24-70 f2.8 Nikon alternative

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Jan Solo

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I am new to Nikon having bought a D700 yesterday. I looked at the 24-70 and didn't realise it was so expensive. Is there a good, cheaper alternative????

I would search myself, and have, but need help being new to Nikon.

Thanks in advance.
 
Tamron 28-75 (Screw Driver version - A09)

98% of the performance of the 24-70 for 25% of the price :D
 
Jan Solo said:
I am new to Nikon having bought a D700 yesterday. I looked at the 24-70 and didn't realise it was so expensive. Is there a good, cheaper alternative????

I would search myself, and have, but need help being new to Nikon.

Thanks in advance.
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The older Nikkor 35-70 f2.8D can be found used around the £300 mark. not as wide but sharp as a tack.
 
Quick replies, thanks. Tamron is in my price range at the moment. Also getting the 85 f1.8, so the 2 together is 6-700 quid. I really want the nikon 14mm but may have to wait for a relative to pass on for that one!!!
 
Luke's 28-70 f/2.8 in the Classifieds would be a good choice, if it's still available :thumbs:

Edit:
Depends how much cheaper you need to go. what's the budget? :shrug:

Edit:
Ok, budget now set :|
 
Jan Solo said:
Quick replies, thanks. Tamron is in my price range at the moment. Also getting the 85 f1.8, so the 2 together is 6-700 quid. I really want the nikon 14mm but may have to wait for a relative to pass on for that one!!!
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That 85mm f1.8 is a cracking Lens I have one and love it and a real bargain. I was just using it as stop gap till I get the f1.4 but think i'll just keep this one and save my money. :)
 
That 85mm f1.8 is a cracking Lens I have one and love it and a real bargain. I was just using it as stop gap till I get the f1.4 but think i'll just keep this one and save my money
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thats interesting to hear, loving it then? i dont think the focal length would be ideal on crop but im pretty tempted
 
fontmoss said:
thats interesting to hear, loving it then? i dont think the focal length would be ideal on crop but im pretty tempted
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Why not, if you've got the space or outdoors.. the 105 and 135 are well respected portrait lenses and an 85 on a crop is nicely between the two :)
 
Jan, you didn't say what you wanted it for...

All of the above assumes you want it for static subjects... if you want a short, sharp, fast AF'ing lens it has to be the Nikon 24-70. None of the alternatives give you the speed.

Just a consideration for you...
 
Nikon 24-70mm doesn't seem to be in stock at any of the £1,200 vendors at the moment anyway. I'm still waiting on Warehouse Express to get some stock in. I've heard it may be months.....
 
SLRist said:
Nikon 24-70mm doesn't seem to be in stock at any of the £1,200 vendors at the moment anyway. I'm still waiting on Warehouse Express to get some stock in. I've heard it may be months.....
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WHE got me a 24-70 on Tuesday, and the order was placed at 4pm on Monday...
 
Jan Solo said:
I am new to Nikon having bought a D700 yesterday. I looked at the 24-70 and didn't realise it was so expensive. Is there a good, cheaper alternative????

I would search myself, and have, but need help being new to Nikon.
Click to expand...

I cannot comment on Tamron but a good copy of Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 of 24-60 f/2.8 (older screw driven models) will be very good for the money. I have been using the one for a year now and it is very sharp. You can get them used for around 200-220 pounds now (either here or on eBay). Just make sure as with any good lens to request a sample images with lens fully open (at f/2.8) on near, middle and far ned of the zoom to see how it oc in terms of sharpness.
 
dalex_257 said:
I'd avoid them as a plague - grey import and bad after sales service...
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I'd agree. I don't mind the grey import - but they make allot of effort to looke like they're UK based which to me speaks volumes.

Hugh
 
they're a Hong Kong base supplier so the grey import, they just make a lot of effort to look as though they're based in Nottingham

Hugh
 
boyfalldown said:
they're a Hong Kong base supplier so the grey import, they just make a lot of effort to look as though they're based in Nottingham
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But that's not grey import. Grey import is when a company imports stock into the country outside of the manufacturer's usual distribution and importation channels. Buying from an overseas supplier as an individual isn't a grey import, buying from a UK based company (or UK based subsid of an international firm) that is importing the goods outside of the usual channels is.
 
NorthernNikon said:
But that's not grey import. Grey import is when a company imports stock into the country outside of the manufacturer's usual distribution and importation channels. Buying from an overseas supplier as an individual isn't a grey import, buying from a UK based company (or UK based subsid of an international firm) that is importing the goods outside of the usual channels is.
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It is a Grey Import as you will not have paid any VAT on it, and it has not come through the recognised distributor for the country.
 
puddleduck said:
WHE got me a 24-70 on Tuesday, and the order was placed at 4pm on Monday...
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When did you place the order? They've shown 24-70s on back order on their website for at least a week now...

Just called them and they have no expected shipment date from Nikon yet, despite having made two order requests to them. Sounds like they're not shipping to the UK at the moment.

Anyone know where I can get a Nikon 24-70mm for around the £1,200 mark (dodgy dealers excepted)?
 
Martyn... said:
It is a Grey Import as you will not have paid any VAT on it, and it has not come through the recognised distributor for the country.
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Grey imports have nothing to do with VAT. Importing goods and not paying applicable duty and VAT is illegal. Grey imports are not illegal per se. Whether you pay VAT or not comes down to the fact that the supplier takes a chance on it not being picked up by customs not because they are exempt.

Grey imports can be completely safe, legitimate transactions, have VAT and duties paid on them and you'll have no bother. If anything, dealing with a UK based supplier may increase your rights.

Dealing with overseas suppliers means that the transaction may not be covered by UK or EU law leaving you in a more vunerable position. Of course you can buy kit from reputable traders from around the world and get better service than you would in the UK.

The point is that when you buy kit in the grey import kit in the UK you are covered by UK and EU law. There may be a tenuous argument to say that kit you bring in/have shipped in is a grey import, but not until you ship it in, but it would IMVHO be stretching the definition some way. Up until that point, the kit is in no way a Grey import because it's still in the orginal country the manufacturer intended it to be supplied in (unless of course it was Grey Imported into there)
 
SLRist said:
When did you place the order? They've shown 24-70s on back order on their website for at least a week now...

Just called them and they have no expected shipment date from Nikon yet, despite having made two order requests to them. Sounds like they're not shipping to the UK at the moment.

Anyone know where I can get a Nikon 24-70mm for around the £1,200 mark (dodgy dealers excepted)?
Click to expand...

try Castle Cameras. I picked one up from them today.
 
SLRist said:
When did you place the order? They've shown 24-70s on back order on their website for at least a week now...

Just called them and they have no expected shipment date from Nikon yet, despite having made two order requests to them. Sounds like they're not shipping to the UK at the moment.

Anyone know where I can get a Nikon 24-70mm for around the £1,200 mark (dodgy dealers excepted)?
Click to expand...

I was in Jessops, Glasgow, (Sauchiehall St Branch) two weeks ago - they had 3 and were willing to match Calumet's £1200 price.
 
Rockshifter said:
I was in Jessops, Glasgow, (Sauchiehall St Branch) two weeks ago - they had 3 and were willing to match Calumet's £1200 price.
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Yep, you're right there. My local Jessops has one in stock and they're willing to price match £1,200 - so I'm going to drop by later and pick it up! Nice one. :thumbs:
 
Jan Solo said:
I am new to Nikon having bought a D700 yesterday. I looked at the 24-70 and didn't realise it was so expensive. Is there a good, cheaper alternative????

I would search myself, and have, but need help being new to Nikon.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I bought a Tamron 24-135mm until the Nikon 24-70mm gets a bit more sensibly priced, having used it I may not bother with the Nikon.

kev
 
Kev said:
I bought a Tamron 24-135mm until the Nikon 24-70mm gets a bit more sensibly priced, having used it I may not bother with the Nikon.

kev
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I've got one of those. Nice find, as they are REALLY hard to get.
 
EmZee said:
They're refering to the specific shop mentioned in the post as being 'crap'. By most accounts the Tamron is a good performer/value for money.
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I read it as

"simply some not very good reviews from them on here if you search"

:bonk:

Now to try and find one...
 
Jan Solo said:
Quick replies, thanks. Tamron is in my price range at the moment. Also getting the 85 f1.8, so the 2 together is 6-700 quid. I really want the nikon 14mm but may have to wait for a relative to pass on for that one!!!
Click to expand...


forget about hte 85, save £100 more and get the sigma 24-70 f2.8 HSM lens for £799 from dale photographic.
 
dalex_257 said:
I cannot comment on Tamron but a good copy of Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 of 24-60 f/2.8 (older screw driven models) will be very good for the money. I have been using the one for a year now and it is very sharp. You can get them used for around 200-220 pounds now (either here or on eBay). Just make sure as with any good lens to request a sample images with lens fully open (at f/2.8) on near, middle and far ned of the zoom to see how it oc in terms of sharpness.
Click to expand...
+1 for me.
I went for the Sigma (24-70) over the Tamron based on reviews I'd read on the web, was going to describe it as a sweet little lens, but small it ain't (82mm filter ring size).
 
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