vienna's reviews
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Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO
10 out of 10 points and recommendedSuperb image quality, build quality, AF speed at a dirt cheap priceNoneIn 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 recommendedUseful zoom range and relatively fastJust OK resolution and build qualityThis 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 recommendedOutstanding image quality, nuke-proof constructionDoesn't fit into the Digital AgeThis 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 recommendedLight weight, wide zoom range, low priceSoft at 200mm & up and lots of CAConsidering 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)