Be Excellent To Each Other

What sort of lens should I go for? This is the question that has been tormenting me for sometime. ("All of them! BUY BUY BUY!" - Decca) From tomorrow I've got up to about £450 to spend, but I'm torn between several options. So I figured I'd throw it open to the Beex crowd for suggestions, see if there's a format they think I'm more suited for or something. Obviously I love my primes, but the 16-85mm is quite tempting too for sheer flexability and sharpness. Pricy, mind.

My only current lens is a 35mm f/1.8 - so I could go any way from there.

I think it probably depends a bit on what your plans are, travelwise etc.

Hmm...

Macro lenses are also great for portraits too so the Nikkor 60 and 85 would eat your budget nicely. Don't forget my favourite lens, the Tamron 90mm macro (much cheaper than those at £270).

I thought you'd be more tempted to go down the wide angle route though as your 35mm covers your portrait needs brilliantly and you have a fantastic eye for landscapes.

The flexibility of the 16-85 would be great too, especially on your travels.

That doesn't really help does it?

My Tokina 11-16 is so wide it rips a hole in space/time. Buy one.

I forget if it's the D90 or D5000 you have * is for the D90.

Tamron 17-50 non-VC
*Nikon 90 mm 1.8 AF (FX lens so is it 75 mm in DX?)
Nikon 16-85 VR
*Sigma 70-300 AF (without the red ring)

So what lens are you going to go for?

I've narrowed it down (ha!) to three, and I honestly cannot decide. It's going to be either the:

16-85mm f/3.5-5.6

Pros: Great flexibility. Sharp. Landscape action! No other real options for wide angle for DX's.
Cons: Not much speed. Meh bokeh. Big and bulky. Pricy. If I want low aperture I'll be buying additional primes in this focal range.

60mm f/2.8 AF-S

Pros: Macro. Good walkabout portrait focal length. Good bokeh.
Cons: Variable aperture means f/2.8 won't always be available. May be too sharp for portraits.
85mm f/1.8 AF-D

Pros: Sharp. Very sexy bokeh. Great portrait lens. Interesting tight landscape use. Great for gigs. Very affordable.
Cons: Not terribly flexible. Not enough working room for the average room indoors.

I honestly cannot decide. This is the hardest purchasing decision I've ever made!

Like I've said before you'll get them all eventually, so get the one you fancy the most for now. You're just putting the others on hold.

Not letting the hive-mind have the final say then?

I am tempted to follow their advice! The only niggle is the lack of speed and the suspicion that I'd end up buying the 60mm and the 85mm eventually, negating half its worth.

How about a
50mm 1.8, £110
set of Kenko AF extension tubes, £119
reverse mount ring £25
and speedlight? Nikon SB-600 - £225

That will get you more portrait fun and plenty of scope for macro AND the flash you mentioned.

x

Not really, it's nice and wide for landscapes and a great walkabout lens plus it will hold it's value - still think you should test out the Tamron 17-50 2.8 non-VC though, it's a lot cheaper and if you decide to get the primes then you won't feel like you are doubleing up.

Not really what?

post above yours, "negating half its worth"

I made cup of tea in between reply and post.

Ah ok.

Apart from the one I mentioned above which is a DX model.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tokina/11-16mm.htm

Tempting, might be slightly too wide for my tastes. (I'm more of a 16-24mm type.) Also a bit pricy, but yeah, it does look pretty good.

Damnitt though, Nikon! Why don't you release a pissing wide angle, eh?!

Also - leaning towards the 85mm f/1.8.

Oh, the 1.8ƒ 85mm rather than the 85mm f/3.5G ED IF VR AF-S DX Micro?

Well in a way I'm glad you're leaning towards the 1.8ƒ as you may as well spend your cash on a Tamron 90mm if you wanted to go down the macro route. Looks like a cracking choice for the photos you enjoy taking.

Sweet Jesus, there's some beautiful samples out there from the 1.8ƒ 85mm.

The bokeh looks extremely good.

Aye! See 'em here folks:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=85mm+f% ... ss=2&s=int

Also, been mulling over Chinny's idea. I think he is indeed onto something with his Tokina 11-16mm recommendation. Although apparently, the 12-24mm is almost as good and if not quite as sharp towards the 24mm end is still well worth it, and at around £170 cheaper! So, if I buy either that or the 85mm first I'll have a nicely rounded lens collection!

12-24mm 'Interesting' photos here:

#page=2">http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=12-24mm ... int#page=2

So I reluctantly rule out the 16-85mm. I may buy Monday, I may buy four weeks from now, but something's being bought, that's for sure!

Lalala I can't heeeeaaarrrr you.

(Shut up, Pete! I own a Nikon now remember!)

I have the Canon EF-S 10-22 and it's by far my absolute favourite lens. Have a lovely wide angle lens is a real treat.

Muah ha ha!

Noticed some good macro stuff using kenko extension tubes and the 85mm f/1.8d, so I've decided to buy that and then get the tubes, skipping the 60mm AF-S macro - at least for now. I've spotted an 85mm for £240 on Amazon Marketplace, reckon I'll buy that tonight. Only ten feedbacks but 100% satisfaction and all positive, so seems safe and they all mentioned prompt delivery.

Attention! I have laid down the coin for the 85mm f/1.8d from Amazon marketplace. Now to play the waiting game. Hope I get good use out of it. Be interesting to see how it fares in street photography. Also, once I have it the editor of Cardiff Buzz magazine, whom I was chatting with today, says he might have some gig photography for me to do. Asked to see some of my prior gig pics! Don't know how serious it is but sounds promising!

Ace news on both counts, Pete.

That's great Pete.

Awesome news, Pete!