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Hi,
I'm curious which Nikon fit lenses you'd opt for/recommend if money were no object; what would grace your kit bag for the following options (add more if you like) and why?
I've put my choice in brackets...
General Purpose fast telephoto (Nikon 17-55mm 2.8)
Telephoto (Nikon 70-200 2.8)
Wide angle (Sigma 10-20)
Portrait/Macro (Tamron 90mm 2.8)
Standard (Nikon 50mm 1.8)
Cheers
Rick
Telephoto (Nikon 200-400 f4 plus tele converter)
( Nikon 70-200 f2.8)
Wide angle (Nikon 14-24)
Macro (Sigma 180mm)
I could manage with just these 4 
Geoff.
I mostly shoot general interest, whatever catches my eye at the moment; these have proven themselves for me.
port./macro nikon 105 2.8
standard 35mm 1.8
gen. purpose 16-85 vr
telephoto 70-300 vr
I have a 70-200 2.8, it is a specialized lens for fast action, and not one you would want to carry all day. My 70-300 vr is far more useful.
Thanks guys, really useful info here; keep it coming please.
For what its worth, I'm currently researching swapping my 18-70 & possibly 70-300VR for faster lenses; just so you know where I'm coming from
As with all those questions, it is too easy to confuse "need" with "want".
I use the following lenses with my Nikon D300 but I certainly do not need them all and bought each for a specific purpose (at the time).
For general use I really love the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 mid-range zoom (but it is a DX lens and will be of limited use if I upgrade to an FX camera.)
For low light work, I use a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 prime (30mm on a DX being roughly equivalent to the 50mm standard on a 35mm camera)
I had a couple of longer focus zooms but traded up, in stages, to a Nikkor 70-300mm VR which is an excellent lens of this type.
For macro work I got a Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 which, fortunately, like the 70-300 lens, will still be usable if I am seduced down the FX route.
For wide-angle landscape I use the Sigma 10-20mm lens. Another one that will get sold on Ebay if I ever go FX. But excellent for the time being.
For wildlife photography, I could not afford £5000+ for a Nikkor AF telephoto, so I bought an old manual focus Nikkor 500mm f/4 lens on Ebay which is superb in every respect.
The, just to be awkward, I decided that I did not want to be overburdened with weight on a forthcoming trip to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, to I purchased, just a couple of weeks ago, a Sigma 18-200mm zoom. I expected to be disappointed with the quality, compared to my Nikkors, but I have to say that, in prints up to A3+, there is no discernible reduction in quality.
That is not very helpful, other than as a catalogue of what I use. If I was starting from scratch and looking to future-proof my equipment against the possibility of going FX within the next few years, I might be tempted to limit myself to three FX Nikkor lenses (the 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200 all at f/2.8 FX specs. But I would want to keep my 105mm macro and the old 500mm f/4.
Eric
Wide angle Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8.
Mid range Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 ( Fab lens rarely off my D700 )
Tele range Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 ( The latest 2009 model )
Final choice is based on the fact that I would only have occasional use for it, Sigma 120-400mm OS, Great reviews and cheap enough to have on hand if required.
Apart from the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 that I already own, Chances are I would not bother with the 14-24mm, Because quite honestly I find 24mm on a FF camera, More than wide enough for landscapes, Anything wider is pure overkill.
That said I find 24mm more than wide enough for landscapes on my DX cameras too....!!!
The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 is a serious consideration though, Perhaps coupled with a 1x4 Nikon telecon, This would cancel the need for anything longer, Unless your a wildlife type.
So bottom line lens choice is really down to what you intend doing with them, Then dial in any desires to go down the FX ( Full Frame ) route at some future point...! If so you may want to avoid buying DX lens now, Or sell them later ( They do work on FX bodies, But its hardly worth having FX if you run it on DX )
Whatever, A good classy lens is almost an investment.
OK, So for the foreseeable future I'll be staying at DX as I've only just bought my D300s.
I love my 70-300VR to be honest, but everyone raves about the 70-200VR 2.8, which I'm thinking is fast enough to work in conjunction with a teleconverter to increase my FL so that may be an option later on...
It's more my 18-70 that I'd like to upgrade, so.....
16-18VR would be a reasonable option and the VR would give me a stop or two increase right?
17-55 2.8 is a cracking lens by all accounts but pretty expensive
Is my reasoning here valid or am I talking tosh?
Thanks again and please do keep them coming; muchos gracias amigo's...
@Rick: Same camera ( 2 weeks), same 18-70 which does get improved by the 16-85 vr, and then sell the 18-70, should achieve approx. 1/2 its' new cost making the 16-85 a bargain.
Have both 70-300vr & 70-200 2.8, make sure you really have a use for the 70-200 before you get serious about it. On a D300s you are packing serious poundage
Paperboy, same sort of thinking on this one mate, thanks for taking the time to respond.
Need to do some research on the 16-85 vs 17-55 for specs, reviews and cost/suppliers now.
Keep your thoughts coming though
Cheers
Rick
If you're sticking with DX and think the Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 is too expensive, then the Sigma 18 - 50mm f/2.8 is a good choice. I have one and it's good value for money, giving a good quality image for the money you pay. I mainly use this lens nowadays on a D70s Body as a lightweight, general purpose carry around.
I bought the D3 last year so am upgrading bit by bit to FX. About 2 years ago I also made the decision to go only with top grade, fast Nikkors and will wait until I've saved the money to buy one of these rather than go with the alternate makes. I think the improved picture quality is worth the money. I have the following Nikkor lenses which all give outstanding picture quality and which I am truly delighted with:
50mm, f/1.4
24 - 70mm, f/2.8
200mm, f/2
I also have the 1.4x, 1.7x and 2.0x convertors - there is some loss in picture quality with these.
I currently have the Sigma 70 - 200mm, f2/8 but as soon as I can afford to I will upgrade to the new Nikkor. At the rate things are going it might be 2 years before I can do this.
I do a lot of sports photography. i also like to take portraits. I take very few landscapes.
John
My little list
Sigma 10-20
Nikkor 18-70 f3.5 (though I love my wife's 18-55 v2 as well)
Nikkor 24-85 f3.5 An ideal portrait lens and a good coverall
Nikkor 50mm f1.8
Sigma 105 f2.8 - fantastic
Nikkor 70-300 VR
What I would like to add is below:
Sigma 24mm f1.8
Sigma 30mm f1.4
Sigma 70mm f2.8
and a good. affordable long telephoto - if such a thing existed
My list is identical to witchcraft except for the Nikkor 24-85.
I've also recently upgraded to a D300s and am now tempted by the 17-55 f2.8 but as you say, it's expensive. I'll be interested to see your comparision between that and the 16-85 lens - when I brought the D300s I was given some "Nikon Plus" vouchers that includes a discount off of the 16-85 lens.
Also considering the Nikon 35mm f1.8 AF-S lens - anyone used/got this one?
Paperboy; with the 16-85 being VR, do you know exactly how many stops that is supposed to add; I'm sure I read 2 somewhere.
Oh and any review links would be fantastic also
Don't discount your 18-70mm lens it's better than many of the replacements you're considering.
I have the 16-85mm VR and I don't think it performs as well as the 18-70mm did.
Quote: Don't discount your 18-70mm lens it's better than many of the replacements you're considering.
I have the 16-85mm VR and I don't think it performs as well as the 18-70mm did.
How can the 18-70 possibly be better than the 17-55 2.8 or the 16-85VR; can you elaborate on your statement please?
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