 18-55. at least you will have wide and short tele covered.
and in a big city you most probably will be shooting mostly at wide.

Dave

+1
damn you 10 characters

Votesh · 07-30-2009, 05:14 AM

If it was my decision to make with the lenses you have, and I wasn't going just for photography's sake, I'd take only the 28mm.

When I'm shooting in a city and I have something like the kit lens or the DA* 16-50 I find most of my photos end up like the typical snapshots most people take in big cities(typical big building/statue/crowd shots and the like). Some of the photos are sure to be keepers, but most are destined for deletion or sitting on the hard drive never to be viewed again.

However, if I'm using a prime (whether something like the 31mm LTD or an 85mm) I start picking out details and scenes I would have passed up with a zoom. In some settings I like using a zoom lens, but in urban environments I think I just do "better" with a prime. However, I'm sure this isn't the case for everyone, and I still haven't been to NYC so I can't say for sure.

dafiryde · 07-30-2009, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by Steve Beswick

In about one month I will be spending just over 1 day in Manhattan. I can't choose which lens to take with me, but I would like to get it down to just one:

Vivitar 28mm f2.8 - mf, but with A setting on aperture.
DA 18-55
Sigma 28-80 f3.5-5.6 macro

I consider all of these lenses to be equally capable IQ wise, so that really isn't an issue. I like the idea of the Vivitar because it is small and slightly faster, but it lacks the versatility of the other two. I also can't decide if I'd be better off with a wider or longer lens.

I'm really quite open to suggestion! -Steve

Edit: whoops! wrong forum! I meant to put this in the lens discussion forum.

Originally posted by Steve Beswick

did you read all of page 1?

like i said , last sentence in you first paragraph

Dave

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-30-2009, 02:54 PM

If you want one of the lenses you already own take the 18-55. You probably will not get to use anything longer in those canyons. If you're buying a lens then a DA 15 or similar to keep the weight down. Have a good trip and we're looking forward to seeing your pics.

Steve Beswick · 09-05-2009, 12:37 PM

For those who might be interested, I posted photos from the trip here. I ended up going against my original plan and I took three lenses, but they were all pretty light! I took my 18-55, my sears 135 f2.8, and a 55mm f1.8 Super Tak that I bought just before the trip.

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07-28-2009, 07:23 PM	#16
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	I spent a week in NY and my DA*16-50mm got the aperature stuck wide open so I had to resort to using the DA35LTD... it was no where near wide enough, take the kit lens.

07-29-2009, 11:30 AM	#17
lunelson Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 80	I say take the Sigma, as I like getting a little tighter rather than using WA lenses. The FL of the DA 18-55 would be fine on paper, but it's really not very good at its longer focal lengths.

07-29-2009, 11:45 AM	#18
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	There's no way I could do this with one lens. I'd need a wide to tele zoom for outside and a fast prime for indoors.

07-29-2009, 12:08 PM	#19
Steve Beswick Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,736 Original Poster	I would just take the 18-55 / 70-210 combo I took last time, but I'm concerned with how slow they are. Other than the aperture issue and the IQ of the 70-210 it makes for a good travel kit.

07-29-2009, 03:35 PM	#20
dafiryde Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 419	Originally posted by Steve Beswick I would just take the 18-55 / 70-210 combo I took last time, but I'm concerned with how slow they are. Other than the aperture issue and the IQ of the 70-210 it makes for a good travel kit. well i tell, you. its amazing the things you read 1- your original post you said you only want to take one lens 2- your original post you did not mention you had a 70-210 :ugh: why dont you start all over and rewrite your original post, so we can help Dave

07-29-2009, 08:22 PM	#21
Steve Beswick Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,736 Original Poster	Originally posted by dafiryde well i tell, you. its amazing the things you read 1- your original post you said you only want to take one lens 2- your original post you did not mention you had a 70-210 :ugh: why dont you start all over and rewrite your original post, so we can help Dave did you read all of page 1?

07-30-2009, 12:28 AM	#22
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by dafiryde well then , take the 18-55. at least you will have wide and short tele covered. and in a big city you most probably will be shooting mostly at wide. Dave +1 damn you 10 characters

07-30-2009, 05:14 AM	#23
Votesh Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 817	If it was my decision to make with the lenses you have, and I wasn't going just for photography's sake, I'd take only the 28mm. When I'm shooting in a city and I have something like the kit lens or the DA* 16-50 I find most of my photos end up like the typical snapshots most people take in big cities(typical big building/statue/crowd shots and the like). Some of the photos are sure to be keepers, but most are destined for deletion or sitting on the hard drive never to be viewed again. However, if I'm using a prime (whether something like the 31mm LTD or an 85mm) I start picking out details and scenes I would have passed up with a zoom. In some settings I like using a zoom lens, but in urban environments I think I just do "better" with a prime. However, I'm sure this isn't the case for everyone, and I still haven't been to NYC so I can't say for sure.

07-30-2009, 09:20 AM	#24
dafiryde Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 419	Originally posted by Steve Beswick In about one month I will be spending just over 1 day in Manhattan. I can't choose which lens to take with me, but I would like to get it down to just one: Vivitar 28mm f2.8 - mf, but with A setting on aperture. DA 18-55 Sigma 28-80 f3.5-5.6 macro I consider all of these lenses to be equally capable IQ wise, so that really isn't an issue. I like the idea of the Vivitar because it is small and slightly faster, but it lacks the versatility of the other two. I also can't decide if I'd be better off with a wider or longer lens. I'm really quite open to suggestion! -Steve Edit: whoops! wrong forum! I meant to put this in the lens discussion forum. Originally posted by Steve Beswick did you read all of page 1? like i said , last sentence in you first paragraph Dave

07-30-2009, 02:54 PM	#25
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,838	If you want one of the lenses you already own take the 18-55. You probably will not get to use anything longer in those canyons. If you're buying a lens then a DA 15 or similar to keep the weight down. Have a good trip and we're looking forward to seeing your pics.

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09-05-2009, 12:37 PM	#26
Steve Beswick Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,736 Original Poster	For those who might be interested, I posted photos from the trip here. I ended up going against my original plan and I took three lenses, but they were all pretty light! I took my 18-55, my sears 135 f2.8, and a 55mm f1.8 Super Tak that I bought just before the trip.