Can you help me decided??

[jonnyb]

I am an Olympus E-10 owner of 3 years who is tomorrow taking delivery of a Fuji S2 !!

I am starting from new in lens terms and so have none! I am trying to get fairly close to the range of the E-10 (around 35-150mm) but at the same time dont want the range to compromise the sharpness/quality.

After many posts on various forums and lots of asking/broswing I have narrowed it down to these Nikon lenses:


28-105/3.5-4.5D IF @ £295.00

24-85/2.8-4D IF @ £480

or.....might even go...

Nikon AF-S VR 24-120 f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED @£511

But the above I belive has had a few 'issues'... according to some posters on Dpreview!


Again, this is going to be my FIRST lens (ever!) and so I am thinking that this will be the main 'walkabout' lens I use on the S2....

Please can anyone help me narrow it down??

I particularly want fast focussing so should I avoid the 'non silent wave' lenses (although anything will be fast comapred to E-10)

Many Thanks

Jon

[Swampy]

Jonny - the 24-120VR has no current problems. There apparently was a problem with softness on one side of the frame on early models and has since been corrected, according to another user here.

There's a few people here that have this lens and have had no problems with this lens.

When considering a lens, keep in mind that there's a 1.5 magnification or crop factor (no arguments here guys, please). So, you're 24mm will be a 36mm equivelent on your S2. and the 120mm side will be 180mm equivelent. This is exactly why I decided that my main lens would be no larger than 24mm at the bottom end, which is why I went with the 24-70mm Sigma.

Consider the 24-120mm VR though. It appears to be an excellent lens by the samples sent up by users here. If you haven't already, check out the lens test forum here as it has sample shots from the more popular lenses here.

[ballroom_boy]

All 3 lenses you mention are fine, and just to confuse you even more, have you considered the AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5~4.5G? I got one about a month ago and it is a sweet lens. Light, compact, SHARP, and great colour/contrast. Also, the price is right too...

[lightwrangler]

Depending on what you shoot, you may enjoy a 2.8 lens. The e10 lens is a F2.0 at the wide end and a 2.4 at the long end, so you have been enjoying a fairly fast lens up to now. In order to get a fixed 2.8 you have to spend more money and be prepared for a smaller zoom range. Additionally, you have to consider that very few lenses are built for chips, most are film based and this has it's own drawbacks. Another lens worth considering is the Tamron 28 - 75 Di XR, since it is specifically built for digital. Again it is a narrow range, but it is a fixed 2.8.

[proberts]

I'm sure you can find reviews of the exact lenses you're looking at... I'd just like to add that you shouldn't forget the plethora of used lenses available when you go shopping. I've saved lots of money over time by shopping fairly judiciously (even if it's used at a store, and more expensive than E-bay, I like to be able to actually inspect the lens.)

My 80-400VR was even a used buy, with most of the packaging still intact.

You may also consider trying to purchase from somwhere that has an exchange policy that lets you trade down- then line up the lens you want most.

Also, keep in mind when reading lens reviews done by 35mm owners that the smaller CCD means the image circile is going to overcover the sensor and you should get better coverage than the same lens on a film body. For instance, Thom Hogan's review of the 18-35mm 3.5-4.5D makes it seem a bargain for digital shooters, rather than a mostly-good lens for film.


Paul

[bcumsky]

Jon- Did you decide and have a report? I too am considering the 24-85 as a mid-range zoom (2.8-4 for the speed) but was curious how you decided. -Bruce

[Steve P]

Jon,


I can't comment on the 24/120VR as I have never used it but I know it's a good one. I can recomend the 24/85 AFS ED. It's small,light nice and sharp. With the silent wave motor it's quite a bargain.

The 28/105D was in my bag for a while but sadly I found it to inconsistant so I sold it.

Steve P:)

[shlomo]

One thing for sure - buy 50 1.8- GREAT ONE!

[Igor]

Jon, 24-120mm VR is what I recommend. You won't regret!!

[radmanmike]

Jon, I just received a couple of days ago the Tamron 28 - 75 Di XR and it is indeed a sweet lense. My first impression is that it is sharp and priced right at $299.00 of ebay new.

Good luck and good shooting