I'm definitely a layman, but I can speak for the quality of the gear and the photos. I bought this lens based on the reviews and just couldn't be happier with it. I like using it very much and after many comparisons with other comparable lenses I am glad that I chose this one. It's very well made, cheaper than others in its class, and the zoom option makes it an extreme fisheye or just a wide-angle lens. I love it. It is not easy. The only thing I could see as a disadvantage is that the lens is overly sensitive to light. I actually like this feature for the artistic things that can be done with the lighting, but being a beginner this lens allows me to make adjustments to the lighting that my others don't need. The lens cap is ugly but works well. Overall well built with great results.
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