To sell or not to sell??

[Werewolf]

As of today I'm the lucky owner of the 24-120VR (thanks to Birddog). Now this along with other recent lens purchases will render my 18-70 kit lens and 28-200G redundant. I hate to let good Nikon glass go but in order to help finance my next aquisition, a 12-24, should I sell 'em?? Would YOU sell 'em?

Secondly, would any forum members be interested in buying IF I can bring myself to let them go?

Decisions, decisions

[MHD]

dont sell the kit...
1) you would be missing 18-24
2) you would not get a price that is worth it

[sirhc55]

I’ll go with MHD on this one Werewolf - the kit lens will always come in handy at some point in time.

Chris

[bwhinnen]

Depending on what you ask for the kit price someone with a early Harvey Normal kit would probably buy it...

Cheers
Brett

[atencati]

I agree to keep the kit lens. You may decide on a 2n'd body at some time and need another lens, and they are getting pretty plentiful on E-Bay unfortunately. The 28-200 you could probabl get fair price for, but do you have a lens above the 120vr??

Andy

[Werewolf]

Andy - yes I have the wonderful Nikon 80-200 2.8ED and a Sigma 70-300APO11 Macro. So they cover THAT range and I will be getting my hands on a 80-400VR later this year.

I appreciate what you're all saying re the kit lens, but if I have:

12-24
24-120
70-300
80-200

surely the 18-70 is covered amongst those focal ranges??

Aaaarrgghhh

[JordanP]

I'm trying to make the same decision myself and I dont have the same coverage as you - I would end up with gaps .... but I jst never use the lens anymore.

Might wait another few months and see if I use it......

[xerubus]

what's the image quality of the kit lens? what's it's widest ap? (i know i could look on the web.. but i'm a little crook today and feel a little lazy)

if it's okay perhaps i could use it for an interim portrait lens? maybe find someone to swap the sigma 28-300 for a kit lens?

[MHD]

ok... I didnt know you had the 12-24 (boy your collection is growing fast...)
hmm...

Craig... I'm not suprised yo dont use the kit! With that lovely 17-55/2.8

[JordanP]

Xerubus, Kit lens is 3.5 - 4.5. What is the sigma ??

[gstark]

I'm trying to make the same decision myself and I dont have the same coverage as you - I would end up with gaps .... but I jst never use the lens anymore.

Might wait another few months and see if I use it......

I have exactly the same issue, and no (as yet) 12-24.

But in selling the kit lens (we have two, in fact) I doubt I would realise its real value in a sale, thus making the transaction less than a financial success.

It's like my museum of laptop computers; they're all working, serviceable, usable, and very slow and very obsolete. If you sell them, you'll get a pittance, which is simply not worth my while; it's better to keep them in retirement, sitting in their cute little rocking-docks next to the Apples.

[xerubus]

3.5-6.3

great lens for macro and landscape/wildlife, but not the best for weddings....

[gstark]

Xerubus, Kit lens is 3.5 - 4.5. What is the sigma ??

Opaque ?

[JordanP]

I was wondering how long it would take you to respond Gary (hehehe) - is that your Nikorr badge on your sleeve

[gstark]

Craig,

Today is my "be nice to other brands" day.

Hey, I might even say something nice about Telstra.

But of course, you know I'd never tell a lie ...

[JordanP]

But of course, you know I'd never tell a lie ...

That's a relief

[JordanP]

what's the image quality of the kit lens?

Opps I forgot to aswer this bit.

Quality is great - just not as good as the 17-55 2.8

[Greg B]

Andy - yes I have the wonderful Nikon 80-200 2.8ED and a Sigma 70-300APO11 Macro. So they cover THAT range and I will be getting my hands on a 80-400VR later this year.

I appreciate what you're all saying re the kit lens, but if I have:

12-24
24-120
70-300
80-200

surely the 18-70 is covered amongst those focal ranges??

Aaaarrgghhh

I wouldn't sell it either, but it is up to you WW.

If you ever decide to sell the d70 (shock, gasp), it would be a lot easier with the kit lens. How much would you get for the kit lens anyway?

[xerubus]

my apologies... i did not want to hijack this thread... one last question if i may

what is the quality of that lens wide open? is it sharp? would you consider it sharp enough for paid shots?

[nigels]

Hi,

Looks like a few of us are in that boat, I just ordered my 24-120VR off Birddog yesterday. I also was wondering about the kit lens as I hope to purchase the Sigma or Nikkor 12-24 early this year.

Think I will keep it though, as it is a nice lens and does have a good range. Then again if someone on Ebay offered me $500 I would have to think about it.

Nige

[nigels]

Hi,

Looks like a few of us are in that boat, I just ordered my 24-120VR off Birddog yesterday. I also was wondering about the kit lens as I hope to purchase the Sigma or Nikkor 12-24 early this year.

Think I will keep it though, as it is a nice lens and does have a good range. Then again if someone on Ebay offered me $500 I would have to think about it.

Nige

[Onyx]

Werewolf, the kit lens is definitely a keeper. You won't realise its true worth if you sell, and it is a fantastic piece of glass! They can be bought new at ECS for $295, so I'm not sure where the second hand market will price it at (it's worth so much more than that IMHO).

what is the quality of that lens wide open? is it sharp? would you consider it sharp enough for paid shots?

Xerubus, I find the kit lens is fantastic used wide open. In fact, my subjective tests have me convinced that at the 70mm end, between wide open at f/8 there's negligible difference in sharpness. Sharpness is surprisingly great IMO. It controls chromatic abberations very well too. The only downside is it's f/4.5 at the long end, which isn't all that fast compared to primes or f/2.8 pro zooms (but compared to the 24-120 is even slower).

It also has fantastic bokeh, and working with the right distances (70mm is not that long), it can be pressed into service as portrait lens if you have no other glass. Works well for lite-macro use too.

[xerubus]

thanks onyx.... i'm thinking about the lens to cover me ... as i'll have the 50 f1.8 and the 85 f1.4 .... might be nice to have a good quality zoom handy....

cheers