lens choice dilemma

mark4183

mark4183

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Mark
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Evening all,

I have been saving a few pennies for a little while now and the boss has agreed i can buy a new lens :) the problem now is which!!

My current kit is:
Nikon D300s
af-s vr 70-300 F4.5-5.6
af-s dx 35mm f1.8
18-55 vr kit lens (came with my D60)
Nikon D60

i tend to take pictures of anything and everything but mainly seems to be motorsport. And going with that i have always wanted the 70-200 vr ii f2.8 and everyone raves about it but since reading about it and the D300s not being full frame i could get away with the 70-200vr f2.8. there are sigma alternatives also and have good reviews but will they be as good and would it be worth saving.

the other side is that the kit lens and I dont get along sometimes and i have been thinking of replacing it to an equivalent but with an f2.8. again, there are sigma equivalents.

Unfortunately i can only afford one but having difficulty deciding as i would get sooooo much use out of either of them and will be able to afford anything mentioned above.

Thanks for reading, any questions or help is greatful
 
Hi Mark,

As a devotee of the 70-200 VR I will always recommend it. I tried the Sigma version and thought it was pretty good but the Nikon one is notably better ... whether it's worth the extra cost only you can say.

I also really like the 18-105 VR kit lens that I have but my go-to walk around lens is a Tamron 28-75/2.8 which I think is superb. It's a bit long at the wide end but I have learned to cope with that.

Hope that helps :-)
 
I've upgraded my 18-55mm kit lens to a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8 - 4.5 and it has made a huge huge difference.

I avoided my kit lens, I just didn't like it :shrug: I love the Sigma

You have a 35mm prime which you can use for up close shots, your main shooting is motorsport, so go for the fast long lens :)
 
yea, been looking at the nikon 70-200mm again and to be honest it rides above the sigma equivalent although the sigma is very good i would be thinking i should have bought the nikon as everyone raves about it. the money is there too :)

you have a point with the 35mm prime which i didnt think i would enjoy as much as i do and it lives on my camera
 
It's so hard to recommend a lens to someone...so much depends on shooting style, evolving interests, etc. I've got the 70-200 vrII and think its a spectacular lens but it's a ton of money; even the vrI version used is a pretty penny. Still, pro glass holds its value much better than anything else in the world of photography.

While the 70-200 is superb, you already have the 70-300 which is widely acknowledged as an excellent lens; just not as fast and as nimble in low light. Since you're shooting motor sports, will the 70-200 really add to what you're already getting?

What I see missing in your current kit is the wide end. Do you shoot any architecture, landscapes or cityscapes? If so, you might find the Nikon 12-24 f/4 or one of the other wide zooms to really add to what you can currently do.

Just some thoughts.
 
Don't rule out the 80-200. Its a stellar lens at a fraction of the cost of the 70-200.
 
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