Which combination of lenses would you go for?

[bumkicho]

A) Tokina 11-16mm & Sigma HSM 24-70mm
B) Tokina 16-50mm & Sigma HSM 70-200mm

 

[wgzn]

if those were my only options, id choose B

 

[Samuel H]

I'm afraid it depends on what you're going to shoot... I'm more often going to the wide end and very rarely go above my 90mm, so I'd go for A

the tokina 11-16 f/2.8 and the tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (non-VC) are very common recommendations, I have both and they're great

 

[bumkicho]

wgzn, Could you elaborate why you'd go for B? I would like to learn from members why they would go with certain focal length lenses. Thanks.

NormanBates, that is the exact combo I have used. Now I am selling my tamron 17-50 to get a 24-70mm lens. The reason I am selling it is that I found 17-20mm range is close enough to 16mm and can be covered with tokina at 16mm by moving the camera closer.

Then it got me thinking what if I sell tokina 116 and go for option B instead. See how my mind turns? Arrrrgh. I am 99% certain I will go with option A because I want to keep tokina 116 for gorgeous wide shots at 11mm.

 

[wgzn]

wgzn, Could you elaborate why you'd go for B

its nothing technical. just a matter of math. if you only have two lenses you might want the compositional freedom of more focal length.

 

[Samuel H]

if you already have the tamron 17-50 (non-VC), I'd say keep it, it's an exceptional lens; and get the tokina 11-16 and save a bit more for a 70-200; given the sigma 24-70 is quite more expensive than the tamron 17-50, you're halfway there already

if you don't want to wait and can live with a slower tele, you can go for the ultracheap tamron 70-300: horribly built, and horribly soft beyond 180mm, but it's great below 100mm, and quite decent up to 150mm

or you could go for vintage glass, which is my favorite path: a carl zeiss jena biometar 80mm f/2.8 costs around $100 on ebay, and a (much better) leitz elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8 can go for around $300

I've used all those lenses I'm talking about, you can check my tests with the one dollar resolution chart and see how they compare to your current tamron 17-50:
http://www.similaar.com/foto/lenstests/lenstestsa.html

 

[Samuel H]

its nothing technical. just a matter of math. if you only have two lenses you might want the compositional freedom of more focal length.

or you may want the compositional freedom of a wider lens: it depends on what you're going to shoot