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Hi guys,

I havent touched SLR Gear for about a Year now and am looking to again get a couple of bodies and lenses after my gear got ripped sept 04...

The purpose of the gear is to shoot motorsport, cars, bikes, and maybe some general stuff like portraits...

Im looking at getting D2X & D200 bodies...

Then the lenses are tricky... Im looking at getting Sigma Lenses, the 70-200mm f/2.8 and the 28-70mm f/2.8 they are like 1/2 the price or less of the Nikon Version...

I want some opinions on what is the difference between the Nikon and Sigma Lenses and is it worth paying another few grand to get the Nikon's...

Im also looking at a 1.4x tele, extra batteries, UV Filters (what type and brand should i get?), Backpack, mafrotto monopod 679B, a few 4GB CF's...

Is it possible to insure grey import products and how do i go about it? Im not taking a chance this time... How much roughly is it???

Also if anyone else has any opinions on what other gear i should get please feel free to email me some idea's...

Thanks

Hi Noob and welcome to the forum. Firstly, if you are looking to get back into SLR photography via the D200, it could well be another year and a half until you are shooting, given the stock shortages!!

Regarding lenses, it is usually a case of you get what you pay for although there are exceptions to this rule with some third party lenses. As far as them and all the other bits and pieces you require, read the FAQ, become a contributing member of this community and there are some special prices available to members.

Also if anyone else has any opinions on what other gear i should get please feel free to email me some idea's...

One of the great things about this forum is the ability to search old posts and glean information from them. If everyone was to email their answer to you, then that information is lost and not available to another "noob" in the future. ie, we don't do things that way around here.

Hi and welcome to the forums.

I suggest that if you look around these forums you will see the standard of images produced by the nikon, sigma, tokina etc lenses. Perhaps even turn up to minimeets and evaluate some of the stuff first hand.

Steve

Are you a professional or an enthusiast? I think this makes a big difference. Pros always go with the nikkor/Canon. Enthusiasts that are wealthy go with the name brand, the rest usually go with the generic stuff. As for image quality, they all have their strengths and weaknesses, but for build quality and things like focus speeds etc, the nikkor 2.8's are pretty much tops. By the sounds of it, money doesn't seem to be too much of an issue for you. I couldn't dream of getting a d200 and D2x at the same time.

I shoot with generics now. Tammie 28-75 2.8. Sigma 10-20, but I'm not really hard on them, and use them only a couple of times per week at the very most.

I'm sort of assuming you're a pro, if not, I'm sort of wondering why you're getting two bodies in the pro range at the same time, but it's none of my business.

Thanks for all the tips and hints guys.

Looks like Nikon Lenses all the way for me.

I shoot motorsport, related events and am looking to start selling pics to publications. Been shooting for about 10 years now on and off.

Im getting two bodies as a back up measure and i dont like being stranded if im out on assignment.

Spewing about the D200's being short on stock. Any idea where i can get one, if i really cant get one i'll go with the D70s.

A apologise for getting off on the wrong foot here and it wont happen again. Me of all people should know how and why forums exist.

So that means you come from the film ages...

Plenty to learn with this new digital age, hope you can cope with it fast enough...

and welcome to the foums

Thanks for the warm welcome Yip...

Yeah i came from the film ages... At 17 i remember my parents telling me off for buying a extra attachment for the battery and continuous shots, then wasting all the $$$ on film LMAO...

Im now almost 26 and thought its about time i got more of my photo's into magazines and really step on the peddle...

Im sure with all the help and knowledge that this wonderful forum holds i'll get there in no time...