Building an FX kit bag - What lenses?

kalibre

kalibre

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Hi All,

Things are going well with my little togging business on the side and thanks to some recent corporate product work I've secured a D700 and so will be moving to a full frame kit bag. The trouble is that I'm not overly familiar with the FX glass and the pitfalls that go with them.

These are the DX focal ranges that I need to replace and therefore need quality FX replacements for (Not necessarily Nikon). My priority is quality rather than cost, but given that I know that I'll have to compromise and go 3rd party somewhere:

1) 10-20
2) 17-50 F2.8
3) 50-150 F2.8

Any suggestions people? Problem is that I've only got circa 2k to cover them. I'd say the priority needs to be the 17-50 as that seems to stay on the body the most.

To give you an idea of the quality kit I'm used to, this is the kit that'll be listed for sale on here tomorrow:

D300
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8
Sigma 50-150mm 2.8
Sigma 10-20mm
Sigma 150-500mm

Will be doing my own research on this of course but really interested to know your thoughts.

Cheers. :thumbs:
 
You can't go too far wrong with the Tamron Twins on the D700.

The 28-75 and 17-35 are superb performers - I'd definately try those first before automatically thinking you need to get a 24-70 f/2.8 AF-S etc. I'm that confident in the 17-35 optically, I picked one up for my (24 megapixel) Sony A900.

As to wide angles, the best is the Nikon 14-24. However as it won't take any form of filters, and its rather large and heavy (with a narrow range) I personally don't find it that useful. The Nikkor 17-35 is stunning. Probably my favorite Nikkor zoom.

If you like the Tamron 17-50, then I'd definately recommend trying the 28-75. Its got a helluva reputation - for good reason.

The direct alternative to the 50-150 is of course 70-200. Take your pick there - best optics are Tamron 70-200 and Nikkor 70-200 VR but the Tamron has unusably slow AF, which IMHO rules it out for serious work.
 
As Andy mentions above....Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 then I'd look at say a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S. You could get those with a fair bit of change from £2k.

EDIT: If you went used for your lenses you may be able to sneak a Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S in there too.
 
Cheers puddleduck, by a strange coincidence I believe the D700 I'm receiving will be the one you shifted to Chillimonster that still hasn't been used! lol.

I must admit that whilst the sweet zone on my current Tamron 17-50 is sharp, I find the AF a little too unreliable and that does put me off of Tamron a bit. I was looking at the Nikon 24-70 as you say as it does sound lovely.

If I had to lose one lens to start with on cost grounds then it'll probably be the long end as I seem to use it less now for some reason.
 
Well I can't fault the 24-70 optically - very nice, with perhaps the fastest and most accurate focusing you'll find in the Nikon line-up.

Its very big though, and walking around with one of those on a D700 is a bit of a challenge, especially if you are outdoor photographer, perhaps carrying things in a backpack. The weight adds up.
 
I don't mind size too much as I do a lot of indoor/portrait stuff. Along with the MB-D10 it'll be a nice workout! lol.
 
I'm starting to get there with my lenses now - I use my D700 mostly for portraits, the odd Kids party/christening/wedding and trips to the zoo, so far have got -

24-70mm Nikon (picked up SH on here yesterday!)
70-200mm Nikon VR

50mm Sigma f/1.4
85mm Nikon f/1.8

I'll be looking to get a 300mm f/4 or maybe Sigma 50-500mm at some point, at the moment the 50mm Sigma is what I use most of the time :) and would be the first thing I'd buy if starting over again...
 
psenior1 said:
I'm starting to get there with my lenses now - I use my D700 mostly for portraits, the odd Kids party/christening/wedding and trips to the zoo, so far have got -

24-70mm Nikon (picked up SH on here yesterday!)
70-200mm Nikon VR

50mm Sigma f/1.4
85mm Nikon f/1.8

I'll be looking to get a 300mm f/4 or maybe Sigma 50-500mm at some point, at the moment the 50mm Sigma is what I use most of the time :) and would be the first thing I'd buy if starting over again...
Click to expand...

I was on backorder a while ago to get the new Siggy 1.4 but then changed my mind and got something else plus a Nikkor 50 1.8 which I must admit I do use a lot.

I've just agreed to buy the 'tamron twins' SH on here which should be a good full frame starter combo. I'm also on the hunt for a 300 f4 which I think will fulfill my long needs.

I'm also getting a new SB-900 to complement my SB-600. I might actually come in under budget at this rate...........quick what else can I buy...lol...
 
The obvious choice is the nikon trio (14-24, 24-70, 70-200) But for 2k thats no where near possible. Last generation glass is just as good with probably only a 5-10% hit on performance.

Something like the sigma 12-24, nikon 28-70 2.8, nikon 80-200 2.8 af-d, nikon 85 1.8 should be achievable for 2k.
 
kalibre said:
I was on backorder a while ago to get the new Siggy 1.4 but then changed my mind and got something else plus a Nikkor 50 1.8 which I must admit I do use a lot.

I've just agreed to buy the 'tamron twins' SH on here which should be a good full frame starter combo. I'm also on the hunt for a 300 f4 which I think will fulfill my long needs.

I'm also getting a new SB-900 to complement my SB-600. I might actually come in under budget at this rate...........quick what else can I buy...lol...
Click to expand...

I'll be interested to see how you get on with the 17-35mm Tamron, I was watching a 300mm f/4 on eBay that went for £750 ish I think - how did you find the 150-500mm Sigma, not worth a go on FX?

I had an SB-800 for a while and wasn't that taken with it, I wished I'd have saved my money and gone for a 600...
 
The 300mm f/4 AF-S is fetching a very high price, seems to average about £775 right now on Ebay (300300446441, 300313533862,140320931776)

TBH with me going part-Sony I'm quite tempted to cash in and put it towards the CZ 24-70... :help:

I've never been that keen on Sigma super zooms, you might get away with the 150-500 on full frame as its quite forgiving. But a Nikor prime (any f/4 or f/2.8) will murder it, truth be told.
 
The 150-500 is good fun, but to be honest I got it when I was intending to attend a lot of motor sports and GPs, but things have changed now and I really don't need it. I'd rather get a longish quick prime that'll suit a more everyday application.
 
Seem to be drawn to the Sigma 70-200 2.8. The price is right and optically the reviews seem to rate it very highly. Anyone with firsthand exp of this puppy on full frame?
 
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