Photoclubalpha

Hi All,

I am new to DSLR photography and have a Sony a200 with the 18-70mm kit lens.

I am looking to get a replacement lens for my kits lens and to give me a bit of extra reach, I was looking at the Tamron AF 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 XR DI II Lens (Link), would this be a good choice?

Just to add that I am limited in my budget

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

Take care, Keith

The 18-250mm is a much better lens if you can afford it. But, the 18-200mm is not bad either. It's just that the 18-250mm, a later design, is a sharper lens overall as well as having the extra reach.

David

Here is the answer to your query in poll form:

Which zoom lens for a new APS-C user?
http://www.photoclubalpha.com/forum/vie ... f=27&t=939

Would love to get the 18-250mm but unfortunately I don't have the money

I have about £180max to spend

Hi Keith, welcome to the forum. I am sure that you will find it a very useful resource as have I and many others .

On to your query. Perhaps an alternative approach is to go for a zoom lens that starts where your kits lens finishes e.g. something like 70 or 75 to 300. The basic versions of these lenses are much cheaper than the super zooms (like the 18-250). Sigma, Tamron as well as Sony themselves do lens in this range for the Sony a-mount. I think they are generally around the £150 price new. I picked up the Sigma 70-300 APO D 4-5.6 second hand on ebay 18 months ago for around £50 and have been very pleased with it. It also has a useful (limited) macro ability. Looking through forums you will see that it has had some mixed reviews - but then most lenses seem to have . You often see second hand Minolta lenses in this category on ebay which would be around £50. Dyxum.com is a great resource for investigating lenses.

KeithW wrote:Would love to get the 18-250mm but unfortunately I don't have the money

I have about £180max to spend

Why don't you keep the kit lens and just add a longer lens? Here are 2 that go to 300mm that get pretty good reviews:

Tamron 70-300mm:

http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-300mm-4 ... 538&sr=8-3

Sigma 70-300mm:

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm-Te ... 593&sr=1-4

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input.

Prehaps I should have mentioned that I already have the Tamron 70-300mm

What I am looking for is an everyday/out & about lens that gives the same range as my kit lens pluss a bit of extra reach without having to switch lenses, would hate to miss a shot whilst faffing about switching lenses

Well, if you own the Tamron 70-300mm for long reach, the 18-200mm is a perfectly good kit lens replacement at your budget limit.

David

KeithW wrote:What I am looking for is an everyday/out & about lens that gives the same range as my kit lens pluss a bit of extra reach without having to switch lenses, would hate to miss a shot whilst faffing about switching lenses

The Sony 18-250mm is the one to get then.