Event photography, Sigma 18-125 3.5 vs Tamron 28-75 2.8

ziggy53

In event photography changing lenses can lose you the shot. Control over depth of field can also make or break the shot.

I understand that the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 has probably better optics than the Sigma 18-125 f3.5, but would you rather trade ultimate quality for the extra versatility the Sigma offers.

I'm looking for any and all ideas?

Thanks,

ziggy53

leebase

I have the Tamron and love it...and I have a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and love it too. The sigma you are looking at is not in the same class of lens. And no, I would not choose it.

It's 3.5 on the wide end, it's 5.6 when you zoom...and that's 2 stops of light difference...not to mention the difference in the quality of the glass.

The 2.8 will allow you to shoot without flash in situations where flash isn't allowed or desired.

I'd rather crop a shot with my Tamron in order to "zoom"...than deal with a consumer class lens.

Not to mention that Tamron will probably focus a lot faster, more accurately. And at 2.8, your view of the scene will be brighter through the view finder.

Lee

erich6

Good advice Lee. Nice perspective on zoom vs. lens speed.

Erich

Shay Stephens

In event photography, speed is everything. So go for bright lenses. And experience will help mitigate the down time of lens swapping, anticipating what you will need before you need it type of deal. Yes, it is still a pain, but it's not the deal breaker that a slow lens can be. I would rather swap between fast lenses, than to keep a slow lens on the camera.

And as mentioned, and not to be overlooked or minimized is the focus performance of a fast lens compared to the inability of a slower lens to focus in low light situations. If you can't focus, the zoom range does not amount to a hill of beans

ziggy53 wrote:

In event photography changing lenses can lose you the shot. Control over depth of field can also make or break the shot.

I understand that the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 has probably better optics than the Sigma 18-125 f3.5, but would you rather trade ultimate quality for the extra versatility the Sigma offers.

I'm looking for any and all ideas?

Thanks,

ziggy53

leebase

Quality Glass
Another issue to bring up here is the concept of "quality glass". A lens is to a camera system what speakers are to a stereo system.

If you buy a great receiver with lots of watts etc., but put a pair of cheap speakers on it....you are not going to have great sound.

Consumer grade lenses are just fine....for consumers. Enthusiasts and professionals need better glass.

Better glass:
- focuses faster
- produces sharper images
- produces images with better color
- last longer

We all can't affort the best lenses. I have no L lenses. But I do buy quality lenses from Sigma (EX series) and Tamron (SP series). And I have a coupld Canon 1.8 primes (but alas, not their wonderful 1.2 and 1.4 primes).

Don't let the small numbers fool you. The difference between an f2.8 lens and an f4 lens is DOUBLE the light. That's why an f2.8 lens is considerable more expensive, larger and heavier than an f4 lens.

Yet...an f2.8 lens will work in lower light, focus faster....and deal with 1.4x and 2x converters much better.

The difference between f2.0 and f 1.2 is 1 and a half times the light gathering ability. The numbers look like they are real close, but the quality difference between the lenses is significant.

Then there is the DOF abilities that wider aperatures bring to the table. Any lens can shoot at f8....but you can't get those wonderful narrow dof photos with a consumer grade lens.

So...buy the best you can afford. There IS a significant image quality difference.

Lee

Malaxos1

I use the Tamron for weddings all the time. I also use it for studio work as well. I have a number of lenses but this is the one that stays on the camera most of the time. I recently went to a wordflow seminar by Wll Crocket and he told the audience that we were going to think that he is crazy, but the lenses he uses mostly is the Tamron 28-75. He called it Tamron's diamond in the Ruff...Dean

binghott

if i had a dollar every time i said something good about my 28-75mm i'd be able to buy another lens. they really should have a referral program, that'd be great.

it's a great lens at a great price. i'm too lazy to re-type everything i love about it

Chase

im looking into the sigma 24-70 f2.8 (am placing an order right now in fact) because i want something a little widern than the tamrons 28mm. I am getting it for 371 dollars shipped as well.

ziggy53

Sigma 24-70mm, f2.8

Chase wrote:

im looking into the sigma 24-70 f2.8 (am placing an order right now in fact) because i want something a little widern than the tamrons 28mm. I am getting it for 371 dollars shipped as well.

I gather that this is one of the better Sigma lenses and you get a decent macro as well!

Anybody else have this lense?

Thanks,

ziggy53