Ok I just purchased my Nikon D700 and I am looking at purchasing some lenses. I have a budget of $2,200. I am looking at the nikkor 50mm f1.4G or f1.8G or 85mm f1.4G or f1.8G. I also was looking at the 24-70 f2.8 G. I already have the 70-200 f2.8vrII. or if there are other sugeestions let me know.....
My pic taking covers everything from portraits to landscape to achitectual type photos. Pretty much what ever enyone will pay for I will shoot it.
This is just a side business to make money to but more photo toys.
Although, I could get a 50mm f1.4 ($425) and a 85 f1.8 G $500 and still gert the 24-70 f2.8? $1500 and be only slightly over budget. Would I be duplicating the primes with a 50mm and a 85mm??
It depends on your needs but I would say either the 24-70mm plus 50mm 1.8g combo or if you favor primes, 28, 50, 85 1.8g and save the rest for a rainy day.
My combo I have been rockin lately is the 28 1.8G and the 85 1.8G. I also have a 24-70 and 70-200. For that budget though I would get the 16-35 f/4, 28 1.8G and the 85 1.8G.
Sigma 85 1.4 great value, hardly a better portrait lens out there
24-70 2.8G fast and versatile and very good, not such a bargain but hey it goes with your 70-200
Then think about if you want to go wider or longer - 70-200 is good with TC's, or maybe you'll be wanting an UWA prime or zoom. The 14-24 / 24-70 / 70-200 holy trinity plus a nice portrait prime like the Sigma 85 will have you covered for just about everything but serious wildlife photography, assuming you have a flash and good tripod.
I'll offer some advice nonetheless. For the uses you list above, the best value for money are manual focus lenses, not the latest and greatest AF lenses. Granted, using MF lenses requires that you use the fingers of your left hand to turn the focusing ring. It also requires peering through the excellent viewfinder of the D700 to make certain when you depress the shutter button that the image is in focus. Were you a photojournalist or sports photographer, taking the time to do these simple things may not work. Or if you have kids running around, it can be helpful to have a quick AF lens. Perhaps that is the case for you. If not, you would be wise to at least consider the amazing assortment of Nikon manual focus lenses that are surely the equal of modern lenses for most applications.
I have 32 manual focus lenses in my kit and the most expensive lens cost $625. But I bought eight or nine for less than a hundred dollars. You will note on the Nikon forum that the busiest thread is the Manual Focus Nikon Glass thread. There are photographers from around the world using these lenses for practically every application and enjoying them a great deal. This is not to say you need to use only MF lenses, but rather, since you've jumped into Nikon waters, it makes sense to check them out. I did exactly that after moving from Canon and have been having the time of my life with these gorgeous lenses. Here's a sampling...
I second what CGrindahl stated! If you do NOT need AF (use LV ), these MF lenses are SPECTACULAR! Too bad OM Zuiko lenses don't work with Nikon (you can do a mount conversion though), as they have some spectacular lenses as well.
But to give my two cents on the lenses dilemma, do you like primes better than a zoom? I used to be a zoom person, but I actually like primes better. Vinnie has a great suggestion - and that Sigma is getting rave reviews! Brandon also has good advice on the lenses.
Do you need fast glass or auto focus? I would do Samyang 14mm 2.8, Sigma 35mm and 85mm 1.8G and enough left over to get either a 50mm 1.8G or a 24mm of some sort..
I would say that more than anything, I used my 24-70mm f/2.8 the most with my D700 when I had it. Even now - Its my go to lens for my D800 when I am shooting general subjects. I also have the 1.8 trifecta kit which I sometimes bring with me for a lightweight option - and they are nice sharp primes. (28mm, 50mm, 85mm 1.8G lenses)
While the 24-70 would certainly be my first choice, I am really loving the 16-35VR also. For your budget you could also compliment that with a 50G 1.4 and maybe an 85G 1.8.
If you don't want to spend money, buy one of the pieced out Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G vr lenses that have been coming off the D600 kits. They are on the buy and sell a lot brand new for between $350 - $400 depending on the seller.
Then supplement it with the 85mm f/1.8G or 50mm f/1.8G
No question the 24-70 is state of the art. But for a fraction of the price you could get the 35-70 f/2.8 which is still a fully "pro" lens and have enough left over for a nice wide angle and/or a portrait lens.
My preference would be to skip the "G" models and go for the AF-D versions. So make it a 28-70mm ƒ/2.8 AF-D, 50mm ƒ/1.4 AF-D, and 85mm ƒ/1.4 AF-D. VR is not required by me but an aperture ring is.
I can't get used to going without an aperture ring to ratchet.
