You get what you pay for...
May 24, 2014 11:42:03 #
gopiqpp
Loc: SAUDI ARABIA
"You get what you pay for..." Hasn't this become clichéd? Posters keep saying this whenever discussions about 3rd party lenses come up. It might have held true as little as 5 years ago but now brands such as Tokina, Rokinon, Samyang and Sigma are producing excellent quality lenses. Some are so good as to give Canon, Nikon and Sony lenses a run for their money. Yet in spite of thousands of happy users some still persist in turning up their noses at "those 3rd party lenses for the poor photographer" !!
May 24, 2014 12:42:11 #
Unless you are going to print a poster size photo, I don't think there is much difference, if you purchase the companies top lens.
May 24, 2014 13:04:12 #
Just got a Sigma 18-250 for a third of the price of the new Nikon 18-300. Am testing it this weekend against my Nikon gear and I think from what I've seen so far, it will be my walking around lens. Mostly want to see how sharp it is at 250mm. If it stacks up well to my 55-300, that lens is up for sale soon! I suspect there will be some chromatic aberration or other minor problems, all fixable easily in Lightroom.
May 24, 2014 13:25:20 #
A friend of mine, going to Africa, purchased a Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX for $1500 a year or so ago. I have the identical model from Sigma, produces truly excellent images and the current retail price is $500.
May 24, 2014 13:52:07 #
gopiqpp
Loc: SAUDI ARABIA
Exactly. I have the Sigma 150-500, Tamron 18-200, the Tokina 11-16mm, Rokinon 85/1.4. Great lenses, cost $$$$$ less than getting the original name brand Sony lenses. I manage to get good images and am quite happy.
May 24, 2014 14:08:08 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
gopiqpp wrote:
"You get what you pay for..." Hasn't thi... (show quote)
Agreed. The build quality seems to be pretty good, too. And don't forget some of old lenses if you can find them. A 75~150 Komura, 90~180 Vivitar Series I, 90~230 and 300mm Soligors have put quite a bit of meat on my table over the years, and are still useable on the latest DSLR.
May 24, 2014 15:19:16 #
I have found that, in general, the major difference between lower cost and premium lenses is in the mechanical parts as many cheap lenses perform well optically. It used to be that cheap lenses would be put together with aluminum against aluminum and a heavy coat of grease between the two parts. Worked well until the grease dried and then the two parts would stick together and not move. At the same time, premium lenses were made of machined brass against machined brass and they would work together forever with just a light coat of oil. That's why you can find many ancient screw-mount Leica lenses that are 70 years or more old and still work fine. How many current production lenses will still be working perfectly 70 years later with no repairs being made? Not many, I'll bet.
May 24, 2014 16:57:48 #
With my Olympus micro four thirds camera, I've been using adapted off-brand lenses such as Canon and Pentax with good results...
May 24, 2014 17:01:37 #
gopiqpp wrote:
Exactly. I have the Sigma 150-500, Tamron 18-200, the Tokina 11-16mm, Rokinon 85/1.4. Great lenses, cost $$$$$ less than getting the original name brand Sony lenses. I manage to get good images and am quite happy.
How do you like that Tokina 11-16mm? I have been seriously considering that for my 7D. I've read mostly rave reviews about this as a great Ultra Wide for Crop Sensor cameras. I keep hoping of a sale so I can say I got it for under $500!
May 24, 2014 17:04:44 #
gopiqpp wrote:
"You get what you pay for..." Hasn't thi... (show quote)
I've always thought this was a meaningless statement. Every time I go shopping, I get what I pay for. Would I pay and not get the merchandise?
I've read enough good quality reviews to know that a Canon/Nikon/Sony lens is not the only choice if you want good quality pictures. If you want to go with one brand for camera and lenses, then your choice will be easier and more expensive.
Buying strictly camera-brand lenses seems like taking the easy way out.
May 24, 2014 17:08:37 #
Was it Vivitar that made the Series One lenses? Do they still make lenses ?
Pete :D
Pete :D
May 24, 2014 19:06:19 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
pete-m wrote:
Was it Vivitar that made the Series One lenses? Do they still make lenses ?
Pete :D
Pete :D
There are no new Vivitar branded lenses. Their Series I lenses, particularly the 90~180 flat-field zoom and 90mm macro, were excellent.
May 24, 2014 20:53:23 #
May 24, 2014 22:09:39 #
I have two Tokina lenses (11-16mm 2.8 and the 100mm 2.8 macro) I find them to be excellent lenses.
May 24, 2014 22:28:19 #
gopiqpp wrote:
"You get what you pay for..." Hasn't thi... (show quote)
Computer design has leveled the playing field when it comes to lens performance. In fact some non OE lenses out perform the OE.
However if you want 100% compatibility with the camera brand its assured when you stay with the brand. Not always the case when choosing non OE.
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