SLR Today  - http://www.slrtoday.com
Low-light Lenses for Halloween
http://www.slrtoday.com/articles/96/1/Low-light-Lenses-for-Halloween/Page1.html
By SLR Today
Published on 10/31/2006
 
A jack-o'-lantern illuminated from within by a candle.
Although some cameras naturally work better in low-light conditions than others, if you have a digital SLR, you can improve your low-light photography dramatically by simply using the right lens. On Halloween night, for instance, you'll probably want to use a wide-angle lens with a aperture of f3.0 or less.

Sigma and Tamron have produced some of the most effective wide-angle lenses for low-light photography. The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm is one such lens, with a maximum aperture of f2.8.

Tamron and Sigma Low-light Lenses for Halloween
A jack-o'-lantern illuminated from within by a candle.Although some cameras naturally work better in low-light conditions than others, if you have a digital SLR, you can improve your low-light photography dramatically by simply using the right lens. On Halloween night, for instance, you'll probably want to use a wide-angle lens with a aperture of f3.0 or less.

Sigma and Tamron have produced some of the most effective wide-angle lenses for low-light photography. The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm is one such lens, with a maximum aperture of f2.8. At 5.3 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches and 1.2 pounds, the lens is relatively compact and easy to carry around. The fast f/2.8 aperture makes the lens nearly ideal for low-light situations. For a retail price of $450, the Tamron 17-50mm wide-angle lens produces some of the sharpest photos for the money.




Tamron SP AF 17-50mm Lens Features

  • Canon-compatible lens designed specifically for digital SLRs
  • 17-50mm focal range equivalent to 26-78mm in 35mm format
  • Maximum aperture of f2.8
  • Filter diameter of 67mm
  • Minimum focus distance of 0.27 meters over entire zoom range

    An equivalent lens by Sigma is the 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC lens. Like the Tamron, this lens is compact enough for easy transport at 2.9 inches long at weighing just under a pound. In many ways, this lens is nearly identical to the one produced by Tamron, but it sells for less; only $375 retail.



    Sigma EX DC 18-50mm Lens Features

  • EX lens series denotes excellence of engineering and new technology.
  • Compact and lightweight zoom despite large F2.8 aperture.
  • Excellent correction for various types of aberration provided by one SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element and two aspherical lenses.
  • Super Multi Layer (SML) coating reduces flare and ghosting
  • Focal Length - 18-50mm