DSLR Camera Lens Upgrade?
Hi
I currently have a Nikon D3100 with 18-55mm lens. I'm looking to upgrade slighty but stuck in what lens to buy next. I will sell the 18-55mm. I'm looking at:
Nikon 18-105mm
Sigma 18-200mm
Tamron 18-200mm
I ideally want an all in one lens but I've read about image quality on the third party lens won't be as good. Alot of distortion on the longer lens? Will the tamron and sigma autofocus well with the d3100(doesn't have built in motor)? Which brand out of the sigma and tamron is better? How about lens creep on the longer ones
Would someone be able to give me some good advice and suggestions. Pretty much what would you go for?
the 18-200mm are around £100 more which if the results justify it I would pay
I will be using the camera whilst travelling se asia so alot of landscape etc
The 18-105 is practically the same as the 18-55 with a little more reach. So I think you should either an 18-200mm or even keep the 18-55 and get something like a 55-300mm telephoto.
I would suggest Nikon 18-200mm. Its an all-rounder. Great investment, i'm sure you won't be disappointed. I suggest you read this detailed review to aid in your decision:
This is the best price i could find for it:
Hope this helps.
The Nikon 18-105mm lens is in a different league to the others. It's a premium grade lens with better optics and internal focus (faster and more convenient). The Sigma and Tamron superzooms seem to make life easier, and if you're unfussy then they're fine, but the image quality of both of these are pretty dire. Best keep away from superzooms, likewise the Nikkor 18-200 (best in it's class) is worse than the 18-105.
All that said, none of these lenses are particularly well suited to what you want to shoot, I think you might want to look at a Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6, or the Nikkor 10-24mm (better but more expensive), and then accompany that with an 85mm prime lens, the Sigma 85mm f1.4 is probably a good value option. This whole setup is much more subtle than a superzoom, and provides much much more quality. It may also be an idea to throw in a Sigma 30mm f1.4 or Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX into your bag as it's a good all rounder.
Skip Sigma and Tamron at such long lenses, they're horrible. Even Nikon's one isn't as good as others but it's better than the 18-55mm.
So get the 18-105mm. Distortion is usually at wider ends.
Here's a Lens Buying Guide - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/11/buying-a-lens/