Help pick some lenses for a Canon D60

[carsonwick]

I am getting back into photography and would like some advice on a few lenses. I am going to purchase two lenses to cover up to at least 28-200mm. My price range is < $1000 combined. I am thinking for the lower range either a Canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM or a Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX DF. For the upper range either a Canon 70-200mm 4.0L or a Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 EX HSM IF APO. Any other's are welcome provided they don't cost an obscene amount. Ideally I'd love to get 70-200 2.8L IS and a 24-70 2.8L but I am in college and not rich. Thanks for any help.

Carson

[Lionheart]

I am getting back into photography and would like some advice on a few lenses. I am going to purchase two lenses to cover up to at least 28-200mm. My price range is < $1000 combined. I am thinking for the lower range either a Canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM or a Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX DF. For the upper range either a Canon 70-200mm 4.0L or a Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 EX HSM IF APO. Any other's are welcome provided they don't cost an obscene amount. Ideally I'd love to get 70-200 2.8L IS and a 24-70 2.8L but I am in college and not rich. Thanks for any help.

Carson

Sounds like you've picked some pretty good lenses to choose from. Personally I'd stick to Canon lenses but that's just personal choice. I would recommend you try the lenses out at a camera shop if they'll let you. Most good shops will let you test out the lenses on your camera body, or at least the ones I went to did. Good luck and happy shopping.

[carsonwick]

Sounds like you've picked some pretty good lenses to choose from. Personally I'd stick to Canon lenses but that's just personal choice. I would recommend you try the lenses out at a camera shop if they'll let you. Most good shops will let you test out the lenses on your camera body, or at least the ones I went to did. Good luck and happy shopping.

Thanks for your quick reply. For anyone else that has more input, I will elaborate a little. I basically would like a comparison of optics, autofocus characteristics, and build quality. Optics being most important, then autofocus, then build. I also like the fact that the Sigma 70-200 comes with a tripod collar, then again I like that the Canon L is a Canon L, heh. Thanks again for any input.

Carson

[Lionheart]

Thanks for your quick reply. For anyone else that has more input, I will elaborate a little. I basically would like a comparison of optics, autofocus characteristics, and build quality. Optics being most important, then autofocus, then build. I also like the fact that the Sigma 70-200 comes with a tripod collar, then again I like that the Canon L is a Canon L, heh. Thanks again for any input.

Carson

I've seen the Sigma lenses first hand, and as far as build goes, they're right up there with the Canon lenses, not quite as solid as the "L" lenses, but noticeably more rugged than many of Canon's consumer lenses. Autofocus on these seem quite good, but nowhere near what Canon's USM lenses can do, especially the 70-200 lens. OK, I'm a little spoiled here, I've got mostly "L" lenses in my arsenal. Also the fit, feel, and the play on the Sigma's don't seem as precise as the "L" lenses to me (then again, not many lenses do, except for "L" lenses of course). As far as optics go, the reviews all say they're pretty darn good, but I'll take the "L" lenses every time. The Sigma lenses are very good, especially for the price, and I've had a Sigma zoom (28-200) that worked well with my EOS A2 and 1V-HS, and produced very good, sharp pictures, with good warm color balance but really struggled to auto focus on my digi EOS bodies, which at the time was the D30, D60 and 10D. I've since donated the lens to a worthy cause, and until today represented the last of my non Canon lenses. I've got a tamron 28-80 that came with an e-bay purchase that I really didn't want but was part of really great package for a great price that arrived today. I'll be putting that back on e-bay soon. (I had this lens 4+ years ago, it's absolutely a piece of junk).
Hope that helps a tad more than my first reply.