Niel's reviews

  • Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF DX AF-S Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Well sealed metal mount, sharp, cheap.
    Short zoom range.

    I bought mine cheap as the AF had died, stripped it (not for the faint hearted) cleaned wiper contacts AND flexi-circuit connections contacts, has worked fine since, and the potential loose screw 24mm jamming problem was dealt with whilst apart with loctite.
    It's very much a user lens, on my D1x or D50 depending on what I'm doing, though the D50 usually wears a Tamron 18-200 for walk-around use.
    Yes corner darkening can be an issue, thin filters are essential at 18mm!

    reviewed August 29th, 2009 (purchased for $45)
  • Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II DX AF-S Nikkor

    6 out of 10 points and recommended
    Cheap
    Construction

    Bought mine dirt cheap with the usual broken mount, replaced the mount off an earlier version that had fallen apart (front assembly fell out one day) and its fine.
    Replacement for my original D50 kit non-AF-S lens its AF-S motor makes it quieter and faster to focus, still has that plastic mount though, D50 wears a Tamron 18-200 now, but this one still gets used by my son on my D1h, better he breaks the lenses mount than the camera!

    reviewed August 29th, 2009 (purchased for $25)
  • Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF AF

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Price, zoom range, compact, reasonably well built.
    Zooms the wrong way on Nikon. Low AF gearing.

    Bought new when one of the chains was off-loading stock to buy in the motorised version at a price I couldn't beat.
    Normally on my D50 as a walk around, also used on my D1x when I need the reach and minimal gear to carry, though I prefer my Nikon 18-70 and Adaptall 80-210 MF on that one normally.
    Nikons 18-200 VR is too expensive, the VR and Sigma's OS version reportedly have issues with their VR reliability, so the simple NON VR option has advantages, if they'd only include a manual aperture ring as well!
    Compact, good range, cheap, well built, not perfect but acceptable enough.

    PS The lens worked well for me, but wear and tear took it's toll, still got it on a D100 as a car carry cam, bought the later motorsied version and the later still VR version for my wife's camera, great lenses for holidaying. My current DX body carries the 18-270 VR, yes I like these lenses!

    reviewed August 29th, 2009 (purchased for $110)
  • Vivitar 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Series 1 AF

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    Full Frame, CHEAP.
    None so far.

    Excellent value for money lens with few vices for the price I paid secondhand.

    Used on both full frame manual Nikon slr (F2) and D50 it's produced photographs that have been used professionally, though if I had the money I'd probably buy a Nikon D, I really can't complain.

    Comes complete with a detachable hood and the aperture ring has a latch for use on controlling bodies, no knocking this one and missing a shot!

    Still got this old plastic fantastic, mounted on my Kodak 14n full frame that's not been out of it's case since I bought my FF Nikon, will I sell it? Hell no!

    reviewed February 20th, 2007 (purchased for $80)
  • Vivitar 100-400mm f/4.5-6.7 Series 1 AF

    6 out of 10 points and recommended
    Full frame, CHEAP, lightweight.
    None at the price.

    Bought very cheaply secondhand as the AF wasn't working on the owners body. Turns out it was too dark for the AF to function reliably, works fine on my D50 though. Cosina badged version, same lens.

    Not the best lens construction wise, the zoom slips, and no latch on the apature ring, though it is quite stiff.

    Does the job, on full frame Nikon slr (FG) its taken some good shots at cricket matches.

    Even without a hood not bad in most situations.

    reviewed February 20th, 2007 (purchased for $30)
  • Sigma 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF

    1 out of 10 points and not recommended
    None
    Poor QC

    Bought secondhand like most of my lenses this one had several issues.
    1. An extra screw, probably flex-circuit anchor, was found in the main zoom helix's lube.
    2. Front elements cement starting to fail leading to image softening along with other internal contamination/growth.
    Not a lens I'd buy again.

    reviewed February 20th, 2007 (purchased for $60)
  • Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Cheap, lightweightish useful
    Firmware doesn't work with some bodies.

    I bought mine used having used one at work, it's usefully wide and works OK on full frame too if you crop the image you'd never know it's from a circularly limited shot, having used it instead of my 14-24mm f2.8 Nikon for holidays/travelling I know the weight and bulk saving is worthwhile. Don't get me wrong, the Nikon lens is vastly better, but who wants the weight on holiday? As I use a crop frame body as a back-up it make sense to carry the widest lens possible.

    The only downside is the Sigma/Nikon firmware doesn't work together with some bodies, though as it's mainly down to AF and I preset focus & aperture it's not really an issue.

    Bought used cheap it's a keeper!

    reviewed October 1st, 2023 (purchased for $125)
  • Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Convenient
    Not sealed

    Bought cheap, like most of my lenses, it's been OK as a holiday lens, sadly some rain in the Rockies got in, no barrel sealing, and I now have water marks inside the front element that soften the image. I'll try to strip and clean when I get home, but it won't be too much of a hit if I can't.

    reviewed October 1st, 2023 (purchased for $125)
  • Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    FAST glass
    Heavy

    Bought used for a trip to Canada it's been good for some other work too, but only if 'pod mounted, not a lens to carry without prior known need. Later versions with stabilisation would be better for most.

    reviewed October 1st, 2023 (purchased for $1,000)
  • Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    WIDE and FAST
    Weight

    Bought for a specific trip/job used, 6 months old unmarked, I have no complaints apart from the weight tp carry, it's attracts other photogs, and thieves, like flies to, anyway you get the picture. Security is important, if mine had a normal strap on the case it'd been stolen in Florence, thankfully the pacsafe security strap did it's job, and with it's weight it made a good flailing (impact) dissuader.

    reviewed October 1st, 2023 (purchased for $1,250)
  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Lightweight, sharp, usefully small.
    none for me

    Bought used cheaply to get an AF 50mm, I have MF 1.4, 1.8's & 2 Nikkor's, it still lives in my basic carry kit, this trip to Canada it's got a polarising filter for through window shots on the Rocky Mountaineer to eliminate to worst of the internal reflections. I prefer having an aperture ring so I can use an MF Nikon teleconverter or macro rings, so the later Gelded G lenses are of little use to me, and it still works on my film Nikons too!

    reviewed October 1st, 2023 (purchased for $45)