09-28-2010, 12:53 PM
Sharpness-wise, the Tamron is probably the best of the three, Nikon second and Sigma is the worst, thgough not bad <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> (it also depends what version of Sigma you're considering - but I guess the HSM one without OS, as this one is quite exspensive, though better optically).
But there's more to the lens than sharpness - I own Nikon 80-200 AF D, the two ring one, and it's a good lens, but it's got problems at the 200 mm (sharpness and CA), the AF/MF switch became loose and the rubber on zoom ring is stariting to peel away...But overall the build quality (except for those two issues) is excellent, it had taken few knocks without any effect, the AF (D300 and D700) is fast enough and to be honset optically it's good enough - I still think that I'm the limiting factor, not the lens <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
As for the Tamron - I used it few times, two of my mates had them. It's better optically than Nikon, but not by a large margin. Build quality is another story - for me it feela very flimsy, both of my mates sold theirs as screws in their lenses became loose and it started affecting the IQ. The AF is quite slow, not the most accurate and sometimes it hunts a lot. All in all - I wouldn't buy it, with a 2.8 lens at 150 mm you have to be in focus to extract the lens potential and this one just isn't sure enough. I'm also quite hard on my equipment and don't think it would stand up to my usage model <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
I don't know much about Sigma - had it in my hands once, seems nicely build (though not as good as the Nikkor), the AF was positevly fast and quiet, but it lacekd in optical department and you have to be lucky with Sigma to get a good example.
If you don't want to move to full frame in nearest future, there's a very nice, well built and quite cheap Tokina 50-135/2.8 for your D90 - I wish somebody woudl make a similar lens, but FF and at the same price <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
Kind regards,
Pete
' /> (it also depends what version of Sigma you're considering - but I guess the HSM one without OS, as this one is quite exspensive, though better optically). But there's more to the lens than sharpness - I own Nikon 80-200 AF D, the two ring one, and it's a good lens, but it's got problems at the 200 mm (sharpness and CA), the AF/MF switch became loose and the rubber on zoom ring is stariting to peel away...But overall the build quality (except for those two issues) is excellent, it had taken few knocks without any effect, the AF (D300 and D700) is fast enough and to be honset optically it's good enough - I still think that I'm the limiting factor, not the lens <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />As for the Tamron - I used it few times, two of my mates had them. It's better optically than Nikon, but not by a large margin. Build quality is another story - for me it feela very flimsy, both of my mates sold theirs as screws in their lenses became loose and it started affecting the IQ. The AF is quite slow, not the most accurate and sometimes it hunts a lot. All in all - I wouldn't buy it, with a 2.8 lens at 150 mm you have to be in focus to extract the lens potential and this one just isn't sure enough. I'm also quite hard on my equipment and don't think it would stand up to my usage model <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />I don't know much about Sigma - had it in my hands once, seems nicely build (though not as good as the Nikkor), the AF was positevly fast and quiet, but it lacekd in optical department and you have to be lucky with Sigma to get a good example.
If you don't want to move to full frame in nearest future, there's a very nice, well built and quite cheap Tokina 50-135/2.8 for your D90 - I wish somebody woudl make a similar lens, but FF and at the same price <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />Kind regards,
Pete