Next Lens to buy!!

[aim54x]

Well here is another one of those boring, what should I get next topics. I am a little bit away from any of the lenses that I want, but I figure that if I decide on a target now I will be much more motivated about saving for the lens.

My kit at the moment revolves primarily around the Nikon D300 + MB-D10, and I am more than set (lots of overlap - Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8, Tamron SP 17-50 f/2.8 Di II, Tamron SP 28-105 f/2. in the mid range zooms, but I have nothing that is high quality in the telephoto range, and nothing at all in the ultra wide range.

I shoot just about anything and would really like to build a full frame kit, in case I ever step up to a full frame Nikon, and for compatibility wtih my F80. I am finding myself doing a lot of portraiture and events at the moment, something that the 24-70 and my 50 f/1.8 has proven to be awesome at, and am using the 17-50 for the landscape shots that I take. I do love taking Macros but using my cheap Tamron 70-300 (1:2 Macro) is not something that I enjoy doing.

My short list of wants is:
-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR (I need a good telephoto)
-Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 (portraiture)
-Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 (macro - I really would love to have a proper macro)
-Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 (I need a good ultra wide, but this is the one that I am most likely to wait it out for because of the lack of filters for this lens)

I know that good equipment will not make me a better photographer, but I figure buying once is better than buying multiple times, and having the nice gear makes the job easiar.

So what should I aim for? Are there any alternatives that I may have overlooked?

[gstark]

You've answered you own question, really.

would really like to build a full frame kit

That means that you need to sell a few of your current lenses, and buy three others. All that remains to be decided is the timing of all this.

To buy ... we need to slightly shorten your short list.

-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
-Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8
-Nikkor 85mm f/1.4

The 105 can wait ... but perhaps look at the Tammy 90.

Given that you say you're predominately doing portraits and events, that should probably be the order within which you acquire these too; the 14-24 won't be too much use within those contexts, and once you have the 70-200, that will relieve the need (slightly) to get the 85.

Mind you, the the 85 is just so cheap these days.

[aim54x]

Thanks Gary!

I am really tossing up between the 70-200 and the 85, I really did like the Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 that I used on a Sony A200, so I would love to get my hands on a 85mm f/1.4. The 85 is cheap at the moment.

Anyone want to lend me a 85 f/1.4??? I think it really is between the 70-200 and the 85, but a play with the 85mm may just decide it for me. Your def right about the 14-24 and the 105 being lower on my list of priorites.

I have considered the Tammy 90, and for a while I was pretty gung ho about getting it, but then the AF-S 60 was announced, and I played with a 105, and feel in love with the quicker AF. I may have to reconsider the Tammy 90mm, the pricing on it is achievable, but then again it may lead me to buy again.

[stephenvandermark]

gosh, just a quick reply....... I see you are pretty much settled on the mid-range but I would definitely consider the 24-70/2.8 sigma; affordable and pretty close to the nikkor alternative. And honestly, you will only see the difference when printing > 20x30 inch.... Now, regarding the telephoto range there is not much choice, the 70-200/2.8 VR is an amazing piece of glass. The new 12-24/2.8 is yet again in another league, nothing comes close to it. I think the following would be a good kit: 12-24/2.8 nikkor, 24-70/2.8 sigma, 50/1.4 nikkor, 70-200/2.8 VR nikkor. Check out the http://www.photozone.de site for some very good lens reviews!

Cheers,

stephen

[johnd]

Stephen, he already has a 24-70 2.8 Nikkor, so no need for the Sigma.

I agree the 70-200 2.8 VR Nikkor is an amazing piece of glass, as is the 85 1.4 Nikkor and 24-70 2.8 Nikkor.
I have both the Nikkor 85 1.4 and 24-70 and find myself using the 24-70 more and more for portrait work. Prior to getting the 24-70 I would almost exclusively use the 85 1.4 for portraits.

Given you have the 24-70 range covered and you don't have the 70-200 range covered, I'd be inclined to spend my dollars there and postpone the 85 1.4. Don't get me wrong, I'm not running down the 85 1.4, but the 24-70 is awesome (almost as awesome as the 85/1.4) but a lot more flexible.

Cheers
John

[aim54x]

I think I may actually have to consider something on the wide end (FX naturally, but still need it to be wide on DX) as I have been shooting a lot of landscape recently and have been enjoying that a lot. Damn Seeto had to have a Tokina 12-24 which I borrowed and now I have been bitten by the ultra wide bug.

I think I am pretty settled in the mid ranges (thanks Stephen and John for your replies) so I guess now I have to weigh up getting a AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR or a AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8. I think I will have to get the 85mm f/1.4 eventually (John, any chances on a test drive, ROFL!)