Piers Hemy wrote:
<snip> There may be a Tok*na equivalent,
The Tokina 'equivalent' is somewhat different. The Tamron SP, at
24-48/3.5-3.8 is slower, but goes a little longer in fl than the Tokina
AT-X 24-40/2.8
but it's the only zoom I know that goes so wide.
There are 2 relatively modern designs that go wider and are sold new
under several brand names:
The 19-35/3.5-4.5 is a fairly recent design which uses plastic
extensively. Although relatively large compared to any one of the Zuikos
in the same fl/speed range, it is quite light at 345g/12.17oz. Mine is a
Vivitar Series 1 and I know they are also sold under the Phoenix and
Cosina brands and very possibly under others. It focuses in the same
direction as Zuikos.
The 18-28/4-4.5 is a slightly older design of predominantly metal
construction weighing 477g/16.83oz. This is made by Samyang, but also
sold under the Phoenix label in the past, the Exacta label currently,
and again, possibly others. It focuses the opposite way from Zuikos.
In prior threads about these 2 lenses, opinions about the 18-28 vary
quite a lot, both as to optical quality and, to a lesser extent, about
build quality. There are a lot of list members who equate metal
construction with quality and reliablility and they generally dis the
19-35. A couple of listees have commented that their 19-35 feels like it
won't last because of the plastic construction, but that it works
perfectly so far and is good enough and cheap enough that they aren't
worried. I don't recall any actual negative mechanical experiences with
the 19-35 being posted.
Brian has posted magazine tests of these 2 on his site. Based on those
tests the 19-35 appears to be the optically better lens. I have the
19-35 and am quite happy with it, but have never used the 18-28.
You will like it, as I think Bill Barber will also say - and he will tell
you about the difficulty of finding the hood, but he speaks with little
authority on that matter - 'COS HE HAS GOT ONE. (And I am *still* looking,
Bill). Without the hood, you cannot fit filters to the lens.
A hood for the Tokina is also hard to find. It took me a while, but I
found the metal, screw-in version. There is also a plastic clip-on
version I haven't located yet. Either the hood or some care is
necessary. As part of my first test shots with it I took the same shot
with the sun just outside the frame both with and without my hand
blocking the sun (didn't have the hood yet). The one without has a
bright reddish wash across about half the frame. The other is fine.
I opted for the Tokina over the Tamron because I already had a slowish
19-35mm lens and wanted something faster to form a fast 2 lens kit with
the Tamron 35-105/2.8 and a fast/macro 3 lens kit with 50/1.4, Viv 2x
macro-tele converter and Tokina AT-X 60-120/2.8
Like Regan, I like zoom lenses for travel and casual shooting where
photography is not my primary focus (yes Garry, a punny). I get shots
with them that I just wouldn't with a bunch of primes to change. And I
find Oly's choice of zooms incomplete. My one lens slow kit used to be
the 35-70/3.5-4.5, but has been the 35-105/3.5-4.5 lately. Two lens slow
kit is generally the Viv 19-35/3.5-4.5 and Tokina AT-X 35-200/3.5-4.5 or
50-250/4-5.6
Moose
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