Walkaround lens for Sony Alpha 55: I'm considering this lens as the price is right and it fits my needs quite well. I'm wondering if anyone has used this lens and what they think of...

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

I'm considering this lens as the price is right and it fits my needs quite well. I'm wondering if anyone has used this lens and what they think of it. I'm not going to be using it professionally(at least not yet :) ).

Sigma - 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Autofocus Zoom Lens For Sony Cameras

I'm also considering this lens which is a better price.

Tamron Zoom Super Wide Angle 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens for Sony Alpha & Minolta Digital SLR

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Only if the price is right. Sony has one but it goes for $849.00. It is one excellent lens though. The Sigma lenses are good but they tend to be a little soft. From what you describe of yourself, this should not be much of a factor. An !8-250 is also an almost perfect walk around lens.

Do you get to try it before you buy it?

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

tainkc wrote:

Only if the price is right. Sony has one but it goes for $849.00. It is one excellent lens though. The Sigma lenses are good but they tend to be a little soft. From what you describe of yourself, this should not be much of a factor. An !8-250 is also an almost perfect walk around lens.

Do you get to try it before you buy it?

Unfortunately, no I don't. I guess I could return it if I didn't like it. The soft images is what I'm reading and what bothers me. dpreview said it is soft on the corners at all focal lengths. I'm wondering if I should spend a little more and get this Tamron:

Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD Lens for Sony.

This is their latest lens and I'm hearing nothing but good reviews of it. And it has a $100 rebate so it would be $549 from B&H.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

bawlmer wrote:

quote=tainkc Only if the price is right. Sony ha... (show quote)

B&H is a very good company. If you don't like it, they will take it back with no problem. I tried the Tamron on my a580 but I did not like it. It just wasn't clear enough at distance. I sound like a poop in the pants, don't I? I am just real persnickety when it comes to lenses. I have a 28mm F2.8 Minolta AF prime lens that blows the new Sony lens away. I paid only $30.00 for it from a local camera shop. But the Tamron I tried out may not have been the best. It happens. I would recommend that you try the Tamron out and see how it works on your camera. The price is certainly right. If it works for you, then it would be one very good choice for a knock around lens.

Mabarker Loc: Spokane, WA

bawlmer wrote:

I'm considering this lens as the price is right and it fits my needs quite well. I'm wondering if anyone has used this lens and what they think of it. I'm not going to be using it professionally(at least not yet :) ).

Sigma - 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Autofocus Zoom Lens For Sony Cameras

I'm also considering this lens which is a better price.

Tamron Zoom Super Wide Angle 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens for Sony Alpha & Minolta Digital SLR

I have a Sony A700 and bought the Sony 18-250 f/3.5-6.3 and hardly have it off my camera. I love it and it was great to take to Germany last Fall. I could take everything from wide angle to zooming in at building details from a distance, etc. A little heavy but worth it. I can't remember how much I paid for it. Sorry.

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

tainkc wrote:

quote=bawlmer quote=tainkc Only if the price is ... (show quote)

Sometimes, a poop in the pants is what I need to get my attention focused. :) The more I look at it, I already have a Sigma 70-300, and my 18-55 kit lens just doesn't seem to get it anymore, so I'm kind of leaning toward the Tamron 18-200. It's $299 with a $50 rebate. So $249 isn't going to break the bank. And as you said, if I don't like it, B&H is great about returns. Thanks for your perspective on it.

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

Mabarker wrote:

quote=bawlmer I'm considering this lens as the pr... (show quote)

I appreciate your input. The 18-200 is a bit lighter and we're planning a trip to Ground Zero next month. I'd really like to not have to be switching lenses nor carry a bunch of equipment with me.

Mabarker Loc: Spokane, WA

bawlmer wrote:

quote=Mabarker quote=bawlmer I'm considering thi... (show quote)

The 18-200 should be great and I can't see where you would have to switch lenses with this lens. The only time I switched my 18-200 was to go to my 12-18 for some shots of city squares in Germany. Have a great time in the Big Apple and make sure you walk the Brooklin Bridge...Sundays are the most fun for people watching. And do the Highline!

spphoto Loc: Long Island,N.Y.

I have the tamron 18-200 lens which i use with my Sony A77.It is a great lens.It is sharp at both ends 18 and 200.Attached are some pictures that I took yesterday at the New York Botanical Gardens

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

spphoto wrote:

I have the tamron 18-200 lens which i use with my Sony A77.It is a great lens.It is sharp at both ends 18 and 200.Attached are some pictures that I took yesterday at the New York Botanical Gardens

Thanks much spphoto. These are wonderful shots. And that's what I'm looking for. I don't need tack sharp, but sharpness is still a concern. The Sigma lens was supposed to be an improvement over their 1st generation of the same focal length, but it would appear that they didn't do much in the way of improving the optics. I think the Tamron 18-200 is the way I'm going to go.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

spphoto wrote:

I have the tamron 18-200 lens which i use with my Sony A77.It is a great lens.It is sharp at both ends 18 and 200.Attached are some pictures that I took yesterday at the New York Botanical Gardens

There ya' go! The proof is is the pudding.

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

Mabarker wrote:

quote=bawlmer quote=Mabarker quote=bawlmer I'm ... (show quote)

Thanks again for your input. That's exactly the reason for this purchase. I don't mind switching lenses but if I don't have to, it would make my day go alot smoother. :)

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

tainkc wrote:

spphoto wrote:

I have the tamron 18-200 lens which i use with my Sony A77.It is a great lens.It is sharp at both ends 18 and 200.Attached are some pictures that I took yesterday at the New York Botanical Gardens

There ya' go! The proof is is the pudding.

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :thumbup:

brian43053 Loc: Buffalo, NY

i recently bought the same lense for my sony a77. i got the one with the motor (i believe there's a pzd in the model #) to help it focus faster. so far i'm extremely happy with it. it definitely fits my need as a "walk around" lense

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

Ok guys. I finally bought the Tamron 18-200. So I'm out taking photos of a TV broadcast tower, and I notice that there's a small spot in my view. I hold the lens down so I can see inside the front. And what to my surprise? There is a spot of dust INSIDE the lens. It's on the front center element, just below the surface. I've never seen dust inside a brand new lens. I've already contacted B&H who sent me an RMA and they're going to ship me a replacement lens. :\