[Pirate!!]

Ahoy!

I got lucky with mine (new ex retail stock), so have scanned eBay for lowest prices in UK and Euroland, and you can get one for:

Minolta/Sony: 140185810797, 140185812760
Nikon: 120195273148, 230201656431 NEW Nikon version has a faster HSM AF motor. There appears to be a standard DC version as well, so check first.
Canon: 130180653058

The lens normally retails for £89.99+

Sigma blurb here.

My short write-up is here.

I use mine for general walkabout. Yes there are better versions, but for the money (if you can get one cheap enough) not half bad.

[mij]

Thanks for the info.

Looks like a bargain

Have you any pics from it yet?

Forgot to ask if the filter rotates when focusing or zooming?

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by mij

Thanks for the info.

Looks like a bargain

Have you any pics from it yet?

Forgot to ask if the filter rotates when focusing or zooming?

Yes and yes. Just some quick test pics. Did you read my review?

[mij]

I have read your review This lens will fit in well with the kit lens.

I think I may be getting another Christmas treat to go with the 50mm 1.7 I just got.

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by mij

I have read your review This lens will fit in well with the kit lens.

I think I may be getting another Christmas treat to go with the 50mm 1.7 I just got.

If you're Sony/Minolta then item: 330196695219 is hard to pass up. Less than I paid!

[mij]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

If you're Sony/Minolta then item: 330196695219 is hard to pass up. Less than I paid!

I have the A100 with the 18-70mm kit lens & 50mm 1.7 and am watching that lens

I would like either the Sony 16-105 or the Sony 18-250mm but both cost too much for me at the moment.

[Pirate!!]

Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) would be worth getting.

Also on eBay, Item number: 320193403677

[Pirate!!]

Sell body parts if you must, but not the Minolta AF 50mm. The lens of lenses.

[mij]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

Sell body parts if you must, but not the Minolta AF 50mm. The lens of lenses.

Agreed, it is a great little cheap lens.

[springtide]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

Sell body parts if you must, but not the Minolta AF 50mm. The lens of lenses.

The 50mm f1.4 is the lens of lenses! The f1.7 is just the good looking sister!
I have the 1.7 btw :D and the CZ prime glass is just a dream!

[mij]

My wife likes it's softness

[Pirate!!]

There endeth the lesson . . except the f/1.4 version costs 2 kidneys, a leg and a lifetime subscription to repossession monthly!

[onefivenine]

Are you on a mission, or comission, pirate?

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by onefivenine

Are you on a mission, or comission, pirate?

I'm on something, but none of the ones you mentioned!

[mij]

Maybe he is offloading some of them ebay bargains he kept winning

[Pirate!!]

Just sharing the info. For those who are in the market for very affordable glass, then I don't mind doing a bit of research and letting the masses know.

As for my purchases . . they're in my camera bag.

[mij]

And I appreciate all your efforts. Thanks

[Brammers]

There endeth the lesson . . except the f/1.4 version costs 2 kidneys, a leg and a lifetime subscription to repossession monthly!

I'd like to think that my body parts were worth more than £120... They come up cheap, keep checking. Although there's not much difference - I had both side by side for a while.

[Pirate!!]

Ahoy!

I have attached 4 JPEG images. Reduced full size versions for posting (no cropping), these are just 'snaps', so pay no attention to detail. NO PP AT ALL . . straight out of the camera. Make your own minds up, but I say, this lens is good . . very good. Much better than I thought it would be.

There appears to be no fall-off of colour in the corners or any CA. Colour rendition is very good. In short, for £29.00 . . . an absolute steal. Very lightweight. I had a play in manual mode as well. The focus and zoom rings are just right.

Seriously, go get one if you can find a cheapie (see my eBay suggested item numbers).

[rrfierce]

i'm guessing that those cheap nikon fit ones you've suggested are not the HSM version, as they actually did too.

The HSM lens retails at about £150.

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by rrfierce

i'm guessing that those cheap nikon fit ones you've suggested are not the HSM version, as they actually did too.

The HSM lens retails at about £150.

Yes, there are 2 versions. According to Sigma (UK): The Nikon fit version also includes an HSM auto focus motor. Hence the suffix, DC HSM for the Nikon version.

Lucky Nikon owners. The rest of us have the standard motor. If you need clarification, why not ask the vendors of the items concerned? You just might get yourself the 'buy of the year'.

[rrfierce]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

Yes, there are 2 versions. According to Sigma (UK): The Nikon fit version also includes an HSM auto focus motor. Hence the suffix, DC HSM for the Nikon version.

Lucky Nikon owners. The rest of us have the standard motor. If you need clarification, why not ask the vendors of the items concerned? You just might get yourself the 'buy of the year'.

thats what i'm saying though, there is a nikon fit, non hsm version, which i think these are. I've emailed a couple of the sellers - no reply yet.

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by rrfierce

thats what i'm saying though, there is a nikon fit, non hsm version, which i think these are. I've emailed a couple of the sellers - no reply yet.

Ah well, I tried. The regular motor is fast enough anyway, but if you get the HSM version so much the better. Jessops have it @ £149.99 new - 10% discount. The regular type version goes from £90.00 to about £120.00.

Either way, still a nice bit of kit which in my case, has now become almost permanently conjoined to the body of my Alpha!

I'll try and see if there's any difference in box colour in relation to motor type.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/len...26&navigator=6

[rrfierce]

the non hsm version won't auto-focus on the d40, which i have.

[Pirate!!]

Seems that the HSM version is new for you Nikoners out there. Would have to assume that like the rest of us, there is also a standard version.

If HSM, it will state it on the lens. Non HSM will just have the DC marking. See attached image (DC HSM version) for your reference.

[mij]

Thanks to Pirate's info I got myself one of these lenses for my A100 on Ebay for £27 + postage.

It is more or less the same size as the 18-70mm kit lens and only weighs a little more, it has a good lens hood & has the same 55mm filter size as the kit lens which is useful as I already had some.

I have only had it for one day and can already say this is a keeper. It is small and light, easy to use with a fast focus and to my eyes produces very nice pictures (when compared with my 18-70mm kit lens & my Minolta 50mm F1.7), it also looks good on the camera .

For a beginner like me this is a good cheap lens to learn with, when combined with the kit lens I have a very good range which should cover most of my needs for a while to come, I also have a light bag to carry around.

If I ever see a Pirate I will buy him a shot of Rum, thanks mate

[julian_fraser]

Hi all - a quick question regarding 55-200mm lenses in general...

I'm the proud new owner of a D40 with 18-55mm kit lens. I know from reading (on here mostly) that an additional 55-200mm lens would be an excellent accompaniment and would give me a kit to cover most situations, albeit having to change lens first... My issue is that it's almost ALL about budget I'm afraid (hence the D40) but not if it's a cheap but wasted spend. Saying that I would stretch to Nikon's own 55-200 VR (£199 as opposed to £140 for their non-VR which is the same price as Sigma's HSM version I think) if it made a big difference.

I suppose my question(s) is:

Would a 55-200mm (the VR for example) be an acceptable "always on" lens or do you lose too much flexibility not having the 18-55mm range available... Also, given what would then be a small jump to £220 for the Sigma 18-200mm all-encompassing lens here (albeit non-VR and I'm assuming non-HSM) is that a better bet? And is the fact it's half the price of the Nikon 18-200mm VR an indication of "you get what you pay for"?

I hope that makes sense!

Many thanks in advance
julian

[Garf]

Julian,

I'm fairly new at this as well and still learning myself, but hopefully I can help out a bit..

Firstly, I recently got the Nikkor 55-200 VR to complement the D40's kit lens, and it can be had for about £130 on ebay, via the seller emilyandlily.

Take a look here...

Following that, I would say that you would likely miss the 18-55 range (I know I would, anyway), particularly if you want to shoot landscapes etc. I guess it really comes down to what type of photos you intend to take, but you might find having only 55-200 a bit limiting.

Finally, I don't think the Sigma lens you linked can auto focus on the D40 - for that, you would need the more expensive 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS - looks like it's about 400 quid, which gets closer to Nikon prices for their own 18-200 lens.

Hope that helps, but as I say, I'm learning as well, so I'm sure someone who knows what they are talking about will be along soon enough

[Pirate!!]

Latest numbers on eBay for affordable money:

Canon: 300181882299 @ silly money and still up for sale.
Nikon: 190183236271 @ even sillier money and 2 up for grabs!

These are DC not DC HSM. DC HSM is for Nikon only.

[Pirate!!]

Latest finds on that auction website for affordable money:

Minolta/Sony: 330198831857
Nikon: 190183236271

These are DC versions.