After spotting a Sony 11-18 lens in Argos's clearance, I've been considering getting one. They were out of stock but more is due next week. Reduced price is £240. However this is actually quite an old lens underneath, and can be had in Minolta and Tamron guises...

Then I look on ebay for a Sigma 10-20 with the Sony/Minolta fitment and find several all around the £200 mark... Plus 45 quid shipping from Hong Kong.

Suggestions? Gonna reserve one at Argos anyway so I'm not faced with no stock again. Online reviews all seem to praise both lenses...

i love my sigma 10-20, i would recomend it. It does have slight barrel distortion at the very wide end, but i like the effect it creates.

I need to get a wide lens too, the effects are brilliant.,

Me three, thats next on my 'to buy' list, along with a decent tripod

that's something i need too, my last tripod got smashed when i dropped it 30ft off a rollercoaster

i need a tripod too, the one i have doesnt allow me to shoot in portrait.,.

vtec said:

i need a tripod too, the one i have doesnt allow me to shoot in portrait.,.

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same here, though I dont think there are any mid-priced ones that do

i just got a velbon cx mini. it's better than my cheap £10 ebay jobby i had before!

I have one of the bigger velbon's at the moment. Its great when shooting landscape, but it wont quite reach portrait.

you mean it won't go vertical? (the head) or it won't reach high enough for portrait?

the sigma 10-20 is a reputed lense that has actually VERY VERY VERY low distorotion at 10mm, its the 13-18mm range where its distorted. although from what i've seen, (say vs the nikor eqiuv) at 10mm, its the best out there.

2nd maybe to the canon 10-22 that I smashed :bang:

never heard of that sony lense? take it its a rebranded monolta rather than a bespoke sony item?

i got one of those HAMA tripods for £15 of amazon. lets me shoot portrait, plenty of leveling help and height (upto 160cm i think) tis stable too.

faster4_tec said:

never heard of that sony lense? take it its a rebranded monolta rather than a bespoke sony item?

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Yup, not seen it with Minolta badging but seen some Tamrons on the 'bay, and it seems the Sony is more or less the same, maybe with digital-friendly coatings etc.

Argos never did get any more stock in (I suppose it was called a clearance sale for a reason) but might be getting a Sigma for my 21st if I don't find anything with wheels and an engine to abuse for the day instead.

Well there was a Sigma ended on eBay recently for £225 which is pretty good but new ones can be delivered from HonkenKongen for a little bit more dollar. So for the moment I'm watching every Minolta 50mm f1.7 prime lens on the 'Bay as I simply must have one. It's probably going to come from the US, too, UK prices are almost double.

Thinking I'll get the best of the Minoltas while they're still reasonably cheap - Sony have begun to go nuts and now have at least 3 DSLRs on the market, which will surely only increase demand.