Just for fun I thought I'd get opinions here on what I'll be saving up for my next purchase. I plan to do more portrait/wedding photography and am considering either a second FX camera (Nikon D4 for more rapid and low light shooting) or a longer telephoto portrait lens (200 f/2 VR). I could probably get either one for around the same cost, but can't afford both at this point. I love the D4, but I love the 200 f/2 as well. In the back of my mind I think about something coming to replace the D4 but we've only had the D4 out since last year.
Which would you get, another camera or another lens?
- Thread starter crycocyon
- Start date
Phillydog1958
Senior Member
Lenses are forever. Cameras come and go.
WileyCoyote
Banned
For myself I would choose the 200 f/2 VR, because as Phillydog1958 stated so eloquently above "Lenses are forever. Cameras come and go."
I have as many lenses as I could really ever need. I would LIKE to get a 15mm f/3.5 AIS Nikkor but admittedly would not use it enough to justify dropping a grand on one. I guess if I were to get anything, it would be a very good condition used D3X. Or a Sinar P 4x5 and Nikkor 90mm, 150 and 300mm large format lenses!
Last edited:
I would not necessarily count on that one. AIS Nikkors are forever, because they are purely mechanical. About the only thing you have to worry about is oil getting on the diaphragm blades and causing them to stick, an easy and inexpensive fix. Unless of course Nikon pulls a Canon and changes their mount, thus royally screwing their old FD users. Modern Nikkors have motors and electronics which will eventually fail and with as fast as bodies and systems are evolving, you cannot guarantee that lenses of today would even work in bodies 5 or 10 years from now.
Which is exactly what a lot of Canon people did. You can mount even the earliest F bayonet mount lenses on any Nikon DSLR, with the caveat about non-AI coming in contact with the aperture sensing lug on some of their DSLR bodies, which can be remedied by any competent repair man and a Dremel and cutting wheel. I did that myself with my 50mm f/1.4 non-AI Nikkor and it works perfectly with all of my film and digital bodies. You may have to do things in manual with the cheaper ones like the D90 and earlier, but you can STILL take photos with them. Canon screwed their FD users royally when they changed their mount. Even when they went from breech lock to the "reverse" bayonet of the FD, all their lenses were still compatible with no loss of function or features.
Last edited:
This ^^^
And this is my next lens! No camera upgrades for me. I know what I want and I won't compromise on it
Definitely a lens unless, and only unless, there is something particularly limiting with your current camera, serious enough to sway you heavily in the direction of a new body (there can't possibly be many factors that would be persuasive enough in my opinion).
A lot of interesting replies, thanks! Yes at one point I was really thinking about a D3X. It just seemed to have everything in one package. But I already have something with high MP count so I thought about something that is more of a speed demon. Plus the D3X used is still quite pricey and I could almost get a used D4 for the same amount in some cases.
Thanks for the suggestions for zoom lenses but I think I'm hooked on primes. Although I would consider the 14-24mm which I've read is an amazing lens.
Good point about the as yet untested longevity of the modern AF lenses although we've had some of them around a few years now?
Thanks for the suggestions for zoom lenses but I think I'm hooked on primes.
Although I would consider the 14-24mm which I've read is an amazing lens.Good point about the as yet untested longevity of the modern AF lenses although we've had some of them around a few years now?
oh,,, you won't regret the 15mm 3.5 AIS,,, what an awesome lens,
I have to agree with a zoom lens for weddings, 200 seems to be odd choice, maybe a 70-210 2.8,
In the past I used my D700 and D800 for weddings, but I must confess, that I really liked using the D7000 for the last one, nice compact
and still had a dual backup card just in case.
on lens versus camera, just depends on your current gear. I have never regretted a camera body, or laughs, never a lens either.
I think I'm just too spoiled now by resolution with the D800. Heck, I could get a new D800E and a nice lens for the price of even a slightly used D4. And I've read reviews that the D4 resolution is only just marginally better than that of a D3s. So apart from a bit of better high ISO performance, I'm not sure I can justify a D4 at this point as much as I love the camera overall. Yes it is blazingly fast, and having that speed occasionally is useful, but for 90% of my shooting I am more interested in resolution than speed. And I also thought about the 200 F2 and maybe for now I should stick with the 85 and go find a good deal on a 24 1.4G since I don't yet have a good wide angle lens.
Bunsen Honeydew
Senior Member
+1 on that. That was my main lens for weddings, heavy, but what a lens !