Sigma 18-50mm f2.8?

rawfa

rawfa

Veteran
Hi guys,

I have bought a D40 and I sold the very slow 18-55mm it came with straight away. Since there's the whole 1,5 focal distance multiplying I'd like to buy a fast zoom for the D40 BUT that I may also use with a 35mm adapter. The sigma 18-50mm with a constant f2.8 seemed like a good solution. I was wondering if it's a good lens either for the D40, a 35mm adapter or/and both.
 
It is not an HSM lens so it would not have full functionality on the D40.

The D40 requires AF-S or HSM lenses to reach full functionality.
 
What Jeremy means is it will not auto-focus on the D40, but since none of your other lens auto focus I'm guessing this may not be a concern. If I were you though, I would go for their HSM version of that lens so that you have at least one lens that will auto focus. It is a great tool to have, and it should still work fine on your 35mm adapter.
 
Thanks again, guys. You both have been of great help, since my knowledge of digital photography is the same as a toad's.

Is there any similar solution that has AF AND MF with a constant f2.8? 18-50mm is just perfect. :-(
 
Thanks, man. This is exactly what I was looking for...digital camera wise. It appears as if I'm going to have a tough time finding something to please both parties. I might as well just buy the first option and deal with focus manualy...it's more fun this way.
 
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sinapps is right. I keep forgetting you want to use it for both, although that might be the case with the first lens you mentioned as well. Not sure, and Sigma's site is kind of vague.
 
Sigma lenses marked with DC Digital are for cropped sensors:

DC (DC Lens)
These are special lenses designed so that the image circle matches the smaller size of the image sensor of most digital SLR cameras. Their specialized design gives these lenses the ideal properties for digital cameras, the compact and lightweight construction is an added bonus ! including compact and lightweight construction.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, sinapps . That will make my research easier...and my life hell, as it seems there's no lens suited for both worlds.
 
I think Red uses an APS sized sensor (24.4mm x13.7mm). Nikon's APS sensor is 23.6mm x 15.8mm.

A full 35mm frame is 36mm x 24mm.

Also, 18-50 DX lens does not become a 28-80 on full frame. It has a similar field of view on APS sensor as a 27-75 would on a full frame camera. If you mount the 18-50 on a full frame camera it would still have the 18-50 field of view, it would not fill the full frame.
 
In this case I'm screwed. I don't see any zooms that can fit both my needs. I might as well just buy cheap Nikon AF MC Zenitar 16mm 2.8 (which will become a 24mm) and completely forget about zooms. It's too bad because I travel a lot and there's no way I'll be taking 5 or 6 lenses along with me. A zoom would really hit the stop there. On the other hand I have no use for a 16mm when it comes to 35mm adapters. Oh, cruel world, why must you mock me.
 
Dude, seriously, just get a Nikon 18-70 for 200 on Ebay for your camera (it is AF-S). You can't put it on your adapter but you can use it on the D40 with autofocus or manual focus... that being said, the 18-55 kit lens is not a crap lens.
 
I'm with Jeremy. I wouldn't worry too much. The fact is that AI glass is cheap and can be dedicated for your adapter if need be.

I would just go grab whatever you want for your D40 lens and leave it off the adapter. I think the HMS 2.8 Sigma lens was a great idea. I have not used it myself, but would love to have one as I have heard many excellent things about it from others.

I also wouldn't worry about the crop factor as much as you are. The crop is what it is, and most don't worry about what the effective field of view equivalent would be for 35mm. At wider angles, you don't have to back up but a few feet to get the same shot as a 35mm.....so it's not that big of a deal. And as Jeremy has pointed out, it works to your benefit in telephoto situations.
 
Yes, I came to the conclusion that I cannot have both. I will probably end up buying the sigma I first mentioned. I'm also looking into the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 and the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 . The Tamron is a constant f2.8 but the sigma has more tele...which seems more interesting since now I won't be using it with the adapter.
 
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