New to the forum - Nikon fit standard zoom questions

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gilesforrester

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Giles
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Hi All,

This is my first post so please let me tell you a little about myself.

After 15 years in the IT industry selling software to the finance sector, the banking crisis hit and well .... long story very short i decided to follow my passion and gave up the day job to become a photographer.

I would like to add that I did complete 5 years in total - part time, training with the long term goal of photography - the banking screw up just pushed things forward a little.

Anyway things are going well - I actually made enough money to eat last month !!!!! and the future looks bright. A number of weddings booked and a contract for a local pony club covering a number of equestrian events. I also (as a result of being in the business community for a number of years) am getting asked to cover "business events" for PR which are typically in a badly lit hotel.

I currently own -

Nikon D300
Nikon D700
Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VRII
Tamron 90mm Macro
Nikkor 50mm 1.8
Nikkor 18-200 3.5-5.6 VR
SB-800
Mitsubishi Event printer
Elinchrom portable studio set up - with lasotlite hilite

I'm finally getting to the question -sorry for the rambling but trying to set the scene of what I do.

I really need to buy a standard zoom in the 17-50(55) range. after visiting Focus on imaging - the main UK photography exhibition I selected either the Sigma 17-50 f2.8 or the Nikon 17-55 f2.8 - ( i ruled out the Tamron) the Nikon will cost be twice the Sigma - and the Sigma has VR (OS in Sigma's book). Does anyone have first-hand experience of these lenses?

Do you even need VR at that focal length ?

I look forward to getting involved with the forums.

Giles
 
I have the 17-55mm Nikon, bought it a few weeks ago and I'm chuffed with it to be quite honest....and I'm used to the quality of prime lens so I'm quite critical of lens performance
 
You'll only be able to use the 17-55 on the D300 as it's a DX lens - better bet would be a 24-70 f/2.8, but that won't give you a very wide FoV on the D300.
It sounds a bit daft, but you might try looking at an older 17-35 and a 24-70 or the 14-24 and 24-70.
None of those are particularly cheap, but they are spectacular in their quality.
 
At the wide end you have a real dilemma;

24-70 is awesome, especially on FF, but it's a bit too long on a DX body.

On the other hand the 17-55 is equally good as a general lens and fives you a proper wide end on the D300 that the 24-70 wouldn't. But it'll only work in DX crop mode on the D700, so you're down to 7mp or whatever it defaults to.

One option would be to go for a Tamron 17-50 for the D300 (don't discount this great lens - great for the dish), as you'll get on sub-£200 in the used market, then look at a 3rd party 24-70 (Tokina 28-75 maybe? Sigma 24-70?) for the D700. You have both bodies covered and probably less than one Nikon 24-70. IQ will be good with these lenses and you won't be massively out of pocket :)
 
Seems that Nikons "beast" 28-70 f2.8 hasn't been mentioned.... its about the same price as the 17-55 (give or take a few quid) but its still a cracker of a lens....

Just thought that I'd add it to the equation ;)
 
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