wesfoto's reviews

  • Konica Minolta 24-105mm f/3.5-4.5 D AF

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    Small and Light
    low build quality

    This lens is small and light weight, making it very easy to use as a fairly versital lens when you need to travel light. Once you step down the lens a bit (aperture set to a fairly useful size of f/8 or f/11), the image is quite good.

    reviewed June 16th, 2008 (purchased for $150)

  • Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro AF

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Good images, for what it is (a vacation lens); GREAT zoom range
    Image quality is never great, tends to slip easily

    This is a "vacation lens", so take it for what its worth. You won't get a prime's lenses sharpness, and there is some CA, but, you're getting a lens that covers everything from wide-angle to a fairly long zoom. When I'm out and about, on vacation or around town, and have no idea what I may run into next, I keep this lens on my camera. I don't always have the time to switch lenses, and sometimes you need to be ready at a moment's notice, and this lens works great for that (especially if you're not carrying a bag full of other lenses). If I know where I'm gonna be, and what I'll be shooting, I'll change to a different lens, but for the quick, spur of the moment, "accidental" shot, this lens is impossible to beat.

    reviewed July 7th, 2008 (purchased for $550)

  • Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    cost, coverage, quality
    none, for what it is

    If you need a useful, really wide angle lens for your APS-C camera, the price and features on this lens are impossible to beat. I shoot a lot of close up shots with this, and the fact that it supports enhanced TTL (or whatever name your camera maker decided to call it) comes in very handy. I always keep this lens handy.

    reviewed July 7th, 2008 (purchased for $400)

  • Tamron 28-105mm f/2.8 LD Aspherical IF SP AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great Images, Fast, good zoom range
    Heavy, Heavy, Heavy

    This is one HUGE hunk of glass! But, what do you expect for a 105mm f/2.8 Full Frame lens? Its both long (when extended) and wide. It is also quite heavy. It does focus slowly, which is more the norm for something this big and heavy (exactly how fast and strong do you expect your camera's focusing motor to be be?) If you're looking for a high quality, fast lens, this is a great choice. If you're looking for a "walk around" lens, look elsewhere, this thing is closer to a bowling ball than a feather.

    reviewed July 7th, 2008 (purchased for $275)

  • Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro

    7 out of 10 points and not recommended
    small, light, sharp focus
    noisy AF, the CA is as bad as tested

    As a macro lens that works on my full frame Sony a900, this is a good lens at a good price. Just be aware that the focus motor is quite loud (I was trying to use it in a public library) and as noted in the review, there is quite a bit of CA.

    reviewed November 20th, 2008 (purchased for $150)