notpaul's reviews

  • Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF SP AF

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Small, fast, light, inexpensive, and fully usable wide open.
    Focus not as fast as Canon's USM, a bit noisy, too.

    I bought this lens to go on my Nikon N80 and have been very pleased. I wanted a compact general purpose lens that I could use in low light. Its constant f2.8 has proven its worth again and again. The lens is fully usable wide open and is surprisingly sharp across the field at all apertures and focal lengths. Much smaller and lighter than OEM equivalents, and much more affordable. I bought mine used (but indistinguishable from new) at B&H for a laughable $150.

    No, it's not as well built as the Canon equivalent, but considering the images it produces are equal to the Canon, I'll take the lighter weight and smaller size (not to mention the savings) anytime.

    I haven't used it on a digital SLR as yet, so I can't comment on its utility in that regard.

    Very highly recommended.

    reviewed January 13th, 2007 (purchased for $150)

  • Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    Cheap, sharp, light, compact.
    Tinker Toy construction, slow and noisy focus

    This was the first lens to go on my Nikon N80. Just holding it in the store made me queasy – it’s built like a BigMeal toy. But what it does, it does very well. It’s fast, sharp, and small. On the N80 it makes a very tidy, go anywhere kit. And it’s so cheap, there’s no reason not to have one. On a reduced frame camera it makes a nice available light portrait lens.

    reviewed January 13th, 2007 (purchased for $65)

  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Small, fast, light, inexpensive, and fully usable wide open.
    Tinker Toy construction, slow and noisy focus

    This was the first lens to go on my Nikon N80. Just holding it in the store made me queasy – it’s built like a BigMeal toy. But what it does, it does very well. It’s fast, sharp, and small. On the N80 it makes a very tidy, go anywhere kit. And it’s so cheap, there’s no reason not to have one. On a reduced frame camera it makes a nice available light portrait lens.

    reviewed January 13th, 2007