Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS
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Review Date: Feb 3, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $890.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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A lot of bang for the buck!
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Cons:
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Maybe 10% less IQ over the double-the-cost Canon 100-400L
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Really good alternative for save some $$. Not as quiet and fast focusing as the Canon EF 100-400mmL lens, but the $$ savings justifies it for many.
Samples Photos taken with a Canon XTi and Nikon D300
-Roy
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Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
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Review Date: Nov 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,150.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Compact, hand-holding ability, integrated hood, sharp, low CA and good color.
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Cons:
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Really the only negative I can find is that the IF focus will drop internally when the lens hangs down which causes subsequent shots to sometimes take longer to focus lock on the subject.
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Compact, hand-holding ability, integrated hood, sharp, low CA and good color.
Really the only negative I can find is that the IF focus will drop internally when the lens hangs down which causes subsequent shots to sometimes take longer to focus lock on the subject.
Great outdoor sport and nature lens...highly recommend!
Sample shot taken with a Canon 30D
-Roy
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Sigma 12-24 f4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM
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Review Date: Aug 12, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $780.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Low distortion and very good IQ, even wide open.
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Cons:
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Some flare and the front element inhibits use of filters
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Low distortion and very good IQ, even wide open.
Some flare and the front element inhibits use of filters
Sample Photos taken with a Canon 5D
-Roy
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Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM
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Review Date: Jul 22, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,170.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Wonderful landscape lens and close-focus wide-angle lens. Build is worth every penny you spend on this lens.
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Cons:
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None really other than I would recommend keeping this on a full-frame body.
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Very very sharp and wonderful colors...1.4 sharpness is incredible and I couldn't notice any distortion.
Here are some sample shots taken with a Canon EOS 5D
-Roy
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Tamron SP AF90MM F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
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Review Date: Jun 12, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $380.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp and good color
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Cons:
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Lot of plastic, slow AF, no IF (trombones)
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This is probably the only Tamron I will ever buy. It's a very good macro and portrait lens. Once you overcome some of its weaknesses it will serve you well at decent price.
Here are some shots taken with a Pentax K100D:
Sample Shots
-Roy
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Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED DX VR AF-S
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Review Date: May 5, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $690.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Good walk-around lens. VR is very handy and produces more sharp in-focus shots.
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Cons:
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Distortion and softness at both ends.
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Good walk-around lens. VR is very handy and produces more sharp and in-focus shots.
Distortion and softness at both ends.
Here are some sample shots taken with a Nikon D40:
Sample Photos
-Roy
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Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR
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Review Date: May 5, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,630.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Like the Canon version, every bit as good + an ounce brand loyality!
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Cons:
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A little pricy, but you get what you pay for.
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Very sharp and fast! The lens works great with the Kenko 1.4X TC! The VR is icing on the cake! Highly recommend!
The first two sample shots of a Kestrel here were taken with the 1.4X TC and the rest of the shots w/o the 1.4TC, photos taken with a D80:
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Lens Photo Samples
-Roy
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Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR AF-S
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Review Date: May 5, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $579.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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All-around good lens for the bag at the price.
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Cons:
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Too soft at 300mm
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Good lens for those who don't want to break the bank. Here are some sample shots taken with a D80:
Sample Photos
-Roy
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Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor
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Review Date: Apr 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $110.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Best bang for the buck...just buy it...you won't be dissapointed.
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Cons:
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Build isn't as good as the 1.4 but good enough for $100
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What's the difference between this one and the 1.4?
1. Price...about 3.3X cheaper.
2. Build quality a bit less over the 1.4
3. If you have a trained eye, then you'll notice harder bokeh highlights.
BUY IT!
Here are some sample taken with the Nikon D70:
Sample Photos
-Roy
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Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor
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Review Date: Apr 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $290.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Built like a "real" scientific piece of equipment, sharp, fast!
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Cons:
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A little pricy, but you get what you pay for.
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If I was to compare this lens with the 1.8 NIKKOR on overall, construction, and image quality I would only give the 1.8 a 9 on construction quality. If you are serious about your NIKKORs, then this lens is worth the extra $$ for a small margin of performance and a good margin of build quality.
Here are some sample shots taken with a D200:
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4D AF Lens Photo Samples
-Roy
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Nikon 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro
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Review Date: Apr 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $700.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Execelent prime lens...very fun to use and yeilds great results.
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Cons:
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None that I can find.
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I "think" this is the only prime macro with VR to my knowledege. Nothing on the Canon macro lineup has IS. Also, this review is for the "VR" version.
I have photos taken with the D40 for samples to look at here:
Sample Photos Taken with a D40
-Roy
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Nikon 200mm f/2G IF-ED AF-S VR
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Review Date: Apr 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $3,950.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Amazingly FAST! And sharp even wide-open, but perfect sharp just stopped down one stop!
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Cons:
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It's heavy, but stop being a whimp!
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If you are into professional people photography and want good results, then look no further then this lens.
Here are some Sample Photos, WOW!
-Roy
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
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Review Date: Apr 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,500.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Probably the most useful lens in my bag!
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Cons:
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Feels like twice the mass as the f/4...but worth every ounce!
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Great lens...but you do have to spend some $$ for it! This is one of Canon's 3 "Holy Grail" zooms. Here are some sample photos:
Sample Photos
-Roy
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Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
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Review Date: Apr 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,450.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Fast AF, IS and a real work-horse for outdoor long-range telephoto photography.
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Cons:
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No weather seals, and a wee-bit soft wide-open, prefer stopped down 2 stops.
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If you can't be the "purist" photographer and drop even more money for an L 300mm or 400mm prime, then this is the next best thing hands down!
Fun lens! Here are some sample photos:
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS Lens photo samples.
-Roy
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Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
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Review Date: Apr 16, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $5,500.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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The "Pro" is, even if you're not a "Pro" you sure look like one!
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Cons:
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You may what a hire a body guard to protect this lens...yes the lens, not you!
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I don't own this lens unfortunantely, but Michel Roy does. He's a fabulous northern nature photographer. He has given he views of this lens. Check out these sample photos taken with 1D Mark II:
Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS Lens Photo Samples
-Roy
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Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
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Review Date: Apr 16, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,050.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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For the reach and IQ, very affordable.
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Cons:
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Well, lack of IS, but heck...then it wouldn't be affordable.
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WOW! Want to emerse yourself into bird or sport photography and not break the bank?
Great lens all-around. Thanks to Hung Tran for these sample shots:
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Sample Photos
-Roy
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