For macro you can't beat the 105 VR, I love it and find myself using it for a lot of photo illustration stuff. Obviously the 24-70 and 70-200 are great, I'd go for the 24-70 first as it is just an amazing lens. I haven't been able to try the new 70-200 VRII but I find the 24-70 with nano coating to focus faster and produce higher IQ than my 24-70, the downside though is that it is a pusher zoom which means that if you want to make sure you don't accidentally hit something you have to keep the hood on all the time.
I´m not interested in legends , but the AF-S Nikkor 2,8/24-70mm N, the AF-S Nikkor 2,8/80-200mm and the AF-Nikkor 2,0/135mm DC are excellent lenses , I´ll never want to do without those again.
The "old" Micro-Nikkor 4,0/105mm AI and the Nikkor 2,0/50mm H.C. are awfully good too (and low priced!).
The AF Micro-Nikkor 2,8/60mm offers high sharpness and very high contrast, but the out-of-focus-area is creepy.
These may not be a legend list but I've kept 4 AIs lenses and never sold them.
15mm f3.5 AIs
16mm f3.5 Fisheye originally NAI was AI'd by Nikon early 80's I still have the original NAI ring also.
28mm f2.8 AIs
105 f2.5 AIs
All were used on an F2A in the 70's then and currently on my F4. I've bought and sold many a lens but have kept those. My F4 lives with that 28 on it.
I've been known to put any of these on a D2hs or D2x when speed is not a factor but weight is. I've never seen the reason to buy a 14 AFD when I own the 15. Set it at 2 feet f11 and you got autofocus.
My current lenses are:
17-35 AF D f2.8
50mm AF D f1.4
70-210 AFS f2.8 VR
300mm AFS f4 great light weight medium tele
TC 14 E works perfect with either of the AFS lenses.
The 28mm is my normal copy lens and closeup work lenses, Zippo distortion.
The surprise for me is the 70-210 VR with an attached TC14E for aerial photography. I've been in a good chop and could hardly keep the camera on target and got a 50 - 60 % keeper rate. Using a tele without the VR I would have expected 2% keepers that day. It's also become my favorite portrait lens.
I love how the old manuals work perfect on a body 30 years newer. I got real value in the old manual lenses. Most cost more today used than I paid new.
framer
Yes, I was a full time photographer but turned picture framer years ago.
Though I have previously replied that the 180mm 2.8 is legendary I would also like to add the 300mm F4 with it as well. Its a stellar performer and should be considered to be quite legendary. Take care. Bob
Not seeing the PC-E lenses mentioned very much unfortunately!
I love my 24mm PC-E, it beats every other lens I own hands down in terms of sharpness (unshifted - to keep it fair). Plus it's got tilt/shift ability - legend status for me without a doubt.
My collection, for comparison, consists of the 17-35mm, 50mm (f/1.4) and the 70-200mm VR I. Would love the 14-24, the 200 f/2 and a 400 f/2.8
Robert Spencer wrote:
Though I have previously replied that the 180mm 2.8 is legendary I would also like to add the 300mm F4 with it as well. Its a stellar performer and should be considered to be quite legendary. Take care. Bob
I'll agree on both the 180AIs and 180AF, stellar. Should have kept one of those but at the time needed money for something else that I thought would be worth more.
, but the AF-S Nikkor 2,8/24-70mm N, the AF-S Nikkor 2,8/80-200mm and the AF-Nikkor 2,0/135mm DC are excellent lenses 
, I´ll never want to do without those again. 
