Opinion on 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM

[willykatie]

Thinking about getting this lens for portrait and macro, well mainly for portrait just in the house. So what do you think about this lens? Is it a good sharp lens for it? At the moment i've got 50mm F1.8 but as i've got D40x, need manually focus and it's not very practical when shooting my wee boy as he's moving all the time and the focus change all the time as well.
Will this lens as good as my 50mm?

Thanks a lot

[alfienoakes]

This is the Sigma you're talking about ? I don't think there's anything else out there with that collection of acronyms

I have the non-HSM version. It is allegedly optically the same. I very rarely take it off these days for general out and about shooting. Probably the sharpest lens I own. I also have the 50mm 1.8 but to be honest I rarely use it. Unless you want some effective narrow DoF effects the zoom is a lot more versatile than the prime.

I'm not a portrait person, as that's your area of interest it'd be worth gathering some more opinions and scouting pbase and flickr for some other reference points.

[Brammers]

All the reviews say it's very decent - but what it's not it a 1.8 prime.

This might not go down well, but seeing as you can't get an autofocusing 50 1.8 for a D40, why not sell the D40, get a 2nd hand D70s or D80 and a 50 1.8?

Otherwise, 85 1.8?

[Brammers]

Oh, does the 50 1.4 have autofocus on a D40? Maybe that's worth a shot.

[Yandros]

How about the Sigma 30mm f1.4 HSM for £238. Autofocuses on the D40 and a bit wider (more like a classic standard lens).

Btw, I think the Nikon 50 1.4 is manual focus on the D40. I don't think Nikon do any AFS primes under 105mm.

[Brammers]

How about the Sigma 30mm f1.4 HSM for £238.

I can't second that reccomendation I'm afraid Yandros. She's getting the lens for portrait and macro, and the Sigma comes out about 50mm equivalent - that's not going to produce the most flattering of perspectives. It's also not much good at macro.

[willykatie]

I think it might be better keep my 50mm f1.8 and upgrade D40x to D80 rather than get 18-50mm F2.8 as i might spend around same amount of money? But Nikon might upgrade D80 soon and thinking about getting the new model instead, dunno........