Advice needed on Lens collection/addition?

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nictry

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Bit of advice really to try and tidy up the lens collection (and keep my bag weight down!!!)

I currently have just upgraded to a D200 and although I am way low on the learning curve I am already feeling that my lens collection is not ideal for everyday shooting so would appreciate some advice on what to sell/change/buy to get a better (but realistically priced!!) set of glass?

I currently have the 18-55 Nikon kit lens, the Nikon 70-300VR (which I love), the Sigma 10-20mm (just bought but love already!) and a cheapo Nikkor 24mm F2.8 which is ok although I suspect I will probably be using the 10-20mm more instead now. I really think I need something to give me a wider range but the 18-200 vr is lots of money! And the 18-135 is just too poorly rated, I did just sell my Tamron 90mm Di which maybe I regret a little but as it wasn’t getting any Macro use I thought selling on to fund the D200 purchase was a great idea!

My key interests are landscape and wildlife but am being told off for not enough shots of the kids and ‘day to day’ stuff which basically is beacuase I prefer not to keep swapping the Sigma or VR over for the 18-55!

Any help/advice would be much appreciated?
 
get a 50mm F1.8 and be amazed that it's highly likely to become your most used (and cheapest) lens. It oozes character and will produce very flattering results of the kids.

(or! buy a nokton 58mm F1.4 for even better results, but it'll cost more and you have to manually focus... lovely lens though, mine's by far my favourite lens and I even sold my 70-200mm VR because it didn't impress me as much)
 
if I recall correctly, zoom lenses with a 3x magnification ratio or more (ie an 18-200mm: 200/18=1.111...) tend to be less optically perfect than those below.

As my esteemed colleague above states, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is screaming out for you (or the f/1.4 version!!). Or replace your kit lens for a 20something-70something f/2.8? I've had both the Tamron and Sigma versions, and was more than pleased with both.
 
Nikon 50mm 1.8,
Just got mine for £70 but about £100 more for the 1.4.
 
Aye... the 50mm 1.8 is the best lens at the best price. Never far from my reach that one!
 
Thanks for the advice thus far, must admit hadn't really considered the 50mm, I know everyone seems to like one in their bag but TBH couldn't really see the benefit as it just seems to slot in to the current lenses I own?
 
nictry said:
Thanks for the advice thus far, must admit hadn't really considered the 50mm, I know everyone seems to like one in their bag but TBH couldn't really see the benefit as it just seems to slot in to the current lenses I own?
Click to expand...

This just makes me want to convince you to buy one as with these low expectations you can only be pleased with it as a purchase. It's a wonderful lens and will certainly outshine the first two zooms you mentioned... However, if you fancy a decent zoom reddeathdrinker's suggestion of a 17-50mm 2.8 tamron is another safe bet (very sharp, creamy neutral colours etc) but just not quite as much personalty as the 50mm prime that's always mentioned. It really does deserve the hype. :)
 
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