Tamron and Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 to choose from?

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xenogears

Well-known member
Greeting friends;

I am in a hurry, some of my lenses were stolen from me (Olympus 14-54mm and 50-200mm plus accessories) and I have to start again to buy some lenses, that is why I refer to those with experience using these lenses.

The lenses:
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro HSM (no constant Aperture)
Tokina 16-50mm f/2.8 AT-X 165 PRO

Its use would be primarily for recording interviews in the AF100 and GH2, controlled light mostly, using Nikon mount and I think buying the Novoflex adapter with aperture control.

The three lenses are in 460$-450$, Sigma and Tamron have another version a little more expensive but not really if used in the AF100/GH2 achieve a noticeable difference, which is why for now I'm thinking about these options unless there is a good reason to spend a little more in the most expensive.

Any other suggestion is welcome. Thanks in advance for comments.
 
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I'm curious about this lens, the Tamron... does it focus counterclockwise (from the back) like a Nikon, or clockwise like most every other lens? With the Novoflex adapter is the aperture change smooth or clunky?
 
My Tamrom VC is backwards. Clockwise is far, counter is close. I only use it wide open on my AF100 with a Fotodiox adapter. Sure would love to have iris control, but if I'm using this lens, more than likely I'll use it at f/2.8.
 
Clockwise is far, counter is close.
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Darn, I'm an old dog of the non-Nikon variety... I have got to find a lens I can live with!

By-the-way, here's an interesting point of trivia. The reason Nikon lenses focus the opposite of every other lens is that their late '50s breakthrough rangefinder cameras, the S series, particularly the S-2, had a gear wheel on the top deck for focusing. The wheel focused normally, counterclockwise for infinity and clockwise for close - but because it was a direct gear, the lens turned in the opposite direction. When Nikon introduced the F series SLRs, they kept the reversed focusing on their lenses. I had several S-2s, they were great cameras.
 
Mac,
I"ve got a Leica R 35-70 f/4 macro that focuses properly. Not a speed demon looks great wide open iso 800. Also Leica 70-180 f2.8 that is a great tripod lens. They both work nicely with follow focus rigs too. Had the iris rings "de-clicked"as they say so aperture changes are smooth.
 
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monkeyking.. Cool, I also have some Leica Rs.. a 28, 50, 45-90 Angenieux and 135. I also sent them to Duclos. They are very nice lenses, although the 135 gets a bad rap and the Angenieux doesn't sit perfectly in the Novoflex, so there's a little movement when I zoom.

Actually, they are all a little loose in the adapter (locking pin doesn't hold them perfectly), it just shows up more with the zoom. I might try another adapter. Do you have a recommendation?

I need a practical zoom for documentary shooting though. I have the 14-54 and I would love it if the iris change was smooth. I can work around the focus shift when zooming (I note the footage in the finder and change it after a zoom - it doesn't look bad to chase focus in a shot, I kind of like it)... But I can't live with the clunky aperture change.
 
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Mac,
We like the Panny Leica adapters and have one sitting on each lens. No experience with any other adapters. NAB may reveal some new lenses, hopefully the zoom we all need. Except for the infamous iris glitch on the fast Oly f/2 zooms, we like the IQ of the 14-35 - great glass and just light enough to not require rod support. The Oly 35-100 is also fantastic but our solution to the clunky iris glitch was to replace it with the Leica zooms.
 
but our solution to the clunky iris glitch
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What a shame that these basically good lenses all seem to have this problem... There has just got to be a way to "CineMod" that issue too... As you say, NAB - and if there are no new lenses, or mods of these lenses, at NAB I will be able to hear the collective groan here in Monterey.

I'll check the Panasonic/Leica adapters as well...
 
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I'll ask again because I got hung up on the focus direction - With the Novoflex adapter is the aperture change smooth or is it clunky as it as it is with the Zuikos?
 
I had a quick look at the Tokina and the lens significantly changes length as you zoom, making it difficult to use with a matte box. Does the Sigma or Tamron do the same thing? I have looked at the Nikon 17-55 f2.8 DX and seem to remember it not having that problem?
 
The Tamron 17-50mm does extend considerably when zoomed. I would reckoned the Sigma do too.
I borrowed a Tamron 17-50 to test last week and I was quite impressed with the sharpness and image quality of the lens, especially the color rendition.
Unfortunately I've to give this lens a miss as it was really a pain to focus manually as the focus throw is incredibly short and a bit wobbly, at least for the copy I've tested.
I ended picking up an used old Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 ATX Pro 1 from the shop. It cost about USD 350 and the lens is much heavier but with a solid built. The Tokina doesn't extend when you zoom or focus and it works well with a mattebox. The focus throw is long and it's very easy to focus manually.

I think the Tamron 17-50 is a good lens but be aware that manual focusing is definitely not their strength.
 
xenogears said:
Greeting friends;
I am in a hurry, some of my lenses were stolen from me (Olympus 14-54mm and 50-200mm plus accessories) and I have to start again to buy some lenses, that is why I refer to those with experience using these lenses.

The three lenses are in 460$-450$, Sigma and Tamron have another version a little more expensive but not really if used in the AF100/GH2 achieve a noticeable difference, which is why for now I'm thinking about these options unless there is a good reason to spend a little more in the most expensive.
Any other suggestion is welcome. Thanks in advance for comments.
Click to expand...

I own the sigma, beautiful lens not long enough for interviews, I like a 80 or 100. But the lens is excellent, wish it were weather tight though for my 7d.
 
I have the Tokina 16-50 2.8. love this lens for documentary, it's light, zoom is smooth - a word of caution focus is on a razor edge. This will be my go to lens for all my doc work so it will be interesting to see how my manual focusing skills adapt. Use with NOvoflex. Have no experience with the more expensive Nikon 17-55 that I initially wanted but couldnt be happier and matches just fine with Nikon primes and old Nikon 35-70mm 2.8 I own.
 
controls the iris with a threaded screw,
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Oh, it's one of those... Is the Tokina 16-50 a "non-ris" lens too?

I often walk with people in and out of varying locations, and I need something that follows stop smoothly and predictably... I've been trying with the Zuiko, but gave that up for Lent and now am using the Elmarit 28mm as my on-the-move lens. I need a zoom though.
 
Mac said:
Darn, I'm an old dog of the non-Nikon variety... I have got to find a lens I can live with!

By-the-way, here's an interesting point of trivia. The reason Nikon lenses focus the opposite of every other lens is that their late '50s breakthrough rangefinder cameras, the S series, particularly the S-2, had a gear wheel on the top deck for focusing. The wheel focused normally, counterclockwise for infinity and clockwise for close - but because it was a direct gear, the lens turned in the opposite direction. When Nikon introduced the F series SLRs, they kept the reversed focusing on their lenses. I had several S-2s, they were great cameras.
Click to expand...
Darn it and I thought the engineer forgot the "left handed thread" note on the focusing helix drawing. I did it once.......(made me feel a little better thinking Nikon did that as well)
 
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