Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

  

Archive 2014 · Reconsidering lens setup

  
 
falconbach
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Reconsidering lens setup


Good day all, I need some help in choosing my future lens setup. I'm now mostly taking photographs of dogs and pets and I find I'm missing in the middle range though I have 50mm prime. I also take photographs of Aurora Borealis here in Iceland. I have also found out that when doing photo shoots (outdoors) with dogs that changing lens is often not advisable. Both leading to missed shoots and some dirt finding way on my sensor. Here's my current lens setup:


  1. Tokina 12-24 f/4 (want to sell)
  2. Nikon 35mm f/1.8g dx (want to sell)
  3. Nikon 50mm f/1.8g (it is great optic but not sure if it's too close to 85mm focal length)
  4. Nikon 85mm f/1.8g
  5. Nikon AF-S 80-200 f/2.8 (want to sell)
  6. Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro (want to sell but it is fantastic optic but too slow AF for dogs in action)


I'm using Nikon D800 camera which is quite fantastic for dog photography, sometimes I wish for more fps but most often 4 fps is enough for what I do.

Here's what I think about these lenses, now the Tokina lens is quite muddy on my D800 so it needs to go. The Nikon 35mm dx is usable on D800 but I will probably get rid of that too. The Nikon 50mm and 85mm 1.8g are both amazing so I will at least keep the 85mm. Now, I have the af-s version of the 80-200mm and I don't know if it is my version of the lens but I find that it isn't nothing special in the f/2.8-f/4.5 range - almost seems that D800 is asking too much of the optic, of course not as bad as the Tokina but still not the crisp quality I would want from it.

So here is what I'm thinking:


  1. Samyang 24mm f/1.4
  2. Nikon or Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 (I do some video's so VC on the Tamron is pro but I have heard that the bokeh of Nikon is better)
  3. Nikon 50mm f/1.8g (it is great optic but not sure if it's too close to 85mm focal length)
  4. Nikon 85mm f/1.8g
  5. Nikon 70-200 f/4 (could get 70-200 vr1 for about $400 more, would that be more wise option?)


What do you think?



Oct 17, 2014 at 10:16 AM
mawz
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Reconsidering lens setup


I suggest the Nikon 20/1.8 instead of the Samyang 24/1.4 if you can live with the wider FoV. AF and better colour.

I'd get the Tamron 24-70VC. The Nikkor is not enough better to justify the price difference.

If you're worried about the 50 being to close, sell and replace with 35/1.8G FX or Sigma 35/1.4 Art.

85 is good.

Go with the 70-200/4, the 2.8 VR1 is not nearly as good on the D800 as the 80-200 AF-S. Both the VRII options are better than either.



Oct 17, 2014 at 10:44 AM
chuhsi1
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Reconsidering lens setup


Seems like the appropriate setup is just to have a 24-70 (whatever brand) and a 70-200 (or 80-200) for no lens changes and fast focusing. Plus whatever wide angle you want.


Oct 17, 2014 at 11:33 AM
Andre Labonte
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Reconsidering lens setup


Hmmmm based on what you wrote

Base Kit
Nikon 24-70
Nikon 80-200 (keep what you have, it's a great lens or upgrade to the 70-200 f/2.8 VRII as it's nice to have the speed of f/2.8)

Now salt in where you have needs:
85 f/1.8 G for speed and you already have this

So now ask yourself:
-- do I need wider? -- I'd say no based on what you wrote
-- do I need longer? -- I'd say no based on what you wrote
-- do I need macro? -- I'd say no based on what you wrote
-- do I need speed at something other than 85mm? -- not sure, seems you want something fast and wide, so check out one of the Nikon f/1.8 lenses, either the 20mm or the 28mm

Finally, you won't get much for the 50 f/1.8, so it may not be worth selling, but then again, if you are not using it ...








Oct 17, 2014 at 11:36 AM
Mark_L
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Reconsidering lens setup


The af of the primes is much slower than the zooms. Gof or a 24-70 and 70-200.


Oct 17, 2014 at 11:55 AM
Two23
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Reconsidering lens setup


I didn't see any dogs at all in Iceland the last time I was there. I only saw cats. Do Islandic people say "dog" when they really mean "cat," sort of like how they say "corn" when they are talking about "wheat?"


Kent in SD







Oct 17, 2014 at 07:29 PM
PeaktoPeek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Reconsidering lens setup


I'd probably keep the 80-200, unless you really want the VR -- then the f/4 is a good choice. I agree with the Tamron 24-70 suggestion and the Nikon 20mm 1.8G for the aurora. With the 20, 24-70 and either long zoom you'd be covered. The 85mm is awesome and the 50mm will net so little when you sell used that you may as well keep it.
Paul



Oct 17, 2014 at 10:20 PM
falconbach
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Reconsidering lens setup


Kent, there are lot of dogs in Iceland but there are not so many public places where they can go to with their owners. You won't go shopping or go to coffee shop and bring your dog along, that is not allowed due to some old prejudice against dogs. Also very difficult for people with pets and then specially dogs to find apartments to buy or rent which allow pets.

I saw some good reviews for the Sigma 24-105 f4 lens which made me think about if that lens would be good option. The Tamron's bokeh doesn't seem to be it's forte. However, then I always go back and think about our gloomy weather but maybe the quality of D800 higher ISO would allow me to choose f4 lens instead of f2.8.

Anyone tried the Sigma 24-105 for focus and focus accuracy, it needs to be good in tracking.

Thanks for the comments so far.



Oct 19, 2014 at 06:59 PM
nick53097
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Reconsidering lens setup


+1 for Nikon 70-200 f/4, I am using it more often than 70-200 f/2.8 II


Oct 20, 2014 at 08:18 AM





FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.