subject: DSLR Lens For Beginners - Sigma 18-250 [print this page] How would you like to attach the very best lens to your new DSLR, one that will handle almost every situation you will face as a photographer? Well you can. Read on to find out about the Sigma 18-250mm DSLR Lens. When most photographers purchase that first digital SLR camera, they just take it for granted that the lens that comes with the camera is the best one they can get. It ain't necessarily so. What is commonly know as a kit lens, the one that is marketed with the camera, is an adequate lens, there is no doubt. However, you would do yourself a disservice if you did not do a bit of research and thinking about what your needs are before you take the plunge and invest in a lens that may not necessarily be the right one to meet your needs. Take into consideration what your needs are. First of all, you want to be able to take a wide range of shots, which means a diverse range of focal lengths. You may also like to keep a single lens on your camera when you are moving about or traveling. Depending upon your budget, you may also be looking for the absolute best possible lens for the money without having to auction off your first born child. The Sigma 18-250mm lens fills the bill for all of these criteria. It has a diverse focal range so that you can take wide angles shots such as landscapes or cityscapes on the one end. And it has a zoom range up to 250mm to get those long range shots, such as nature shots in the wild or at the local zoo. The image quality has been rated as very good by those who test camera equipment. The build quality is also rated very good. It is fast to focus because of the hyper-sonic motor. There is high quality glass in order to avoid distortion of the light entering the camera through the lens. On the negative side, the Sigma 18-250mm lens is not as fast as some of its more expensive competitors. It has an aperture of f/3.5-f/6.0. What that means is that a lens with a more wide open aperture, say f/2.8, would have a much faster shutter speed, making it a better lens for low light shots. Of course, if you want a lens with f/2.8, you will have to pay much more for it. What the Sigma 18-250mm lens gives up in aperture it makes up in price. See what other lens you might consider as a general walk around lens at http://www.digital-photographic-resources.com. You will be surprised at how well it performs.
