my 28-70 sigma UC has crapped out again. Years ago I had it repaired and now it seems that the AF drive gears inside it have come apart. Its useless now... MF doesnt even work properly, things are internally borked and rattling around. So now I'm gonna buy another lens. I'm thinking of picking up a seccond hand tamron 28-200 for about $140 from B&H... Thats the range I use most of the time... I'll buy a 300+mm lens for track shots come spring.

Tamron Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 LD Aspherical IF Super Autofocus Lens for Minolta Maxxum

Is this an okay lens for here and there mucking about? If not what lens would you suggest.

Thanks in advance<ul><li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&amp;A=details&amp;Q=&amp;sku=800432887&amp;is=U SE&amp;addedTroughType=search">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&amp;A=details&amp;Q=&amp;sku=80

Having the existing lenses was one of the reasons you went with the Minolta. Now one's dead, and you're already thinking about a longer range tele in the spring. So assuming the existing lenses are no longer a reason to go with Minolta, are you having an inkling to jump to a Nikon? Because now would be the time to do it! (still within the 14 day return I think?)

The image stabilization is nice and so is the larger display. My other lens is fine and I was going to buy more lenses anyways, just having something to start out with was a plus.

I gave that idea some thought and I think I'm going to stick with minolta for now.

B&amp;H has a used one (9/10) for $250 and the reviews I've read sound encouraging. Pretty sure the usual 1.5 multiplier for a film lens on a digi body takes effect, thus its more like a 36-157 which should be good for daily shooting with the 5D body or 7000i body. I see that minolta makes an updated Maxxum 7 now, nifty... might have to look at one of those.

<img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/210688.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?section_id=2&amp;article_id=337">http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?section_id=2&amp;article_id=337</a</li></ul>

from my old sigma lens... I got bored/angry and popped the back cover off of the lens. I could see the lil gear floating around... something else is wonky in there too.

I expect the new lens to be a LOT better than what it replaces. Next purchase will likely be a 300+mm lens.

maybe macro shots of burnt ants?