I like my lenses too much!

hunter20ga

hunter20ga

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Drake
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I got myself into a bit of a bind. I offered to lend my D80 (a backup camera to my D300) to my son (now 27, getting married, and on a tight budget) because he's interested in maybe pursuing photography as a hobby. I'll never miss the D80...use it almost never. But I love all my lenses (for various reasons) and can't seem to part with any. Tom lives 200 miles away, so I'd really, truly be saying goodbye to the lens although it would technically be on loan.

Here's what I've got...(all Nikkor lenses)
10.5 mm fisheye
17-55 mm
28-300 mm VRII
70-200 mm VRII
80-400 mm VR
105 mm micro VR

Obviously, the only two general purpose, walk-about lenses are the 17-55 and 28-300. I really like having both of these lenses in my kit because they are so handy, sharp, and relatively light.

So...if I can't bring myself to part with one of them (probably the 28-300) I'll have to buy yet another lens that covers about the same focal lengths. So that brings me to the 16-85 or 18-105. I don't want to spend a ton of money until I know that he really enjoys photography. (And before you hardliners out there say that he should just buy his own kit, I "owe" him a good start here; he's been a great son, recently finished a masters degree and is getting married soon. He just doesn't have the money, and I'd like to do something nice for him.

Any thoughts?
 
The 18-70 Nikon is very inexpensive and considered a bit of a gem. It's very similar focal range as the 16-85 obviously, has no VR but is around a third of the price.
 
If your considering giving him a start in photography why not buy a body with a kit lens or two and let him get going with that and saves you parting with your backup and a lens that you may end up having to replace, you could even call it a wedding present ;) just a thought

Matt
MWHCVT
 
Keep your lenses and 'gift' (read: buy) him a lens that will both aid his creativity yet not cost you a fortune - then it's a win/win situation; you keep your fave lenses and he gets a good start.

Go for something cheap yet functional - Nikon 18-70mm is ideal. They're going for peanuts over here in the UK on the used market - £120 will get you a good one - and they are superbly sharp and very versatile. I'm sure he'd thank you and I'm positive he'd get as much from it as you obviously do with yours :)
 
:thinking: Why not give him the replacement lens that you was going to get instead of giving him one of your own :shrug:
 
Be nice with your son and purchase for him a Tamron 17-50/2.8 with or w/o VC... Do not lend the stuff to him, just make it a nice gift. I have a son that's 19 and I wish to give him one of my cameras and whatever lenses he wants to pick from my huge bag, but he does not have yet any interest in photography. You are a lucky man because your son may inherit your passion.
 
The old Tamron 17-50 (non VC) is a very good walkabout/general purpose lens, particularly for portraits and scenery, and can be got for about £180 on ebay.
 
Trig's said:
:eek: £1500+/- lens - yeah give him that :lol:
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Well...I might some day if he really enjoys photography (and I'm too old and feeble to shoot anymore...LOL), but it would be a poor beginner's lens, not wide enough, and about two pounds too heavy. :lol:
 
Lunaticsamurai said:
Oh right, sorry i didn't realise the ones he listed didn't count?
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It wasn't that Keith - its just that the 70-200 VRII is about £1500 that's all... Bit of a pricey lens to just "give away" ..
 
Get an 18-70 mm which is a great lens or an 18-105 put it on the D80 he'll be covered for a while and you keep your lenses :-)
 
So what was the outcome in the end :shrug:
 
Trig's said:
So what was the outcome in the end :shrug:
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I took a little bit of advice from everyone, put it together and finally opted for a new Tamron 17-50 2.8 at about $600 U.S. plus tax. i felt that giving him the ability to shoot wide, shoot in low light and to isolate his subject were more important than having greater reach. My local camera shop is great...they let me take a variety of shots with a lens I'm considering, then we look at the images using PS on an iMac very similar to the one I have at home. The Tamron is sharp across most of its range and corner to corner. If his photography develops in the direction of sports and/or wildlife, I'll look for a used 70-300 VR for him as a wedding gift.
 
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