which len u all will choose if going to tokyo..

Sunny815 · 26th March 2009

hi all.. i'm thinking to get a 2nd hand len to replace my kit len for my coming tokyo trip.. there is 2 len on my mind, 1 is tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and sony sal 16-105 f/3.5-5.6.. which 1 will be a better choice huh? heard tat sal16105 is a very sharp len.. wat u all think ??

lenrek · 26th March 2009

This Tokyo trip would mainly be scenery or landscape photo, or, you are going some special events (like Anime?)

navlem · 26th March 2009

I would say the 16-105 for its longer focal range, and its incredibly sharp centre. And for its 16mm wide.

Sunny815 · 26th March 2009

Originally Posted by lenrek

This Tokyo trip would mainly be scenery or landscape photo, or, you are going some special events (like Anime?)

mostly for landscape photo.. i got another 50mm f/1.7, u think i shld bring tat too ???

Sunny815 · 26th March 2009

Originally Posted by navlem

I would say the 16-105 for its longer focal range, and its incredibly sharp centre. And for its 16mm wide.

wat do u mean by sharp center ??? only the center is very sharp ???

tsan81 · 26th March 2009

Originally Posted by Sunny815

mostly for landscape photo.. i got another 50mm f/1.7, u think i shld bring tat too ???

50mm is so light and small. no harming bringing. good for indoor.

crystal shoot · 26th March 2009

i was with 1680 only throughout my last tokyo trip.

Sunny815 · 26th March 2009

Originally Posted by crystal shoot

i was with 1680 only throughout my last tokyo trip.

when was ur last trip to tokyo ???

tabako · 26th March 2009

Get zoom lens then can shoot all the Japanese mei mei.

weishengg · 26th March 2009

Originally Posted by navlem

I would say the 16-105 for its longer focal range, and its incredibly sharp centre. And for its 16mm wide.

but according to test charts, the corner sharpness is terrible, especially at 50mm.
i haven't seen the real life pictures though.

KelvinC · 26th March 2009

Hi
Wa going to japan, better bring a good and sharp walkabout lens for your trip. I have a sigma 18 125 lens to let go and if you are interested can PM me or sms me at 91285849. Enjoy your trip.

lenrek · 26th March 2009

Originally Posted by Sunny815

mostly for landscape photo.. i got another 50mm f/1.7, u think i shld bring tat too ???

You should bring along your tripod. I think your 16-105mm lens is suitable for the trip. For 50mm f1.7, is a small and easy to carry lens. Should just bring it, since does not waste much of the space.

lenrek · 26th March 2009

Originally Posted by weishengg

but according to test charts, the corner sharpness is terrible, especially at 50mm.
i haven't seen the real life pictures though.

Maybe need to step down to F8?

weishengg · 27th March 2009

Originally Posted by lenrek

Maybe need to step down to F8?

according to test charts, yes that certainly improves sharpness a lot!
anyone with this lens? is it really that bad in the corners at wide open apertures?

lenrek · 27th March 2009

Originally Posted by weishengg

according to test charts, yes that certainly improves sharpness a lot!
anyone with this lens? is it really that bad in the corners at wide open apertures?

I don't own this lens, so I am not sure. However, when I take picture, I don't really expect to see sharp at the corner. I only want the focused object to be sharp, and that is usually at the centre or closer to centre.

The common situation I want the full picture to be sharp is when taking scenery or landscape. But, I usually set to F8 or above. So, even with kit-lens, I notice it can produce sharp picture (at least, to me, it looks sharp enough).

Though the review may highlight some weaknesses of the lens, but I am not sure how those weaknesses would affect us in real practical sense. What I do understand is, if the highlighted weakness is indeed true, then don't use the lens in such situation, use it more where it can perform well - exploit its strength, not employ its weakness! Ultimately, what I want, is to get nice picture.

Anyway, this is what I learned so far...

Lexar · 27th March 2009

Yes, many reviews always say a lot of lens have very soft corners at wide apertures...

In the first place, at widest apertures, the DOF is so thin and no matter how, you won't get sharp corners and we are not bothered anyway.

And we also use wide apertures for low light and portrait shots, so important is center is sharp at widest apertures....

Landscape and group photos, of course must use minimum F4-F5.6 in order to get sharpness throughout the whole frame, which ironically makes the wide aperture lens useless anyway...

So Sunny, if you take mostly outdoor and under bright lights, then 16-105 is a good choice or budget higher then wack the cz16-80.

If indoor and lower lighting conditions, I think Tamron17-50 is a good choice...

(BTW, i am also planning to take my family to Tokyo in early May....maybe a good time to buy some "goodies" back from there...)

Sunny815 · 27th March 2009

Originally Posted by Lexar

Yes, many reviews always say a lot of lens have very soft corners at wide apertures...

In the first place, at widest apertures, the DOF is so thin and no matter how, you won't get sharp corners and we are not bothered anyway.

And we also use wide apertures for low light and portrait shots, so important is center is sharp at widest apertures....

Landscape and group photos, of course must use minimum F4-F5.6 in order to get sharpness throughout the whole frame, which ironically makes the wide aperture lens useless anyway...

So Sunny, if you take mostly outdoor and under bright lights, then 16-105 is a good choice or budget higher then wack the cz16-80. If indoor and lower lighting conditions, I think Tamron17-50 is a good choice...

(BTW, i am also planning to take my family to Tokyo in early May....maybe a good time to buy some "goodies" back from there...)

wat goodies u mean? like len? issit cheaper over there ??? btw.. SIA got promotion i think 2 to go at ard $792/pax by A380 somemore.. i bought mine at $859 yet no A380.. sad..

Sunny815 · 27th March 2009

think im getting the SAL16105, and yeap, i total agree with Lexar.. after i back frm jp then maybe i get tamron 28-75 f/2.8..

26th March 2009	#1
Sunny815 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 213	which len u all will choose if going to tokyo.. hi all.. i'm thinking to get a 2nd hand len to replace my kit len for my coming tokyo trip.. there is 2 len on my mind, 1 is tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and sony sal 16-105 f/3.5-5.6.. which 1 will be a better choice huh? heard tat sal16105 is a very sharp len.. wat u all think ?? __________________ Proud Sony αlpha User http://sunny815.smugmug.com

26th March 2009	#2
lenrek Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 725	Re: which len u all will choose if going to tokyo.. This Tokyo trip would mainly be scenery or landscape photo, or, you are going some special events (like Anime?) __________________ Lenrek's photostream Lenrek's camera equipment lineup

26th March 2009	#3
navlem Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 874	Re: which len u all will choose if going to tokyo.. I would say the 16-105 for its longer focal range, and its incredibly sharp centre. And for its 16mm wide. __________________ like.no.other™ http://www.flickr.com/photos/navlem/

26th March 2009	#7
crystal shoot Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 52	Re: which len u all will choose if going to tokyo.. i was with 1680 only throughout my last tokyo trip. __________________ A700 http://www.flickr.com/photos/crystal_shoot/

26th March 2009	#9
tabako Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 370	Re: which len u all will choose if going to tokyo.. Get zoom lens then can shoot all the Japanese mei mei.

26th March 2009	#11
KelvinC Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 65	Re: which len u all will choose if going to tokyo.. Hi Wa going to japan, better bring a good and sharp walkabout lens for your trip. I have a sigma 18 125 lens to let go and if you are interested can PM me or sms me at 91285849. Enjoy your trip.

27th March 2009	#16
Lexar Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 121	Re: which len u all will choose if going to tokyo.. Yes, many reviews always say a lot of lens have very soft corners at wide apertures... In the first place, at widest apertures, the DOF is so thin and no matter how, you won't get sharp corners and we are not bothered anyway. And we also use wide apertures for low light and portrait shots, so important is center is sharp at widest apertures.... Landscape and group photos, of course must use minimum F4-F5.6 in order to get sharpness throughout the whole frame, which ironically makes the wide aperture lens useless anyway... So Sunny, if you take mostly outdoor and under bright lights, then 16-105 is a good choice or budget higher then wack the cz16-80. If indoor and lower lighting conditions, I think Tamron17-50 is a good choice... (BTW, i am also planning to take my family to Tokyo in early May....maybe a good time to buy some "goodies" back from there...) __________________ α900, CZ1635, CZ2470, 70-200G, F58AM α700, 11-18, CZ1680, 35G, 50F14, 50F18, 70-300G Last edited by Lexar; 27th March 2009 at 10:53 PM.