[PuxaVida]

[quote name='dhazeghi' timestamp='1313086641' post='10638']

Hello,



given that this is a lens testing site and the folks here have more than average experience comparing lenses(!), I was wondering what people think is the best (optically) of the 5x standard zoom lenses (24-120mm or thereabouts). I'm particularly interested in lenses for the smaller sensors (4/3 and APS-C) as these systems offer small prosumer bodies. From what I can see the options are:



Canon: 15-85/3.5-5.6 (EOS 600D)

Nikon: 16-85/3.5-5.6 (D5100)

Sony: 16-80/3.5-4.5 (A55)

Olympus: 12-60/2.8-4.0 (Panasonic G3)



Since all these systems offer decent prosumer 16-18MP bodies, and I'm looking for a backup walk-around kit, I figure it makes sense to consider the lenses first and foremost.



Thanks,



DH

[/quote]



I would suggest;



- DX (D5100 + 16-85mm)



or,



- the upcoming Nex-5n (most probably it will have the 16MP sensor of D5100)





Serkan

[Guest]

The olympus 12-60 is by far the best of those you listed from an optical perspective.

[thxbb12]

Purely from an IQ point of view, the best standard zoom lens in the range you're talking about, among all brands, is the Olympus 12-60.



However, I'm surprised you didn't even consider Pentax as an option.

In its class (semi-pro), the Pentax K5 is the smallest DSLR on the market. Combined with the Pentax 17-70 f/4 you have a terrific combo, in a very small package!

The 17-70 f/4 has the advantage of being a constant zoom (by opposition to the zooms in your list). It's also one of the lightest one.

Finally, in terms of pseudo-macro capability given its magnification ratio of 1:3.2 it's also the closest focusing one.

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='thxbb12' timestamp='1313350595' post='10746']

Purely from an IQ point of view, the best standard zoom lens in the range you're talking about, among all brands, is the Olympus 12-60.



However, I'm surprised you didn't even consider Pentax as an option.

In its class (semi-pro), the Pentax K5 is the smallest DSLR on the market. Combined with the Pentax 17-70 f/4 you have a terrific combo, in a very small package!

The 17-70 f/4 has the advantage of being a constant zoom (by opposition to the zooms in your list). It's also one of the lightest one.

[/quote]

Not sure how that is an advantage. The Sigma f2.8-4 is a stop faster at wide angle. That seems to be an advantage over the Pentax. And when you set it to f4, it is as constant as the Pentax!

[quote name='thxbb12' timestamp='1313350595' post='10746']

Finally, in terms of pseudo-macro capability given its magnification ratio of 1:3.2 it's also the closest focusing one.

[/quote]

Not so. As I showed above, the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC OS HSM is the closest focussing one (1:2.7). It has the added advantage of optical image stabilization which gives a stabilized view in the OVF and is more efficient than the in-body IS from Pentax.

K5 is a nice camera, though.

[thxbb12]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1313393624' post='10751']

Not sure how that is an advantage. The Sigma f2.8-4 is a stop faster at wide angle. That seems to be an advantage over the Pentax. And when you set it to f4, it is as constant as the Pentax!

[/quote]



I was replying to the OP and his list didn't feature the Sigma 17-70.





[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1313393624' post='10751']

Not so. As I showed above, the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC OS HSM is the closest focussing one (1:2.7). It has the added advantage of optical image stabilization which gives a stabilized view in the OVF and is more efficient than the in-body IS from Pentax.

K5 is a nice camera, though.

[/quote]



I myself have the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 (the old version) which I think is a great lens. In fact, I think it's the best walkabout zoom lens in this range among all manufacturers due to its versatility. I didn't mention it as the OP didn't seem interested in 3rd party alternatives.



Regarding the Sigma, I think the old version is optically better. It's also quite a bit lighter and its close focusing capability is also better than the new version. The new one gains HSM and in-lens OS. Non IS lenses tend to be better optically than their IS counter-part due to the simplified optical design. Long term reliability may also be a problem with in-lens OS.



Anyway, it's just a matter of preference.

[Steinar1]

How about the Samsung NX 11 with the new 18-55 lens? I have not used it, but a D3 owner and pro in a different forum uses one as his travel kit and "street" outfit and he gets amazing results. I have looked into the specs and it is really an attractive, small package with an impressive ability to make good images. I want to look at one myself and it also has an amazing 30mm f2 pancake lens that makes the camera almost a "pocketable" thing. The price, if it matters to you, is also attractive, around 425€ for the body with the 18-55 lens on the net. Not bad for an APS-C with a stabilised lens.







[url="http://www.jacobel.net/NX10.html"]http://www.jacobel.net/NX10.html[/url]

[Guest]

Some words from the owner of Zeiss 16-80 + Sony A55 combo.

On the plus side:

- the Zeiss 16-80 lens has some un-ignorable speed advantage on the long end compared to Nikon and Canon competitors

- image quality has no serious shortcomings; even vignetting is not that much an issue with it

- smaller filter size saves you some bucks; just try to suggest which filters you need

- adding to the above, you can use the 62mm Nikon 6T macro add-on lens for true close-ups



On the minus side:

- none of these lenses is really compact; for the Zeiss 16-80 lens you'd better have a camera that's heavier than the Sony A55; the A580 sounds more reasonable; or wait for A77 to appear

- the Zeiss 16-80 + Sony A55 combo always hangs lens-down when carried, and the zoom extends in a minute; this is a major drawback in my opinion; though it doesn't creep when just pointed upward or downward and not shacked





[quote name='dhazeghi' timestamp='1313086641' post='10638']

Hello,



given that this is a lens testing site and the folks here have more than average experience comparing lenses(!), I was wondering what people think is the best (optically) of the 5x standard zoom lenses (24-120mm or thereabouts). I'm particularly interested in lenses for the smaller sensors (4/3 and APS-C) as these systems offer small prosumer bodies. From what I can see the options are:



Canon: 15-85/3.5-5.6 (EOS 600D)

Nikon: 16-85/3.5-5.6 (D5100)

Sony: 16-80/3.5-4.5 (A55)

Olympus: 12-60/2.8-4.0 (Panasonic G3)



Since all these systems offer decent prosumer 16-18MP bodies, and I'm looking for a backup walk-around kit, I figure it makes sense to consider the lenses first and foremost.



Thanks,



DH

[/quote]

[popo]

[quote name='olegk' timestamp='1313515194' post='10772']

- the Zeiss 16-80 + Sony A55 combo always hangs lens-down when carried, and the zoom extends in a minute; this is a major drawback in my opinion; though it doesn't creep when just pointed upward or downward and not shacked

[/quote]

Is the a55 that light? When I had the a350 with the same lens, the lens never drooped on me.

[Guest]

[quote name='popo' timestamp='1313516034' post='10773']

Is the a55 that light? When I had the a350 with the same lens, the lens never drooped on me.

[/quote]



Yes, assuming A350 and A100 are physically similar. The 16-80 feels perfectly "at home" when mounted on A100.

Both size and weight matter; A55 has less "volume" too.

A55 shines when used with primes though - because of better dust protection. But this is off-topic here.

[dhazeghi]

[quote name='dhazeghi' timestamp='1313086641' post='10638']

Given that this is a lens testing site and the folks here have more than average experience comparing lenses(!), I was wondering what people think is the best (optically) of the 5x standard zoom lenses (24-120mm or thereabouts). I'm particularly interested in lenses for the smaller sensors (4/3 and APS-C) as these systems offer small prosumer bodies.

[/quote]



Well, I'm still looking at the options. At this point, I'm mainly wondering which of the lenses (Canon 15-85/3.5-5.6, Nikon 16-85/3.5-5.6, Olympus 12-60/2.8-4.0, Pentax 17-70/4.0, Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.0, Sony 16-80/3.5-4.5) is best suited to the current 16-18MP sensors. The Olympus 12-60 got the best review here, but only the Nikon 16-85 and Canon 15-85 have been tested on higher-resolution bodies.



Thanks,



DH