Finding it hard to settle on a lens?

Previous lenses - Nikon 18-55mm VR, Nik 18-105mm VR , Nik 55-200mm, Nik 50mm f1.8D, Nik 40mm f2.8 macro, Sigma 10-20mm. Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 105mm MF macro.

Current lenses - Sigma 18-200mm IS, Tokina 12-28mm

And on its way now - Tamron 90mm DI2 macro, will I finally be satisfied with these three? We shall see


So it is just me who keeps changing lenses? Should I just stick to what Ive got and make the most of it, or do others keep searching for the right lens for their needs?

When the limitations of my lenses surpass my own limitations, I start searching for a better.

I try to find what works best for me that I can manage to pay for. There is my limit, and so I won't switch a lens that I can't afford a better one to take it's place. This is one big reason I'm happily satisfied with 12MP Nikon's! They don't require such high end lenses to capture great photos! Where those higher MPs cameras tend to need more expensive lenses to do the same things as I can do with less expensive lenses!

I changed up from a D60 to a D5100 as it was in my price range but Im thinking I should have gone for one with a built in AF motor as there are so many good AF D lenses out there 2nd hand much cheaper than AF S, oh well, the D5100 is a decent enough camera otherwise.

I dont switch lenses that often. and I know what I want.
want to upgrade my lenses, but basically the same range. but its going to be over time.

Lenses can be a money trap. A couple ago I was looking at some lenses for landscape and rather quickly ended among those that went from a thousand up. Then I wondered what the hell I was doing. How many landscapes did I shoot this far? Hmm, exactly zero so why would I need one?

I bought my cam with the 18-55 kit. I got the 50/1.8 because the kit didn't perform well in low light and the 50 is way too cheap to not have. Then I got a 70-300 VR to get more reach. Last I invested in a good macro because a diopter simply can't compete. That lens was a serious investment and you can steal all my other gear but the macro only out of my cold dead hands.

Besides that macro, my other lenses aren't the best available but this far they're better than what I can do with them. A more expensive lens wouldn't make me shoot better photos.

I keep an eye on the used market since there are bargains once in a while but I won't invest in any other lens until I can put it to good use.

Yes I had one, and there is a photographer here that has taken beautiful shots with a D5100! It's a very good camera. But I ended up going for the D300 even after having the D5100 and I found the the D300 was my sweet spot in the DX line up.
For others it some other Nikon model that seems to fit them. For you maybe the D7100 will someday end up being the Nikon you find fits you.

bechdan said:

I changed up from a D60 to a D5100 as it was in my price range but Im thinking I should have gone for one with a built in AF motor as there are so many good AF D lenses out there 2nd hand much cheaper than AF S, oh well, the D5100 is a decent enough camera otherwise.

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Since all I own are single focal length AI/AIS Nikkors I change lenses quite often. I am not a big fan of zooms, never have been, and I prefer to work with the fastest glass I can find, telephotos especially from 85mm f/1.4 up through my 600mm f/4. You will not find zooms with maximum apertures like that. Depth of field control is very important to me so the widest aperture I can use is a priority, even if I need to use a ND filter in conjunction with a wide aperture in bright sun