confused: Canon 550D+Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 or Nikon D7000+kit lens


karikodan

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Oct 16, 2010
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Dear all,

It seems the hope of getting a nikon D7000 is receding away due to the must buy kit lens:cry:

For an average photographer interested in landscape and low light conditions, which one would you recommend Canon 550D+Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 or Nikon D7000+kit lens? Of course money is the constraint.

How is the low light performance of 18-105 kit lens? Is it good enough?

Thanks:confused:
 

Low light performance depends on camera body also, and I think the high ISO results from the D7000 beats the 550D. So they're about the same, depends on what you want. Fast lenses like the f2.8 lens you mentioned (Tamron also makes a 17-50 f2.8) can give you better subject isolation if you want that, but if you need to have more depth of field when shooting during the night for some reason, then you need high ISO performance.
 

Thanks! u mean small f number+high iso gives high depth of field or large f number + high iso?

Another doubt I have is that if we use small f number at low light does it produce subject isolation as in good lit situation?

Sigma do have 17-50, it seems to be quite good, with HSM: http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?test=obiektywu&test_ob=256


Thanks :)
 

I will choose Canon 550D + Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 if there are only 2 option.
 

Thanks. :)This is what I wanted to convince myself!

Still,r u sure? what abt 39 af points, very good auto focusing system, 6fps and all, then magnesium alloy body! Its quite hard to resist.

But without a good lens all these are just a waste of money.
 

Thanks. :)This is what I wanted to convince myself!

Still,r u sure? what abt 39 af points, very good auto focusing system, 6fps and all, then magnesium alloy body! Its quite hard to resist.

But without a good lens all these are just a waste of money.

Are you in a rush to get the camera? Give it 1 or 2 months and the shipment for body only might come in. If you are in a rush then go for the 550D
 

ya, I am! Going for an overseas trip in early December. Must buy before that :(
 

subject isolation u need to use small F number as possible. the smaller the number the better the isolation be it well lit or dim lit condition.

if u been to this friday nikon kopi session and seen and feel the D7000, i kid u not that u wouldnt have problem with dim lit condition even with the kit lens.

the ISO 3200 is CLEAN, maybe a little cleaner than even the D700. if u dont know how good that is, other ppl who come across the ISO performance of D700 will tell u how good the D700 can perform in dim lit condition. I am a D700 user myself.

the spec of 550D is normal entry level, IMO nikon D7000 is a semi pro body but price at a entry level.

TS if u really dig subject isolation, its not totally impossible to achieve with the 18-105 kit lens, u just need to position ur subject closer to u when u shoot, if possible within 3m from u, u should be able to get some bokeh. of cos not as good as a F2.8lens.

if u really want good bokeh, 3rd party sigma or tamron 17-50mm F2.8 maybe cheap vs nikon 17-55mm F2.8. a pro point of buying nikon is that its a 9 curve blade aperture which will produce nicer bokeh even if u step down from F2.8. tamron is 7 blade aperture which produce a 7side polygon bokeh effect, sigma i not too sure but should be same as tamron.

moi 2 cents
 

Nikon d7k FTW. Lens you can upgrade anytime. D7k specs in fact is closely related to d300s.

BTW use a nikon 18-70 instead. Its cheaper with metal mount, IMO sharper and more contrasty, just less the range.
 

i would say the canon 550D and a tamron 17-50 f2.8 ... which is cheaper than the sigma if i am not mistaken.

the extra money might get you the cheap 50/1.8 prime for greater exploration .. esp for newbies (like myself lol)
 

I am a D90 User, have no problem with the kit lens and i will only go for Nikkor lens. at 17mm-50mm i dont think you will have problem with low light shots. Get a good flash like SB900 (Turn off the temp protection function) which will cover your range of 18-105m Kit.

I would suggest to go for the D7000, with the Hi ISO and NR adjustment you should be okay. The 1/2 Magnesium Alloy Body already is a good enough to convince some one to go for it.

Enjoy.
 

Thanks! u mean small f number+high iso gives high depth of field or large f number + high iso?

Another doubt I have is that if we use small f number at low light does it produce subject isolation as in good lit situation?

Sigma do have 17-50, it seems to be quite good, with HSM: http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?test=obiektywu&test_ob=256


Thanks :)
ISO does not affect depth of field. I'd recommend going for the better lens first, since new bodies come out every year or two, but lenses stay with you for a long time before they are due for replacement. Which means the 550D and the Sigma 17-50, or if you can wait a little while more and pay a bit more, wait till end November then get the D7000 when the price drops (it may or may not drop, but it's worth trying).
 

If you are open to options, the Pentax K5 is worth considering.
Pre-order from the local distributor can be for body only.
ISO6400 is highly usable. 12800 and above, looks to be usable if proper NR is done (see links).

Here is a review :
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=779971

High ISO shots and analysis.
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...-k-5-dng-raw-iso-case-study-6400-51200-a.html
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...-image-quality-analysis-tale-two-samples.html


For low light w/o tripod, a f2.8 or faster lens is always an advantage.
 

Dear all,

It seems the hope of getting a nikon D7000 is receding away due to the must buy kit lens:cry:

For an average photographer interested in landscape and low light conditions, which one would you recommend Canon 550D+Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 or Nikon D7000+kit lens? Of course money is the constraint.

How is the low light performance of 18-105 kit lens? Is it good enough?

Thanks:confused:

comparing between 550D and D7000 is unfair as these are aim at different segment of the market. The cost and performance differ quite a bit there.

550D is aim at the entry level dslr segment. D7000 is somewhere between the 60D and 7D.

For landscape, you do not need fast lens. The kit lens will be most competent. Most important accessory is a sturdy tripod.

What sort of low light condition photography are you saying? A lot of genre of photography may shoot in low lights.
 

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I liked landscapes in evenings and street at night without using flash. I want to capture the natural light at very low light.

We checked sigma 17-50 and Tamron 17-50 in a shop. Sigma seems to be slightly sharper (just checked with the camera screen only) and auto focus faster than Tamron.
 

Personally I hate kit lenses, or rather zoom lenses that has no constant aperture. It really slows things down for you.

Let say u wanna shoot a person in the street. You take a shot on wide angle. And then you zoom in for a tighter shot. With a kit lens, you will have to either use a slower shutter speed or bump up ISO. Doesn't make sense as it is still the same moving subject. You will want to freeze action with faster shutter, and keep the image clean with moderate ISO.

At the wide angle, the kit lens has f3.5. This is just half a stop slower that the Sigma you mentioned. But as you zoom it, it is almost 2 stops difference!

Most modern DSLRs have ISO noise performance that is way way better than film. So I would say, go for the best lens you can afford.

Values of bodies depreciate. Lenses can always be reused on a newer body.

In your case, performance wise, I would rate the lens as 65% importance and the body as 35% importance.

In terms of protecting your investment, look no further. Spend money on the lens instead.
 

I like 550d because, with adaptors you can use a range of manual lenses..


but wait! with d7k you get to use almost all nikon manual lenses without the use of adaptors. WIth metering and focus confirmation.