My wife has to travel to London for work, I get to tag along for 6 days! Whooooo Hooooo! So I have my trusty D700 and can't decide which glass to bring. I wouldn't call my zoom lens glass, poo glass would be a better term. It's a Sigma 28-200 f3.5. I would love to have the nikon 24-70 2.8 but $ is a little tight these days. So the 85 1.4 or the 50 1.8? What's your vote? Please don't say both. Thanks guys and gals!

--Micah

How about the 24-85 (either version)?

All I have is the 85, 50 and 28-200 poo glass.

Uhm, the 85/1.4 will cost like ten 50/1.8s ... 50 mm will be more useful for general photography with a D700. I wouldn't go to a big city without a wide(r) angle though.

Take advantage of the full frame sensor and to some shopping on old manual focusing glass! A 24/50/105 kit will set you back for almost nothing, will cover almost every situation and IQ is better than most zooms - and also a lot lighter and more discrete.

Edit: Didn't see your last post, thought you're about to buy new glass.

Well, I'd go with the 85mm if you expect to take pictures mainly of people, or the 50 if you're not sure what you'll be seeing.

I'll be by myself most of the time, so taking pictures of strangers might get me beat up. the 50 is nice an light. Sounds like the 50 is my best bet.

Too bad you can't grab a manual focus 24mm f2.8 or something for the wides.

What does that bad boy cost?

Hmm, not that cheap after all. Just had a look at graysofwestminster, a Nikon UK dealer, and they've got a used 24mm ai for 450 US. Not sure why it's that expensive but hey. You can get a brand new 28mm af-d lens costs around 270 US from bhphotovideo in the states.

Try to find a used Tamron 28-75 2.8 I love it on my D700.

Sounds tempting. That $270.00 could buy me a few beers in the UK.

24-85 2.8-4 or tam 28-75 2.8 both light and versatile

Just shoot with the 85 f/1.4 Or if you must travel light, then the 50 f/1.8 will do just dandy!

Take shots that suit your lens, or get a Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4. Cheap and sharp (if you get a good one) and light and wide... I personally would take all of them...

are you buying a new lens? if so you might also want to take a look at the sigma 24-70 either the new one or the old one without hsm (i have that one and it lives on my D700).
If you stick with your old lenses i'd take the poo glass with you and the 50mm prime.
Poo glass or not, you will make some fine images with it. you have 12mp. probably most will be resized for web or small print, so don't bother about the poo glass. it will do fine. Even a large print will still be ok with a little work. enjoy and share some poo

Micah25 wrote:
Sounds tempting. That $270.00 could buy me a few beers in the UK.

In London? You'd be lucky to get tipsy on that!!
What's wrong with taking both the 85 and 50? Not sure about the 85, but the 50 can be carried around in a pocket, it wont weigh you down.

you could rent the 24-70 if that is the fl you want

good idea.

You can rent from www.fixation.com or Calumet, though they might want a credit card deposit equal to the price of the lens.
UK prices are not particularly high - excluding tax
Our lenses are advertised including import duty and VAT - increasing prices by about 22% compared to USA prices which do not include State and City taxes.

I would buy a Tamron 28-75 2.8 and sell it back if money is an issue...

On the other hand, if you hesitate to spend $300 while owning a D700, how are you going to survive in London, one of the most expensive locations in the world ? eating and drinking for 6 days in London will cost you much more than any lens...

Guy