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GibbyTheMole · 11-02-2012, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

It's important to keep in mind that the differences we are talking about between lenses are pretty minimal, really - 99% of the difference between a good picture and bad one is technique, not quality of lens. I personally wouldn't be spending hundreds of dollar just for whatever marginally better IQ you could get from another lens.

Hi Marc.

Boy I dunno... in my experience, there can be huge differences in IQ between lenses. I've had some lenses that were just total dogs. Lousy contrast, dull color, blurry focus, lots of PF... You couldn't get a good photo out of them on the brightest day, even with the camera mounted to a tripod. Swap it out for a better lens of the same focal length, and 'BINGO!', instant and big improvement.

Technique's the main thing, but some lenses are just crap.

Cheers,
Bobbo :-)

photolady95 · 11-02-2012, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by GibbyTheMole

in my experience, there can be huge differences in IQ between lenses

I'll have to agree with you on that one Bobbo. I have a Ricoh Rikenon m 50mm f2 that no matter what I do, it just isn't any good. And I have a Pentax M 50mm f2. that is awesome.

photolady95 · 11-02-2012, 09:30 AM

That Tamron I was looking at yesterday, didn't even have reviews on our database here. But the Quantaray has/had 19 reviews, all mostly good things, so that's why I bought it. I still can't afford to pay 100s of dollars for lenses. And today, they say bad things come in threes, well the Sigma broke, and now my car is broke, I can't think what might happen next.

GibbyTheMole · 11-02-2012, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by photolady

I have a Pentax M 50mm f2. that is awesome.

If you think the 50/2 is good, you should try the 1.7 or 1.4.

I was going to suggest the Tamron 23A 60-300mm manual focus adaptall zoom, but then I saw you already ordered one. It's cheap, and a stellar performer. So sharp it'd cut your eyeballs. Plus, it has a really useful true macro mode. Very similar in image quality to the Pentax DA 55-300, but manual focus.

Cheers,
Bobbo :-)

**Ahab** · 11-02-2012, 01:41 PM

Just for the record, I bought the Sigma several years ago and got so disgusted I sold it and bought the Tamron. Have been happy ever since. I don't have CA problems and have posted images on here to prove it. By the same token I bought a used Sigma 135-400 APO, which everyone seems to disdain and it performs flawlessly. Go figure.

11-02-2012, 07:58 AM	#46
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella It's important to keep in mind that the differences we are talking about between lenses are pretty minimal, really - 99% of the difference between a good picture and bad one is technique, not quality of lens. I personally wouldn't be spending hundreds of dollar just for whatever marginally better IQ you could get from another lens. Hi Marc. Boy I dunno... in my experience, there can be huge differences in IQ between lenses. I've had some lenses that were just total dogs. Lousy contrast, dull color, blurry focus, lots of PF... You couldn't get a good photo out of them on the brightest day, even with the camera mounted to a tripod. Swap it out for a better lens of the same focal length, and 'BINGO!', instant and big improvement. Technique's the main thing, but some lenses are just crap. Cheers, Bobbo :-)

11-02-2012, 09:28 AM	#47
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	Originally posted by GibbyTheMole in my experience, there can be huge differences in IQ between lenses I'll have to agree with you on that one Bobbo. I have a Ricoh Rikenon m 50mm f2 that no matter what I do, it just isn't any good. And I have a Pentax M 50mm f2. that is awesome.

11-02-2012, 09:30 AM	#48
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	That Tamron I was looking at yesterday, didn't even have reviews on our database here. But the Quantaray has/had 19 reviews, all mostly good things, so that's why I bought it. I still can't afford to pay 100s of dollars for lenses. And today, they say bad things come in threes, well the Sigma broke, and now my car is broke, I can't think what might happen next.

11-02-2012, 11:15 AM	#49
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	Originally posted by photolady I have a Pentax M 50mm f2. that is awesome. If you think the 50/2 is good, you should try the 1.7 or 1.4. I was going to suggest the Tamron 23A 60-300mm manual focus adaptall zoom, but then I saw you already ordered one. It's cheap, and a stellar performer. So sharp it'd cut your eyeballs. Plus, it has a really useful true macro mode. Very similar in image quality to the Pentax DA 55-300, but manual focus. Cheers, Bobbo :-)

11-02-2012, 01:41 PM	#50
Ahab Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arnold, Md. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 762	Just for the record, I bought the Sigma several years ago and got so disgusted I sold it and bought the Tamron. Have been happy ever since. I don't have CA problems and have posted images on here to prove it. By the same token I bought a used Sigma 135-400 APO, which everyone seems to disdain and it performs flawlessly. Go figure.

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