What is your policy on NON manufacture lenses?

13 years 7 months ago #4050 by Homer
I have always been one to stick with same camera manufacture lenses. But lately I've been seeing some good reviews about certain "aftermarket" lens manufactures, that it has me thinking. Especially when in many cases these lenses are much less in price.

What are your thoughts on this?


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13 years 7 months ago #4067 by ShadowWalker
Sigma has some good stuff, but for the most part I'm the same way. Nikon only.


Photo Comments
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13 years 7 months ago #4068 by stevesevilempire
Hiyah, I tend to end up regretting it, believe me i have tried but generally irrelevant to the brand you use the non crew lenses malfunction quicker, or just start taking very rough images. On the other hand I have gotten some amazing stuff from shoe boxes and pin hole cameras have no lens ??? So go figure. It is sadly one of those you get what you pay for gigs when it comes to glass though but if you have any luck with them then send me the good news.
Cheers
Steve
Oh PS: I also wanted to say that grabbing second hand is often a better option. ;-)


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13 years 7 months ago #4086 by ShadowWalker

stevesevilempire wrote: Hiyah, I tend to end up regretting it, believe me i have tried but generally irrelevant to the brand you use the non crew lenses malfunction quicker, or just start taking very rough images. On the other hand I have gotten some amazing stuff from shoe boxes and pin hole cameras have no lens ??? So go figure. It is sadly one of those you get what you pay for gigs when it comes to glass though but if you have any luck with them then send me the good news.
Cheers
Steve
Oh PS: I also wanted to say that grabbing second hand is often a better option. ;-)


I 100% agree with you on the used! There are some great deals out there!


Photo Comments
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13 years 7 months ago #4091 by Yasko
For the most part manufacture lenses are my mainstays, but there's a couple of Sigma EX's in my lineup. One, the sigma EX 70mm f2.8 macro is actually SHARPER than my canon 100mm f2.8 macro, especially wide open, and renders comparable contrast and bokeh. I don't use autofocus on macros, so the slower autofocus wasn't an issue and I've sold the canon lens to a friend.

My sigma EX 24-70mm f2.8 has been relegated as a back up now that I have the canon L version. But to be quite honest, the only real advantage the canon has is it's sharper wide open and has smoother/faster autofocus. Past f4.0 the Sigma gives identicle sharpness, contrast, bokeh, and color, and is noticeably sharper than the Canon when stopped down past f13.0 (higher lens diffraction limit).

My philosophy is that while 3rd party lenses are a mixed bag, there are some diamonds in the rough so to speak. You just have to do your homework and be careful what you buy. Tamron and Sigma EX do make some outstanding lenses, and at about half the cost, they're worth every penny.


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13 years 7 months ago #4097 by Doug
I’d use non-OEM lenses when they are equal or better, or offer something unique, not as a cheap alternative. For instance, put Pentax lenses on that old Ricoh SLR, or put Leica lenses on a Zeiss Ikon rangefinder. I’d offer that “sharper” is not always the criterion, maybe just something different.


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13 years 7 months ago #4104 by bhowdy
If you limit yourself to "only" the camera manufacturers lenses you may be missing out on some of the best lenses going, for specific focal lengths.
For example the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX is considered among the best wide angle landscape lenses

Sigma has several very good to excellent non-manufacturer lenses
The new Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro is a great lens
Sigma's 50mm and 35mm primes lenses are well thought of ....

Tamron has a couple of well respected lenses
SP AF 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di-II LD
AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF

It really depends on your needs, what you like to photograph, etc. Do your homework, ask questions and read the reviews ... Don't get caught up in the Camera brand snobbery

Bob Howdeshell

"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera" ~ Lewis Hine

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