Original Versus Third-Party Lenses

Canon and Nikon SLR Lenses versus Tamron, Tokina and Sigma

Oct 30, 2008 Yuen Kit Mun

Photographers on a budget will be tempted by cheaper lenses from independent lens manufacturers. Are they as good as lenses from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and Pentax?

Though lacking the cachet of "original" lenses, third-party lenses can get high marks from reviewers. The Digital Photography Review website rates the Sigma 50mm f1.4 as better than the Canon 50mm f1.4 for image quality and build quality (8.5/10 versus 8/10).

This article describes the factors to look out for when considering a third-party lens.

Specialized Lenses

Back in the pre-digital days, Tamron was the first, and for a while the only, manufacturer offering 28-200mm super zooms with a high zoom ratio. For anyone wanting a super zoom, Tamron was the only game in town.

It is still possible for third party manufacturers to stake out pioneering positions in some niches. 50mm F1.4 with aspherical element for superior image quality? Sigma. The Sigma actually costs more than the other 50mm f1.4 lenses.

Another example: neither Nikon nor Canon offer 20mm lenses brighter than f2.8. 20mm f1.8? Also Sigma.

Ergonomic consistency

Each manufacturer will have their own conventions

direction to turn the lens for zooming in and out
direction to turn lens for manual focusing
method of switching auto focus off and on

Adding a third party lens into the mix can be confusing, and is a good reason to avoid them. While it may seem like a small issue, it can lead to frustration and missed shots.

Filter size

Third party lenses can have lens filter sizes that are incompatible with those from the original manufacturer. Photographers who use special effects and correction filters may have to buy additional filters because of this.

One solution is to standardize on large filters (say, 77mm) and mount them on the different lenses using step up conversion filter rings.

Lens sample variation

Different copies of the same lens model can produce images of different quality. This is due to small variations from lens to lens.

Original manufacturers have a better reputation for low sample variation. Checking Internet bulletin boards will reveal how a particular lens model fares in this regard.

Professional quality Lenses

Some third party lens manufacturers started out by offering cheap alternatives to the "real thing" (others positioned themselves as quality producers targeting professionals, from the start).

These third party manufacturers have since created a professional quality (optical and mechanical quality) line of lenses.

These can be as good, and as expensive, as lenses from original manufacturers. They will be specially named and marked, similar to the way Canon differentiates its L Series professional lenses.

Lens resale value

The resale value of third party lenses is lower. Though initially more expensive, original manufacturer lenses can actually cost less when this is taken into account.

Original Manufacturer compared with Third Party Lenses

Third-party lenses can be better, or worse, than original manufacturer lenses. For cautious photographers, original manufacturer lenses are the safe choice.

Savvy photographers looking for a bargain or for specialized lenses, can find good lenses from independent manufacturers. A little research can turn up some gems, and help avoid duds.

Resources

Camera Lens Hoods. Are they necessary and what difference do they make?
SLR Professional versus Kit Lens. Premium lenses compared to consumer zooms.
Nikon and Canon DSLR Primes. Best Large-Aperture Lenses for Digital SLR Cameras.

The copyright of the article Original Versus Third-Party Lenses in Photography is owned by Yuen Kit Mun. Permission to republish Original Versus Third-Party Lenses in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

A third party prime lens

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