vienna's reviews

  • Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Superb image quality, build quality, AF speed at a dirt cheap price
    None

    In the words of Charlton Heston, "from my cold dead hands". I shoot auto racing with the 1.4X converter and it has never misfocused a shot. The zoom was stiff as hell out of the box but it is now very smooth. This lens is so good it's better than my 6mpixel camera. Sharpness and contrast equal to my Nikon 300 f4. Even the tripod mount is a work of art. Best investment I ever made!!

    reviewed July 14th, 2006 (purchased for $900)
  • Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF DX AF-S Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Useful zoom range and relatively fast
    Just OK resolution and build quality

    This is the Digital Age's equivalent of the mighty Nikkor 28-105, without the handy macro function. It seems pretty good until you compare it with f2.8-league glass, and the build quality is only adequate. I think it's overpriced but what else you gonna do if you want 3-shot-to-portrait range?

    reviewed July 14th, 2006 (purchased for $350)
  • Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Outstanding image quality, nuke-proof construction
    Doesn't fit into the Digital Age

    This wonderful lens used to fit solidly into the Nikon film-era line-up of 20-35, 35-70, 80-200, but Digital has messed all that up, and the 35-70 has become an orphan. Hence, these little gems are dirt cheap. You might consider it if your wide end is 12-24, but most people will go 18-70. Shame, because this is truly pro-quality glass.

    reviewed July 14th, 2006 (purchased for $300)
  • Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    Light weight, wide zoom range, low price
    Soft at 200mm & up and lots of CA

    Considering its absurdly low price, this is an OK lens. AF performance isn't AF-S class but it's fine for most people. CA is a problem wide open and things get soft from 200-300mm, but stopping down to f8 helps. It has nice bokeh. Don't knock the abundance of cheap plastic -- that's what makes it carryable. Bottom line? I have a wall full of 8X10's done with this lens and nobody has complained.

    reviewed July 15th, 2006 (purchased for $99)