What lenses to buy before I head to France?

[kazuhiro]

Hi Guys,

I am heading off to France in a few weeks and am wondering what types of lenses people would consider taking / buying before going.

I have a d70s with the kit lens. I have been considering buying 70-300G but I am not sure if I should bother buying one of these or just get something a bit better. Or should I not bother with a telephoto and grab a 12-24mm instead? Or am I better off getting a 24-120VR and maybe the 12-24 as well? Or a 18-200VR?

What sort of lenses should I really be looking for?
I have not owned a telephoto, so I am not sure how much use I will get from it.

Any advice / opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some of the photos I have taken to practice with the camera before I go.
I am finding I could use either a 12-24 or right upto the 200mm range just as much as each other.
http://flickr.com/photos/pdeaudney

Paul.

[birddog114]

kazuhiro
Lens is costly, depend on your budget and what are you going to shoot?
Landscape, portrait, bird, girl on the beach??????
You better narrow down your requirement or just thinking about walkabout lens as the 24-120/ 18-200VR, you may do the search and find lot of information about these lenses recently.

[kazuhiro]

Mostly landscape and a few portraits.

I want to get some good pics of the city and other places I will be going.
I know having a good lens doesn't mean anything if I cant use the camera.

Budget is up to $1300.

Thanks for the quick reply, I will have a search through the forums for more info on these lenses. I have read many reviews on the net and I still cant decide..

[birddog114]

If your budget is AU$1300.00 and want to do much of landscape and portrait, then the newer 18-200VR might be the one.
On the other brand as Tamron or Sigma 18-200 (Much economical), can do a job for you too.

[radar]

If you want mostly landscapes, then the 12-24 is the one for you. You have a few options there: Sigma, Tokina and Nikkor. I have the Tokina and really like it, nice and sharp and the price is good.

With the kit lens, you will have your portrait range, but if you get the Tokina, with the spare money, you may want to look at the Nikkor 50mm/1.8, great lens for the price. It is also small and light.

As Birddog said, look thru the forums here, lots of comments on all the lenses listed above.

Passes de belles vacances en France

André

[Raskill]

You'll need a macro also.....

....To take pics of all the frogs

[r2160]

If you want something that has a little more scope than the kit lens, then the 24-120vr is great.

I bought one of these some time ago and it has proven (for the pics I have taken) to be an excellent lens. The sharpness and clarity are beautiful and I have never regretted its purchase.

Glenn

[LostDingo]

or hitch a ride with Glamy and use all of his lenses and his D2x....you just squeeze the trigger

[MCWB]

Definitely go wide, I used my Sigma 12-24 more than any other lens when I was in Europe last year. The Tokina AT-X 12-24 f/4 seems to be the pick of the bunch at the moment, around $650 I think?

[greencardigan]

Personally I'd go wide rather than long on a trip. A 12-24 will be great.

Then again, I took a 70-300G on my last trip. It's so light you will hardly notice it.

[wendellt]

you lucky duck

i only brought 2 lenses with me last time i was there

12-24 and 70-200

most of the time i used the 12-24 for landscapes and architecture

[glamy]

I'll be taking the 10.5 and the 28-70, maybe also the 12-24. Enjoy your stay over there!
Gerard

[LostDingo]

I think the 28-70 is a great all around size that would probably stay on the camera

kazuhiro...what lenses do you currently own?

[Glen]

Guys, his budget is up to $1300 I would also suggest a 12-24 plus your existing kit lens.

[birddog114]

Guys, his budget is up to $1300 I would also suggest a 12-24 plus your existing kit lens.

He has the 18-70.
I suggested a 18-200 VR or non VR,
Yes, 12-24 can be added and if some changes left then add on a 50/1.4

[LostDingo]

with that I mind I would say go with the new 18-200 VR and as a matter of convenience I would suspect the lens would never come off the camera

[kazuhiro]

Thanks for all the input guys.

I am still no close to makeing a choice, but it is comming down to

18-200VR

or

Tokina 12-24mm + Something else

Is $1199 AUD inc GST a good price for the 18-200 VR?

I think the 12-24mm would be really nice to have in the cities.

I am going out to take photos arround the city tonight to get some more practice in and see what end of the lens I am using the most.

[LostDingo]

Ideally if you had to take only 2 lenses Wendell's suggestion covers most ranges you would need....given the budgetary constraints (which we all suffer) the 18-200 would be a good choice....plus like I said you would never have to remove it
No dust bunnies
But most of all when you are traveling it can be a burden to carry alot of gear and changing lenses in public places is not a fun experience.

[moggy]

ECS in Drumoyne have the 18-200VR for $1095 but don't know if they have stock. Might be worth checking out.

Bob.

.

[Ivanerrol]

Ebay your 18 - 70 Kit lens. This should realise around $ 350.00. This will give you a cache of around $ 1,650.00

Buy 18 - 200 VR Nikkor and 12 - 24 Tokina. This will cover you. However as has been noted above, IMHO the 18 - 200 will not come off your camera.

Are you stopping in Singapore or Hong Kong? Check net prices to obtain these goodies there. Also if you buy them here in Aus. remember that before you go get a GST return form. This will lower your price need a little.

[shakey]

Just to confuse you more...if it were me with what I've got

I'd take the Sigma 10 - 20 mm and the Nikon 28 - 200 G.

You should be able to get this combo for less than $1300. If you are doing any interior shots (museums, galleries, chataux) you may find that 18 mm is just not wide enough (if you go 18 - 200 VR).

The sigma, or the Tokina 12 - 24 mm (never used it myself) will cover that wide end. The 28 - 200 G is a great (and I think..underated) little lens. Its slightly smaller than the kit lens which you have. I personally would not have any angst about the "missing" 20 - 28 mm gap with this combo. Unless the primary purpose of the trip was to take photos, and assuming you don't have a convenient pack mule..you need to consider size/weight issues....Now if I had a pack mule I'd take the Sigma, the 18 - 70 kit and the 70 - 200 VR and leave the 28 - 200 G at home.

The 18 -200 VR may be your best "one lens" solution however..not that I've ever used one, so I'm just commenting on the focal range not how the photos turn out.

[losfp]

Perhaps a Tokina 12-24, and a second hand 70-210? That would come in well under the $1300 mark. The Tokina is a good'un, and the 70-210 is a solid, compact and sharp telephoto.

At the moment, my bundle o' lenses consists of a Tokina 12-24, Nikkor 50/1.8 and Nikkor AF-D 80-200/2.8

Don't need much more than that!  PS: see if you can try the 18-200VR. I have, and I really don't mind it at all. However, 18mm is not "quite" wide enough for me, and now I'm just too used to my 80-200's constant f/2.8 aperture As a travel lens, it is well worth considering.

[hangdog]

I just came back from a short trip to Perth. Brought the 18-200VR, the 80-200mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8 and 90mm f/2.8.

The 18-200mm stayed on the entire time.

I'm not saying it's entirely a bad thing, and having the 18-200mm VR certainly makes a lot of shots possible, but it was all too easy for me to succumb to the convenience of the "good enough" 18-200mm instead of using the better quality glass that was at my disposal. I suspect that if I hadn't brought the 18-200mm, I'd have worked harder for my shots, probably with better results.

--Chuan

[kazuhiro]

Thanks for all of the excellent information guys.

To answer some of the questions people posted.

I am heading via Dubai. If I was going via HK, I would most denfinetly have no spending money before I got there

We are travelling by car a fair bit of the way, as my travel partner has family there so we get the grand tour. So weight is not too much of a issue. I am taking a tripod.

I have over 4 weeks there, and both of us plan to spend more than a few of the quite days dedicated to going around and taking photos. Ideally I would like to get some decent shots, that I can print and put up on my bare walls here.

I am still no closer to deciding. Both sides have strong arguments.
I might just have to sell my soul and buy both if I can stretch the budget that far.

Once again, thanks for all the input, I might have a 18-70mm in the for sale section soon.

[Ivanerrol]

Dubai has very good duty free.

See if you can find any bargains there on the internet before you go.

[birddog114]

Dubai has very good duty free.

See if you can find any bargains there on the internet before you go.

Dubai DF is not a place to spend your hard earned cash. It's expensive.

[Heath Bennett]

Dubai has very good duty free.

See if you can find any bargains there on the internet before you go.

Dubai DF is not a place to spend your hard earned cash. It's expensive.

They seem to have cornered the market on $20,000 gold mobile phones.

[Link]

I think the 18-70 you already own would cover most of your need for this trip. However, if you really like landscape, architecture, and environmental portraits; then go for a super wide angle 12-24mm.

Link.