Choosing a new 24-70 to replace ...

Okay, you have pushed your included kit lens as far as you could. The images are ... well, weak and rather poor looking. The light response ... abominable :mad2:

There comes a time when the quality of the shot is at odds with the quantity of ready cash you have in your pocket.

Basically, when it comes to photography, if you do not use decent enough equipment, no matter how great you are with a camera ... there will always exist a gaping margin for improvement that some critic is going to point out, because you did not use this or that piece of high-end optic.

There are a number of "serious-spending" users to make your laying claim to a decent enough shot almost impossible because you did not use the manufacturer's high-end glass. Argument abounds that unless it has the "label" ... you cannot get a truly exceptional shot.

Personally, I say "HOGWASH!" I am of the belief that you can certainly produce excellent work with "acceptable" level glass ... and it does not have to be the prime manufacturer's stuff, either.

If your efforts are at the point where you have to inspect your work at 300% or better to determine the quality of the shot,
Attachment 73484 I contest that you are simply looking too hard for flaws. What is the point, in the end? If you are selling the work, that is one thing, but if it is for your own edification ... try to enjoy taking the composition ... rather than inspecting it for edge focus flaws.

Lighten up! You certainly can enjoy this craft without buying into all the hype concerning high-end glass. For one thing, not only is it expensive ... it downright heavy to lug around. Before you buy your next lens, do some research on the class of the lens and various alternative lenses that are out there, before plunking down $1500.

A case in point is the

SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM ø82mm (28 oz) (<- click here)

versus the

SONY 24-70mm f/2.8 CZ ø77mm (33 oz) (<- click here) .

After a couple of reviews, these two lenses are nearly identical in performance ... yet the Zeiss lens is almost twice the cost of the SIGMA.

Sorry ... in the past, I have not been a big SIGMA fan ... but, they have a winner in this particular zoom Attachment 73485

... and the SIGMA gets the job done, lighter and for less cost.

No doubt you pay for the name in that comparison. Granted, I'd trust the focus transition and particularly the optical coatings to be superior on the Zeiss, but I could never personally make such a minuscule difference merit an extra $1k. Though - for the same price as the Sigma, you could get both a 28-75 f/2.8 KM/Tamron and a 17-50 f/2.8 Tamron. I've seen some pretty sharp comparisons between Tamrons 28-75 and Sigmas 24-70, The Tamron actually outperforms the Sigma in the smooth focus transition. The Sigma has the better build, but the Tamron offers better optical quality and half the cost, even the 4mm loss I'd call worth it.

I am a Nikon user but I just bought that Tamron 28-75 2.8. The Nikon was around $1600 while the Tamron was $400. The Tamron doesn't have the VR or the special coatings like the Nikon but for over $1000 less I can live with it. The Tamron is very sharp and a very nice lens. It was my first third party lens but it won't be my last.