Am keen on a wide-tele lense for travelling purposes. Am interested in the Sony 18-250 but cost abt 730.00. Was recommended the Sigma 18-200 which cost abt 400.00 The difference in price is great.

Can someone tell me is there any other difference --- in terms of picture quality, focusing , speed etc...

From what I've read, the 18-250mm is superior to the Sigma in terms of focusing speed and picture quality(bokeh-wise; because of its rounded aperture blades). :)

Well, why not :

Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 LD Asph. VC macro
vs
Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS
vs
Sony 18-250mm f3.5-f6.3

I always recommending original lens, not 3rd party lens. So better take Sony 18-250mm f3.5-f6.3 laa ;)

But if I was you, I would take :
Zeiss ZA Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 DT
Best travelling lens, as long as you have big budget :lol:

Ya..agreed with Jeff, ppl always prefer with the original lens.
3rd party lens will be more economical but the quality of course will be "discounted'' :P (compromised).

You can get the Sal18250mm at Cathay Photo at a better price.

What is a good price?? Difference between sony and sigma is great. Being an amateur will I be able to tell the difference?

You might not know the difference.

But, although at this moment you can't see the difference in picture quality, you still can enjoy additional 50mm focal length ;)

Actually, it's very hard to notice the minute differences optically - and the subtle differences usually start when you develop large prints, but when you squeeze something for websize, like e.g. from around 12mpx to something that's like 0.54mpx (a 900 x 600 sized photo for web-viewing), flaws or improvements that are once detectable in minute detail while zoomed in would more or less be resized down to a point where it becomes un-noticeable.


However, there are somethings that are what I consider, more practical and detectable.



From what I know, is that the Sony lens, if you compare it to the same counter part from Tamron, from which it's derived from, it's has much faster focusing gearings - which makes for a faster real world focusing performance - that can be immediately noticeable and useful for you as the user - having responsive and fast focusing lens can be rather crucial to get shots of opportunity. :)



I personally have no experience with the Sigma Superzoom. But from my experiences with the Sony, you'd have a good shooting experience with it. If you have no budget constraints, it's good to go with the Sony. But it's also good to go with the Sigma. It's also, always, good that you test both lenses, and see if you are able to live with either of them. :)

Yes Bro, it is no harm to buy 3rd party lens.

For viewing in screen or posting in website, you won't see any significant difference. For someone who is a pixel peeper or for printing purpose, better buying original lens.

If you bought Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 LD Asph. VC macro, you would get special Macro feature and tele-zoom until 270 mm ;)

The most important, try and test it by yourself. Then decide which one can make you happy. Don't listen to the others, especially the shopkeeper :lol:

Oh dear !! now i have another choice ... Tamron... hoe is it compared with Sony?? You get macro to zoom faetures? In terms of focusing, I agree I like a fast focus. How is the Tamron in terms of that? Price?

Well, here is the approximate price :
Tamron AF 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD : $700
Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 LD Asph. VC macro = $930
Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC = $580
The actual price would be +/- 10%

Sorry, Tamron is actually more expensive than Sigma.

Please read that the word "Macro" for Tamron means it can focus closer than other lenses, so you can get bigger magnification. But the quality can't defeat the real macro prime lens laa ;)

So my advice is, go for original Sony lens. That's the best for you ;)

Thanks for all the help, advice etc etc.

I have finally bought my first lens ... the Sony 18 -250, and enjoying it thoroughly. Mighty surprised that even zooming at 200mm handheld gives rather ok shots.

So, anyone interested in my 55-200 kit lens??

Well done mate !
How much do you pay for that ?

Enjoy your new lens ! ;)