| Very small and lightweight,
these lenses balance a compact, light-weight digital SLR well. The
18-50mm lens is 2.3x2.6 inches and weighs only 8.6 ounces; the 55-200mm
is 2.7x3.3 inches and weighs just 10.9 ounces. I used them with
a Canon EOS Digital Rebel and found they made a compact, easy-to-carry
package so I had a lot of focal length always with me.
One thing you do give up with such small lenses is maximum ƒ-stop.
They’re variable ƒ-stop lenses, meaning the maximum ƒ-stop
changes with the zoom. At the maximum zoom settings, the maximum
ƒ-stop is ƒ/5.6 for either lens. However, since most digital
SLRs offer superb results at higher ISO settings, this isn’t
necessarily a problem.
These are simple, basic lenses designed to offer a great deal of
value for the price. You can buy both of them as a package for less
than $250 (street price). Individually, the 18-50mm sells for a
very affordable $110 (street price) while the 55-200mm sells for
less than $150 (street price). Special coatings make these lenses
more digital-friendly, and you’ll find an aspherical lens
in the 18-50mm enhances performance.
The Sigma lens combo is ideal for new or student photographers on
a tight budget who still need a good focal length range with decent
lenses. In addition, the Sigma 18-50mm and 55-200mm lenses are perfect
for the traveler who wants to move about lightly and simply.
SPECIFICATIONS
Resolution: 6.1 megapixels
Lens: Nikkor DX, G-AF, D-AF
Viewfinder: Optical
Media Type: CompactFlash
Shooting Modes: Digital Vari-Program
(Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up, Sports, Night Landscape, Night
Portrait), programmed auto, shutter-priority, aperture-priority,
manual
Exposure Compensation: ±5
EV in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments
Metering System: 3-D color matrix,
center-weighted, spot
Focus Modes: Single Area AF,
Dynamic Area AF, Closest Subject Priority Dynamic Area AF
Maximum FPS: 3 fps in Continuous
mode
ISO Equivalency: 200 to 1600
Power Source: Nikon Li-ion rechargeable
EN-EL3, or three CR2 batteries
Size: 5.5x4.4x3.1-inches
Weight: 21 ounces (body only)
Estimated Street Price: $999
Contact: Sigma, (800) 896-6858, www.sigma-photo.com. |