12-24 f4 Tokina DX (great lens on the d300)
24-70 f2.8 Nikon AF-S G(fantastic lens)
80-400 Nikon AF-S VR
70-200 Sigma f2.8 EX HSM II (really sharp but no VR)
28mm AIS Sigma F2.8
35mm AIS Nikon F2
50mm AIS Nikon F1.4(sharp as a tack on the D3)
What additional lenses should i get to round out the kit? Quite honestly the AIS lenses are fun, but not very practical when shooting a pro job with respect to focusing quickly.
I was thinking about getting and trying to keep my budget
to $1250.00....USD
To tell you honestly... I think you have all of the bases covered. The only thing I would get if I were you is the Nikon 105 f/2.8 VR Micro lens for macro work. Otherwise, I think your covered.
Skip the 20/2.8 and 35/2. 12-24 and 24-70 does already cover those focal lengths and I don't think the hassle is worth one extra f-stop. I find it hard to belive that you'll notice any big difference anyway, they're not among the best Nikon lenses ever produced.
What you're missing is a macro lens and a fast portrait lens. AF-S 60 2.8 could double as both, but won't give you the really shallow dof. For those occasions I would recommend the 85/1.4, one of the finest portait lenses ever made.
The only hole I would suggest filling is a nice wide angle for the D3 FX - what about the 14-24 f2.8 to take full advantage of the FX format; it's a bit of a gain (say 6mm) from the 14-24 Tokina on the D300 DX sensor.
Looks like you've got most of the bases covered otherwise. I agree with some of the other posters that you're potentially replicating with the 2/2.8 primes what you've got covered with excellent zooms - some of those zooms are thought to be better than the primes.
I also like the 85 f1.4 for low light - nice pickup in stops from the 2.8.
Depending on what you shoot, a nice new tilt-shift lens would be an interesting addition, Vincent Laforet uses one to pretty interesting effect in his work.
Thanks for the comments... the only thing is that my 28, 35 & 50 are all AIS manual focus lenses. When i had the 35f2 afd on my d200 it was a great lens... i regret getting rid of it as it was a great walkaround lens on that 1.5 crop.
So my dilemma is really picking some nice AF-D primes for now....
Most likely I should get the 50mm f1.4 first... Then, as suggested by some of you I should really look at the micro line as the second choice...
I would sell the 12-24 and get a 14-24 nikon Great lens and get you wider on the full frame and close to the same but sharper on the d300 you may have enough left for a 50mm 1.4 if you shop used.
i will say the 50 f/1.4 first, and then maybe a macro are left. For macro, it doesn't actually hurt to shoot with an AIS lens anyway because well, it's macro..
w2hef wrote:
Thanks for the comments... the only thing is that my 28, 35 & 50 are all AIS manual focus lenses. When i had the 35f2 afd on my d200 it was a great lens... i regret getting rid of it as it was a great walkaround lens on that 1.5 crop.
So my dilemma is really picking some nice AF-D primes for now....
Most likely I should get the 50mm f1.4 first... Then, as suggested by some of you I should really look at the micro line as the second choice...
You kind of answered your own question. Get the AFD primes. As to the macro lenses...why? Because people suggested you should get one? If you never needed one, why should you?
Skip on the 50mm Nikon and put an order in for the New Sigma 50/1.4. Spoke to Sigma last week and they said they are due to ship out to the vendors this week.
Does anyone have the sigma f1.4 yet? 77mm filter size is awesome.
Thanks everyone for your replies. much appreciated. I do realize that i need some AF primes. Panos.v (thanks) I'm not particularly a macro guy but love the wide primes capabilities to get fairly close shots. I see you have the 105mm 1.8 and that's a great lens on my list.. I really love the nature end of photography when i'm not doing paid jobs.
Also, love the sports action stuff like surfing, skiing and some contact sports... Did a lot of work this past year with town baseball... Really like that and got some great results using the 80-400 vr and 70-200 siggy hsm II.
. Spoke to Sigma last week and they said they are due to ship out to the vendors this week. 