What gear are you looking for in 2016

D200freak

Senior Member
FX, and...not really sure. I have no experience with macro lenses. It might be helpful to give examples of which lens is ideal for what.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
FX, and...not really sure. I have no experience with macro lenses. It might be helpful to give examples of which lens is ideal for what.

I'm with Bill ... I'd either do the Nikon 105mm or the Tamron 90mm. I hear good things about the Sigma also, but would have to get the low down from @Pretzel on his purchase to be sure. :D
 

C. Hand

Senior Member
Would like to replace my Sigma 24-70mm with the Nikon 24-70mm non-VR especially if the price comes down a little more. And a Nikon 16mm fisheye. I don't do birding or wildlife so fortunately the desire for a telephoto isn't there. ;)

Why do you want to replace the sigma 24-70? Just curious, I need something in that range, not a lot of money, I have considered the Nikon 18-55 VR II. I am new and just got my D7100 and got a Nikon 55-200mm, so need that lower end. I have heard a lot of good things about the Sigma as far as its optics.


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hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Why do you want to replace the sigma 24-70? Just curious, I need something in that range, not a lot of money, I have considered the Nikon 18-55 VR II. I am new and just got my D7100 and got a Nikon 55-200mm, so need that lower end. I have heard a lot of good things about the Sigma as far as its optics.


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Mine is a decent copy as far as sharpness goes although generally this lens doesn't score as well as the Nikon or Tamron counterparts. I tested 3 of these, and this one was noticeably sharper when shot wide open. There is less contrast, which can be added in post, but the bokeh has a lot to be desired. It has the onion-ring bokeh when shot wide open or nearly wide open for images that have a shallow depth of field. Even when I replace it with the Nikon, I have no desire to get rid of this lens. It will be a fantastic back up or can be paired with my D7100.

On a DX body, the sharpness issue won't be noticeable because DX images only use the center of FX lenses--which happens to be the sharpest part.
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
I'm with Bill ... I'd either do the Nikon 105mm or the Tamron 90mm. I hear good things about the Sigma also, but would have to get the low down from @Pretzel on his purchase to be sure. :D

I can tell ya, right up front, the Sigma and Nikon 105mm are within 2 points of each other on DXo ratings, and that marginal of a difference isn't visible to the human eye. Having shot with a loaner Nikon, and now holding the Sigma, the build quality feels much more solid on the Sigma, but the Nikkor is no slouch.

PLUS, I bought it after viewing macro shots from @BackdoorHippie, and that's what he's used. I'll post up a thread with more thoughts and a few sample pics in a bit, but the Sigma thus far gets a thumbs-up from me, especially since I got it at a $330 price savings over the Nikkor (new, not refurb).
 

Geoffc

Senior Member
:) Lucky you.... ours is getting up for 2k a month (with overpaying while the interest rate is so low) we've managed to cut 8 years off our mortgage

We were in a similar position and cost and finished ours ten months ago. Every penny has gone into my pension and as a result I should be retiring at 54 in 3 years. Not as exciting as buying new toys but I will be my own master then.


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SHAkers718

Senior Member
I started out buying, buying, buying - just to test stuff out and thinking to myself I can always sell it. Well now I have quite a bit of overlap and primarily stick to bringing 3 lenses with me when we travel. I have the D5500 which is a pleasure to use and is a great fit for me. I have bought and sold the D7000 within the past year with very few actuations on it. Now I want a refurbished D7100. Why? I don't know! I like a bargain, but it makes no sense to want this. My needs are met. I have the tools to do what I'm trying to accomplish in most any given situation.

Several of you have expressed the desire to get the Tokina 11-16mm which I have but am considering selling. Here's the deal: the outer focus points don't let me know (I have the beep turned on) when they have locked focus on the D5500 (although they appear in focus to me regardless). So that makes me want to get the Nikkor 10-24mm as an alternative. Maybe I need to do a Google search on how to update software on lens/camera.

In reality the purchase I am most likely to make in 2016 is CC subscription and tutorials on using it properly. I'll let you know if I end up deciding to sell any more lenses. I can tell you they are in like new condition. :)

Lr6-0878.jpg

Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ
Shot with Tokina 11-16mm on a D5500.
 
Last edited:

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
I started out buying, buying, buying - just to test stuff out and thinking to myself I can always sell it. Well now I have quite a bit of overlap and primarily stick to bringing 3 lenses with me when we travel. I have the D5500 which is a pleasure to use and is a great fit for me. I have bought and sold the D7000 within the past year with very few actuations on it. Now I want a refurbished D7100. Why? I don't know! I like a bargain, but it makes no sense to want this. My needs are met. I have the tools to do what I'm trying to accomplish in most any given situation.

Several of you have expressed the desire to get the Tokina 11-16mm which I have but am considering selling. Here's the deal: the outer focus points don't let me know (I have the beep turned on) when they have locked focus on the D5500 (although they appear in focus to me regardless). So that makes me want to get the Nikkor 10-24mm as an alternative. Maybe I need to do a Google search on how to update software on lens/camera.

In reality the purchase I am most likely to make in 2016 is CC subscription and tutorials on using it properly. I'll let you know if I end up deciding to sell any more lenses. I can tell you they are in like new condition. :)

View attachment 192448

Shot with Tokina 11-16mm on a D5500.

Very nice shot of the Horseshoe by Page, AZ
 

SHAkers718

Senior Member
Dead Horse Point?

No. I couldn't get close enough at Dead Horse Point to see the water that well. I have seen others who have gotten that shot but I don't know where they must have been standing.

This shot is Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ. I'll edit it to say so. Also not sure why my EXIF data isn't showing up. I know it has worked in the past and I'm not sure what, if anything, I am doing differently.
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Seriously, find another way.

Step down on your daily driver needs really it isn't important!

Pondering a new pickup at the moment but $45k for what I want has me hunting a used model patiently from a trusted dealer vs. selling my GT convertible to fund the new truck.

Beloved vintage rides are hard to replace, don't do it!!!

Well, thought I had sorted out a way to keep it, then the beginning of the year threw some very nasty curves at me, completely unexpected, of the nastier variety.

Needless to say, the ol' blue Camaro has gone to a new home. I made sure it went to a person that would cherish it, treat it well, and not destroy it to create one of those "used to be a classic but has no original soul" restorations. I cried when I signed the title.

Now, I've got to re-order a lot of everything and sort out if there's any time to even shoot photos any more. No long stories here, and I'll be shooting when I can, but sometimes life throws sucker punches ya can't dodge, eh?

Now I'm trying to sort out if I can keep the bike...
 

hrstrat57

Senior Member
:( @Pretzel

i could tell you about my long gone 59 telecaster, 71 Jazz bass, 66 ES335 and other forced sell off of guitar gear in the past but it wouldn't make you feel better. I've done a much better job of hanging onto stuff lately but family always comes before cars, gear and stuff.

chin up, there will be another down the road!/
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Well, thought I had sorted out a way to keep it, then the beginning of the year threw some very nasty curves at me, completely unexpected, of the nastier variety.

Needless to say, the ol' blue Camaro has gone to a new home. I made sure it went to a person that would cherish it, treat it well, and not destroy it to create one of those "used to be a classic but has no original soul" restorations. I cried when I signed the title.

Now, I've got to re-order a lot of everything and sort out if there's any time to even shoot photos any more. No long stories here, and I'll be shooting when I can, but sometimes life throws sucker punches ya can't dodge, eh?

Now I'm trying to sort out if I can keep the bike...

Sorry to hear that mate,it doesn't sound good
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Well, thought I had sorted out a way to keep it, then the beginning of the year threw some very nasty curves at me, completely unexpected, of the nastier variety.

Needless to say, the ol' blue Camaro has gone to a new home. I made sure it went to a person that would cherish it, treat it well, and not destroy it to create one of those "used to be a classic but has no original soul" restorations. I cried when I signed the title.

Now, I've got to re-order a lot of everything and sort out if there's any time to even shoot photos any more. No long stories here, and I'll be shooting when I can, but sometimes life throws sucker punches ya can't dodge, eh?

Now I'm trying to sort out if I can keep the bike...

That sounds rough. Hope you get everything sorted out.
 

D200freak

Senior Member
Although I have a Tamron 150-600mm, I'm interested in trying out the Nikkor 200-500mm lens. I just want to see how the compare to each other. And then that might lead to me wanting to put a 200-500 on my lens shelf.

I don't foresee being able to afford any lenses that are more expensive than that at any point in the near future.

And there aren't any on the used market yet anyway.
 
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