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Advice on next purchase (85/1.4 or 17-55)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:31 pm
by Yi-P
Time is coming and money are saving up... as well as the lust :)

I'm having hard time to decide what to get for my next purchase.

Im currently considering mainly on these two:
Nikkor 85mm f/1.4
Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8

ddphotography has them for $1475 and $1995 respectively.

Question is, will the 17-55 really serve me well. I already have a 18-70, and it covers its range all over it and its the faster speed and sharpness to go on a $2k investment. I've tried this lens off from Geoff last time on Watsons outting, and I really love it, its solid and tough quality both optics and build.

On the other hand, the 85/1.4 is really tempting for the extra speed and range it offers. I like shooting with primes simply because of its optical quality.

Budget wise, under $2k is fine for the saving I can hold up till August (and already breaking the bank account again with the purchase).

Purpose will be mostly event, candid and portrait style photography.

Or should I go with another alternatives, like a 35 f/2 and a 85 f/1.8 combination??

What should I get? :roll:

Re: Advice on next purchase

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:54 pm
by spada
Yi-P wrote:Time is coming and money are saving up... as well as the lust :)

I'm having hard time to decide what to get for my next purchase.

Im currently considering mainly on these two:
Nikkor 85mm f/1.4
Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8

ddphotography has them for $1475 and $1995 respectively.
Purpose will be mostly event, candid and portrait style photography.

What should I get? :roll:


Hi
if your purpose is portrait style photograhy get the 85 f1.4 you will not be disappointed, for candid on a crop cameras is also fine , this is what this lens for.Check bargain section Birddog have it for less.

Re: Advice on next purchase

PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:59 am
by Steffen
Yi-P wrote:Question is, will the 17-55 really serve me well. I already have a 18-70, and it covers its range all over it and its the faster speed and sharpness to go on a $2k investment. I've tried this lens off from Geoff last time on Watsons outting, and I really love it, its solid and tough quality both optics and build.

On the other hand, the 85/1.4 is really tempting for the extra speed and range it offers. I like shooting with primes simply because of its optical quality.


Impartial advice:
If you've already got the kit lens, go for the 85/1.4, and spend the rest of the money on something nice (like another SB800).

Biased advice:
Stuff the 85, plus the kit lens isn't fast enough. Go for the 17-55, then sell me the kit lens :lol:

Cheers
Steffen.

Re: Advice on next purchase

PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:30 am
by Yi-P
Steffen wrote:
Impartial advice:
If you've already got the kit lens, go for the 85/1.4, and spend the rest of the money on something nice (like another SB800).


That sounds very tempting, but I already got an SB800, and a $2k budget will be bit too tight to fit in another SB800 at $500+
Will 2x SB800 be an overkill? Or just a 85/1.4 and SB600 [lol] oh well, very tempting, but must protect my wallet from the cold winter :P

Maybe a 35/2 + 85/1.8 + SB600 setup... hmmm, too much weight and little room left in my bag...
arghh, this is hard to decide!!

Biased advice:
Stuff the 85, plus the kit lens isn't fast enough. Go for the 17-55, then sell me the kit lens :lol:

Cheers
Steffen.


At what price you looking to buy an excellent condition kit lens? 8)

Re: Advice on next purchase

PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:52 am
by Steffen
Yi-P wrote:At what price you looking to buy an excellent condition kit lens? 8)


50 bucks, but willing to negotiate :)

Cheers
Steffen.

Re: Advice on next purchase

PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:57 am
by Steffen
Yi-P wrote:That sounds very tempting, but I already got an SB800, and a $2k budget will be bit too tight to fit in another SB800 at $500+
Will 2x SB800 be an overkill?


Hmm, $1475 + $500 is still less than $2k. And you can never have enough SB800s. Haven't you seen "Nikon - Speed of Light" yet?

Cheers
Steffen.

Re: Advice on next purchase

PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:28 am
by Yi-P
Steffen wrote:Haven't you seen "Nikon - Speed of Light" yet?

Cheers
Steffen.


Where is that showing at?? Which cinema?? :P

I mean, which site??