Looking for my next lens

[MurByrne]

Hey Cafe.

Just looking for your guys opinions. Right now, I've got 3 lenses.
- 70-200mm VR I
- 50mm f/ 1.4 G
- 35mm 1.8

Also, shooting on a D300.

So i'm looking for something wider now (35 is my widest, and on a DX camera, it's really not wide at all).

I just bought the 70-200, so needless to say, I'm not looking to spend a whole lot right now. Eventually i want to pick up one of nikon's f/ 2.8 zooms like the 17-55 or 24-70, but my budget doesn't allow it now. Right now I'm thinking of picking up something else to tide me over.

Tamron's 17-50 f/ 2.8 ?
Or maybe one of Nikon's wider primes ? I'd even be willing to consider some older MF lenses

What do you guys think? I've heard good things about the 17-50. Anything else you'd suggest instead?

 

[dx379]

The problem you are facing now is that if you go WA it will be a DX lens... Which is all well and good until you get the FX bug and then it won't be much use to you.

Personally, I'd hold off and get the money together for either a 24 or 28-70 f/2.8.

 

[Joseph]

The Nikon 17-55 is ultimately what you want, not the Tamron. By settling with the Tamron, you'll just end up spending more in the long run and you'd also have to deal with selling the lens and losing its value. My honest suggestion is to wait until you have enough money saved up for the Nikon 17-55. You'll save money just by buying the right stuff to begin with.

Personally? I would rather pick up a Nikon 16-85 over a Tamron 17-50 if you really need a wide lens and you're on a budget.

 

[Clayton G]

Used tamron 17-50 really isn't that expensive and is a sharp great lens, build quality is what suffers.

I'd go for a nikon 20mm 2.8 or sigma equivalents. Mine has a dent in the barrel so it won't take filters... but I'd sell it cheap.

 

[MurByrne]

I guess i really don't want to buy any more DX glass, will probably get a D700 this summer at some point. So maybe just bite the bullet and get a 24-70

I do like the idea of a fast, wide prime on FX though :tongue:

 

[Max Archer]

16-35 will do you more good than the 24-70, I think. You're really missing wide from the lineup, and the 16-35 will be decently wide on DX (24 equiv.), and spectacular on FX.

The 24-70's a great lens, but you can shoot just about anything with the wide zoom/tele zoom combo. As much as I like shooting with my 24-70, it's probably the lens I'd be hurt least by letting go of, especially once I'm on FX.

 

[wadacolors]

Since you have the 70-200, a 50 prime I'd also vote for the 16-35. If you decide to stay with DX the 17-55.

 

[MurByrne]

16-35 sounds wonderful. Though when i'm spending that much, i'd probably just want to splurge and get the 14-24 :biggrin:

 

[Goofy]

Why not pick up a nice used 18-70 until the budget catches up, they can be had for $150 or so and you'll get that back in resale when you upgrade to a "pro" lens.

 

[James24]

16-35 sounds wonderful. Though when i'm spending that much, i'd probably just want to splurge and get the 14-24 :biggrin:

When you get a D700 (or other FX body) these focal lengths will take on a new meaning (or old meaning if you are a one time film user). 16mm or 14mm on FX is extremely wide, and you might find that 24mm (on FX) is wide enough most of the time.

If you can do it, I suggest you make the change to a D700 as soon as you can. Otherwise Goofy's suggestion of the 18-70 as a stop gap seems a good one.

 

[MurByrne]

I guess this post is pretty much worthless....I should just go fullframe and make my decisions based on that :biggrin:

 

[Tony Ad]

I guess this post is pretty much worthless....I should just go fullframe and make my decisions based on that :biggrin:

It's not worthless, it's always good to seek other's opinion. Your current lens collection is great and you can shoot a variety of things with what you have. Just make the most of what you have while saving for an FX body.
I love my 35 1.8 and it's mounted on my D90 100% of the time; and my 50 1.4 is always on my D3.:smile:

 

[GiantTristan]

I guess i really don't want to buy any more DX glass, will probably get a D700 this summer at some point. So maybe just bite the bullet and get a 24-70

I do like the idea of a fast, wide prime on FX though :tongue:

The set 14-24/2.8, 50/1.4 and 70-200/2.8 is excellent and adequate for both DX and FX. With these three lenses you really don't need the 24-70/2.8.

 

[Joseph]

I guess i really don't want to buy any more DX glass, will probably get a D700 this summer at some point.

Ah, now we're talking!

16-35 sounds wonderful. Though when i'm spending that much, i'd probably just want to splurge and get the 14-24 :biggrin:

I'd love to get the 14-24 myself, but you have to ask yourself how important it is to be able to mount a filter for your style of photography. For me this is a deal breaker because the 14-24 cannot take a filter. So I ultimately decided to settle with the 16-35 and I'm very happy with it. I shoot primarily landscapes and travel. If you shoot events or weddings and don't use filters, the 14-24 or even the 17-35 would make more sense.

 

[GH41]

Even though I just got a D7k body I have been selling off Dx and buying FF lenses. I sold my 12-24 two weeks ago and my new 16-35 arrived yesterday. I wish I would have waited for a FF body before making the switch. The difference between 12 and 16 is HUGE! If I were the OP I would buy a 12-24 for $500 +/- and be happy untill he moves up. 500 is pretty good price point to buy or sell at. GH

 

[kixsand]

Sell all your DX lenses and buy the D700 now.

I just did exactly that and I couldn't be more pleased. With the expenditure I haven't been able to go out and buy any top tier FX glass but I've been having a blast finding deals on MF glass and the 35mm F2 I just bought...what a great little lens!

The entire experience has been very good for my growth and education as a photographer.

If you can do it, I fully recommend taking the FX plunge.

 

[gerhard2009]

Hi Murphy, i also shoot with a D300 and I was looking for an ultra wide. I considered the 12-24 F4 nikon zoom which is a great lens but not quite wide enough. So after much deliberation I settled on the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 lens. What a great choice. First it's 2.8 end to end, low distortion. nice bokeh wide open up close. From 14.5 mm to 16 mm it covers full frame sensor on the D700 which is the next camera I will buy.On full frame it actually becomes wider than on cropped sensor cameeras.It takes filters-77mm and Oh, did I say it's very sharp. Yes it's sharp end to end. Ken Rockwell praises it for all of the above reasons. You ca also buy it for 599 US. It's a hot deal which you should check out or rent as many rental companies rent it. For a third party lens it's awesome. Regards, Gerry

 

[gerhard2009]

Hi Murphy, i also shoot with a D300 and I was looking for an ultra wide. I considered the 12-24 F4 nikon zoom which is a great lens but not quite wide enough. So after much deliberation I settled on the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 lens. What a great choice. First it's 2.8 end to end, low distortion. nice bokeh wide open up close. From 14.5 mm to 16 mm it covers full frame sensor on the D700 which is the next camera I will buy.On full frame it actually becomes wider than on cropped sensor cameeras.It takes filters-77mm and Oh, did I say it's very sharp. Yes it's sharp end to end. Ken Rockwell praises it for all of the above reasons. You ca also buy it for 599 US. It's a hot deal which you should check out or rent as many rental companies rent it. For a third party lens it's awesome. Regards, Gerry

 

[HenryVIII]

Sell all your DX lenses and buy the D700 now.

I just did exactly that and I couldn't be more pleased. With the expenditure I haven't been able to go out and buy any top tier FX glass but I've been having a blast finding deals on MF glass and the 35mm F2 I just bought...what a great little lens!

The entire experience has been very good for my growth and education as a photographer.

If you can do it, I fully recommend taking the FX plunge.

Darren, this is what has been weighing in for me. I can do the FX plunge and I have some glass to put it to use.

 

[MurByrne]

Sell all your DX lenses and buy the D700 now.

If you can do it, I fully recommend taking the FX plunge.

I'd love to but the only DX lens i have is the 35...not worth too much.

After working this summer I plan on selling the D300 and 35mm and getting the D700. And hopefully a wide lens :biggrin: