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Walkabout vs specific lens covering the range? Not using my 'walkabout' much so wondering whether to offload it and put the funds into better IQ lenses with less range?
 
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Without being able to look into the future it is impossible to say. All we know is you haven't used it for 12 months so do you think you will use it in next 12 months, next 24 months, next 36 months?

If I was in same position I would have sold them 8 months ago as I have no trouble in selling things on that I don't use. If I buy the same lens again in 2 years time then so be it as I doubt it would have cost me much to do so as used lens prices stay fairly constant.
 
Nick, in general, the longer the zoom range the greater the drop in ultimate image quality and this was certainly the case when I went for an all-in-one, single lens solution several years ago. Of course, I was then on a fairly tight budget so went for a Tamron 28-300 and, while it was far more convenient than my 28-80 and 70-300 2 lens kit, at anything much above 7.5 x 5 inch prints, you could spot the shortcomings from a mile away (soft, severe distortion at the wide end, chromatic abberations) and while the buyer was happy with it (since he shot lots of rallying, he didn't want to be swapping lenses and his end uses were web use and small prints), I was happy to go back to a 2 lens solution.

However, lens design has leapt and bounded ahead in the intervening years so the current crop of similar lenses should be streets ahead of that old Tamron!

I should add that my current solution to the "problems" that a full SLR bag brings (bulk and weight as well as the hassle of lens swapping) is a bridge superzoom (Fuji HS-30) and a decent pocket compact (another Fuji, an XF-1). Ultimate IQ isn't up to that from a D800 and interchangeable lenses but it's so much lighter and less hassle! I'll be keeping the full DSLR kit but for most uses I now take the Fujis.
 
That's a big pointer towards any lens that'll get you back into it! If you can find a lens with the range you're after on the 2nd hand market (have a look in the classifieds here), you should be able to buy one and if you're not happy with the results, resell it and recoup most of your money!

As I said, my experience is several years old and lens design has leapt and bounded forwards, almost as fast as pixel counts have risen!
 
The Nikon 28-300 is said to be a pretty competent lens but I haven't used it - my 24-120 f4 is probably my most used lens, currently used as my 'walkabout'.
 
I should add that my current solution to the "problems" that a full SLR bag brings (bulk and weight as well as the hassle of lens swapping) is a bridge superzoom (Fuji HS-30) and a decent pocket compact (another Fuji, an XF-1). Ultimate IQ isn't up to that from a D800 and interchangeable lenses but it's so much lighter and less hassle! I'll be keeping the full DSLR kit but for most uses I now take the Fujis.

Did you consider micro 4/3 system. It's reported to have good image quality and it's reasonably light?
 
The best camera is one you'll have on you so chop it all in and get a J1/V1 or one of the newer versions, I'm amazed by the results they produce as the lenses are really very good indeed.
 
Did you consider micro 4/3 system. It's reported to have good image quality and it's reasonably light?

Not MFT but I was considering a Nikon 1 kit since I could then use all my lenses (with an adaptor). I specifically didn't really want interchangeable lenses though, hence the bridge with the all purpose 24-720mm (35mm EFL) lens.
 
Not MFT but I was considering a Nikon 1 kit since I could then use all my lenses (with an adaptor). I specifically didn't really want interchangeable lenses though, hence the bridge with the all purpose 24-720mm (35mm EFL) lens.

I understand. Just spent today with a friend who specializes in bird photography photographing anything from hawks to finches and warblers. He certainly produced good results from his Canon x35 super zoom. It's making me rethink my current investment in heavy canon L lenses & 7D.
 
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