f/2.8 Standard Zoom Advise Please

[gresleysteve]

Hi.

Would like some advise on which f/2.8 standard zoom I should go for.

I have a Nikon D300 and D80 back up. My standard zoom is the 18-70mm kit lens that came with the D80, I now feel the NEED for some quality glass in front of the D300.

Obvious choice is the 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX. My only concern (apart from finding the cash for it!) is the small gap in my focal range.

I have a Tokina 12-24mm f/4 and a 70-300mm VR so 24-70mm would be an ideal range. Enter the 24-70mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S (even more cash to find). Some say that this FF pro lens is over-kill on a DX body but I think I would miss the 55-70 range for portrait work.

Are there any other f/2.8's I should be looking at including any 3rd party examples?

What do you guys think?

Steve.

 

[sdb123]

The two obvious candidates are the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8.

I've owned both (had great copies both times) and optically they are excellent considering the cost.

 

[neil_g]

sigma 18-50 f2.8, mines super sharp

 

[HoppyUK]

Get the 17-55 2.8 Steve. I wouldn't hesitate if it's within budget. Not for a second And I would not get a 24-70 for crop cameras like yours. I have the Canon 17-55 2.8 myself and it is a peerless walkabout lens. There are alternatives from Sigma etc, but they all have a very similar focal length range.

It is nonsense to say that any lens is too good for any camera. If a lens is good or better, you will see the benefits regardless of the camera. Whether or not the photographer is good enough to exploit those benefits, or whether you use the equipment in ways that are likely to see show them, is up to you. But they will always be there.

I would not worry about the slight gap between 55 and 70mm. It is small and you can cover it with foot zoom. For portraits, I think the 70-300 should be perfect. How do you find it? I would tend to use it around 80mm for head shots, and switch to the 17-55 at the longer end for group shots. No problem either way, and I think most people would say much the same, but it's a personal thing and it might be helpful to review the Exif data on all the pictures you've taken and check the focal lengths you actually used, and then make a final judgement.

The reason I would not go for the 24-70 is the need to cross over at 24mm. 24-70 is perfect for full frame, but not for crop where it becomes a 36-105 equivalent. That's not wide enough. The overlap with your Tokina obviously isn't a problem, but if you're like most people you will find yourself forever wanting to switch lenses around the 24mm point. You really need a decent overlap here, and that is why all DX walkabout zooms go much wider to 17/18mm.