noob lens question 24-70 vs 24-85

I am not a photographer but my wife is and I like to get her lens. She has been renting a nikon 24-70 for wedding shots and I want to get her one. I am so confused with Tamron or Nikon. But I am not sure what the difference between the 24-70 and 24-85 is besides price. Could someone help me understand the difference. I know I can get a used Tamron for $1000 and $1700. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If money is an object, the Tamron is, as you mentioned cheaper and the quality is very close to Nikon. The 24-85 though is not a fixed 2.8 aperture lens. This means that as she zooms in, the aperture changes and so the out of focus quality (Bokeh). But if you go either Tamron or Nikon, she should be very happy. The only thing Tamron has over Nikon is the Vibration Control.

monkey101 said:

I am not a photographer but my wife is and I like to get her lens. She has been renting a nikon 24-70 for wedding shots and I want to get her one. I am so confused with Tamron or Nikon. But I am not sure what the difference between the 24-70 and 24-85 is besides price. Could someone help me understand the difference. I know I can get a used Tamron for $1000 and $1700. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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I happen to have both. I don't know about you and your wife's background with regards to photography and how much she's into it but if she is doing photography as a business, then without a doubt I would highly suggest the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8. It is the best mid range zoom range that I have tried and I have tried the 24-120mm f4 VR as well.

With the 24-85mm f3.5-f4.5G VR lens, it is an ok lens but it is not something that I would take with me when it comes to image quality compared to the 24-70mm f2.8 lens. Of course, that is just my opinion which is what you asked for.

Have to agree with gqtuazon. If wanting image quality and speed than it's a no brainer. Years ago third party len's was something you chose when really wanting to save money. Now some of them outperform Nikon. But spending double or more of your money is something you need to decide on.

I also own both Nikon lenses. I use the 24-85 when I want a light kit for casual shooting. When the shots matter (most of the time), I have the 24-70 on my D600.

monkey101 said:

I am not a photographer but my wife is and I like to get her lens. She has been renting a nikon 24-70 for wedding shots and I want to get her one. I am so confused with Tamron or Nikon. But I am not sure what the difference between the 24-70 and 24-85 is besides price. Could someone help me understand the difference. I know I can get a used Tamron for $1000 and $1700. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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I'm surprised she didn't get one already instead of all this renting. 1 wedding gig can easily pay for one and she knows she needs it as a work horse lens. I'd honestly go w/ Nikon all in all, plus its already been proven in her hands and she knows that lens, just not her own copy yet.

Thanks so much for all the info. It was very helpful....looking like Nikon is going to be the choice.

Well the wife did a test drive of the Sigma as one came up at a really good price. She found it to be just as good as the Nikon in her eyes and so the money saved is getting her a D600.