New Lens Time!!!!

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Paige

New member
​Yes, I know, I know another what lens should I get post? The problem is that being a NikonNewbie I would like to get input from people who have the lenses. So here's the breakdown:

Camera: Nikon D7000
Lenses: 18-105mm 3.5/5.6 - 50mm 1:1.8


I have about $1500 and want to buy a new lens. I do a lot of landscape/street photography/portraits. The two lenses I am looking at is the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 or the Nikkor 18-300 (which I would trade in my 18-105.)


I want something that will give me sharp images, fast focus, and give me the most for the money. So any advice on these two or any other lenses you guys would suggest, plead let me know!!!!
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Paige said:
​Camera: Nikon D7000
Lenses: 18-105mm 3.5/5.6 - 50mm 1:1.8


I have about $1500 and want to buy a new lens. I do a lot of landscape/street photography/portraits. The two lenses I am looking at is the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 or the Nikkor 18-300 (which I would trade in my 18-105.)


I want something that will give me sharp images, fast focus, and give me the most for the money. So any advice on these two or any other lenses you guys would suggest, plead let me know!!!!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum.

This is the lens that I would get if I were in your position. Enjoy!

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens 2202
 
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wud

wud

Senior Member
For landscape, I would get something wide.

For portraits, maybe a 50mm? Depends on how you would like to do the portraits. 70-200mm could also work. I just think you'll get tired of carrying around the 70-200mm for everything? Pretty heavy, pretty big - but great lens, for sure. I only use it for 1/3 of a shoot, I bring other lenses too.
 
S

stmv

Senior Member
Paige,, I would get a 10-20 sigma,, to get wide enough,, and then the 18-300,, and you cover the full range,, and since your camera meters and autofocus older Nikkor lens,, consider some older used lens too,, some nice primes,, for fun, and learning.
 
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kamaccord

Senior Member
Matt Granger has performed a review of the Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 VC. His reviews are listed in the links below. I was serious looking into the the lens but recently settled on the Nikon 80-200mm F2.8 AF-D which I picked up for $630 with a one year warranty from Nikon due to budget constraints. My lens was purchased for night sports photography and will be using for my first game this coming Friday.

Ken Rockwell and Thom Hogan performed detailed reviews of the Nikon 18-300mm which he states is a great lens. I have also included both reviews in links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmzbkcgWrIs

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1aGft6NL3U

Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC hands on - YouTube

Nikon 18-300mm VR Review

[/URL]http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor18-300lensreview.htm
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Based on your post I'm not seeing a need for a big zoom and speaking only for myself, of all my lenses, my "big zoom" is the one that sees the least amount of use. I've found happiness in wider, shorter, faster primes and medium to light tele's, personally, with their fast apertures and lighter weight I feel almost ninja like. If you want to go wide, I suggest you get your freak on with something *really* wide like the Tokina 11-16mm with it's very nimble f/2.8 aperture.

If I shot as you do, and there's some significant overlap, I'd dump the 50mm f/1.8 and replace it with a 35mm f/1.8 and an 85mm f/1.8 instead. At that point your arsenal consists of two superbly fast, versatile primes plus your 18-105mm as a your go-to, Jack of all trades, daily carry lens. Select a wide, or super-wide angle lens like one of the Tokinas, or whatever you think is best, and BAM! Your shooting style is covered with a minimum of bulk, weight and fuss.
 
K

kamaccord

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
Based on your post I'm not seeing a need for a big zoom and speaking only for myself, of all my lenses, my "big zoom" is the one that sees the least amount of use. I've found happiness in wider, shorter, faster primes and medium to light tele's, personally, with their fast apertures and lighter weight I feel almost ninja like. If you want to go wide, I suggest you get your freak on with something *really* wide like the Tokina 11-16mm with it's very nimble f/2.8 aperture.

If I shot as you do, and there's some significant overlap, I'd dump the 50mm f/1.8 and replace it with a 35mm f/1.8 and an 85mm f/1.8 instead. At that point your arsenal consists of two superbly fast, versatile primes plus your 18-105mm as a your go-to, Jack of all trades, daily carry lens. Select a wide, or super-wide angle lens like one of the Tokinas, or whatever you think is best, and BAM! Your shooting style is covered with a minimum of bulk, weight and fuss.
Click to expand...


Excellent points.
 
P

Paige

New member
Thanks everyone for the great input! This will give me some more options to research. Thinking about the 1st to purchase!!! Excited!!!
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
wud said:
For landscape, I would get something wide.
Click to expand...

Especially for landscapes, something wide works extremely well. Since you already have the 18-105mm, I too would suggest you look at telephoto lenses. Down the road perhaps you can upgrade your 18-105mm to something else, but you don't have anything in the longer telephoto range right now. The one Glenn suggested would also be my recommendation. :)
 
J

joenmina1

Senior Member
IMHO the Nikkor 24-70 2.8 is the best standard zoom on the planet. The color rendition and detail clarity is simply amazing. I used the kit 18-105 on a trip through Europe and was pretty pleased with the results. Then I broke down and bought the 24-70 2.8 and it felt like my pictures came alive! Rent or borrow one to see what I mean! Good luck with your choice!
 
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kratos

Senior Member
Based on your use (landscape/portrait/street), I would suggest a 24-70 2.8; along with that you can purchase a normal telephoto which has variable speed. I am saying this because 24-70 is the range which you will be using most. Unfortunately I don't know any lens which has such good zoom range and is wider at the same time.
​For DX cameras there are 17-50 range available but the reviews are not that good. Also I prefer buying lenses which can later be used with FX camera if you upgrade.
 
F

filterxg

Senior Member
Full disclosure, my opinion is based on a lot of research but little experience (I'm pretty new too).

Landscape: Hard to beat the Tokina 11-16. But the sigma 10-20 is also a great value.
Street: Two to consider for overall value. Nikon 35mm 1.8 or a Sigma 17-70. Both give you a step up in speed at a great price.
Portrait: Your 50mm is already a great portrait lens for dx. But if you want more reach save up and get a 70-200 2.8 zoom with VR/OS/VC (all of the 3 brands are good) . That'll give you the most flexibility. If you are worried about size rent before you buy.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
 
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dramtastic

Senior Member
I'd go for the best used Nikkor AF-S 70-200 f2.8 G ED VR IF you could find. They sell for as much or less than a new f4. If you ended up needing some more reach you could add a 1.4 converter for only a one stop loss to f4. Also to be considered, the new Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 DC HSM for streetscapes/landscapes. Those 2 with the 50mm you already have and I think you'd have one hell of a setup that would satisfy your stated needs for years.

[h=1][/h] [h=1][/h]
 
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