Advice on a lens to buy please

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dapogbite

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Hello to Gurus on the site.
This is my first post and I will appreciate you help and advise.

I am using a nikkor 18-55 lens on my D7000 and I also have a nikkor 50mm 1.8d which I don't really use because I don't fancy having to go far back to take a picture of a group of people since that is what I do most.

I am looking to get a good lens with a bit of bokeh if possible and I have been looking at the following which are within my little budget:

Nikkor 35mm 1.8
Tamrom 17-50 2.8
Sigma 17-70
and also nikkor 24mm 2.8

BTW, why is the nikkor 35mm 1.4 so costly compare to the 1.8?

Please note that the picture sharpness and quality is the first thing I am after followed by the blur.

I will so much appreciate your candid opinion

Thanks

Thanks
 
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What is your budget?

From the ones you listed I'd suggest the tamron, an f2.8 lens will give you a nice blur while the 17-50 also gives a practical focal range. However I'd also suggest you consider the sigma 18-50 f.2.8, I have one and it's very good, nice and sharp too.
 
Thanks for the quick update.
I reckon I could get the lens I listed above for between £150 -250 which is my budget really.
I have read about people having to send the Tamrom 17-50 back for tuning etc.
I need people who have experience on the lenses to add please

Thanks
 
Also,
I am also considering the nikkor 24mm 2.8.
All I need is a sharp lens that I can have on my camera most of the time, including 'shooting' 3-4 people in a group in a get together party for instance

Thanks again!
 
A 17mm @ f/2.8 will have ~4x the DOF as a 35mm@ f/1.4 if used at the same distance. But since it can be used at 1/2 the distance it would have 2x the DOF when capturing the same subject composition. A 50mm @ f/2.8 would have ~ the same DOF and a 70mm @ f/2.8 would have less DOF (w/ the same subject composition).

Of those lenses the 35 f/1.8G is probably the best for this specific situation. The Sigma is probably the worst.

But be careful with short working distances...it leads to perspective changes ("distortion"). No lens is at it's best wide open; and a really shallow DOF can be problematic.
 
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The sigma 17-70 is a great lens I had one in the past,I know its not 2.8 all the way but with longer end I don't think you see such a big difference and you like the extra reach.
I find the Sigma much better build then the Tamron.

Why not go to a camera shop and try them on your camera and card so you see what its like on your camera.
 
Thanks everyone,

I know I can go to Jessops before they close to try some lenses.

Can anyone tell me where I can test lenses in East or Central London, UK please?
 
dapogbite said:
Thanks everyone,

I know I can go to Jessops before they close to try some lenses.

Can anyone tell me where I can test lenses in East or Central London, UK please?
Click to expand...

You're going to have a hard time going to Jessops since they are bankrupt. You could check out Calumet right next to Euston.
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
There's Camerworld who have 2 shops one is central the other is North just outside M25. There's also London Camera Exchange. I have used both companies and have always had good service from them
Click to expand...

Cameraworld's shops are firstly just noth of Oxford St W1, near the Plaza shopping centre, and secondly in Chelmsford in Essex, which is more East of London than north of it, and a fair way from the M25
 
Thanks everyone.
I was at Calumet as suggested but could only try the 35mm 1.8 which was the only one made available by them.
I am still undecided on what to go for but leaning towards the 35mm 1.8 at the moment. I would prefer the zoom range offered by the non-prime lenses but I am not sure about the overall picture quality?
I think the 35mm should be ok with my 18-55mm VR for now for weddings and birthday parties
 
I went to St Albans for a day out yesterday and found a Jessops open??

As for the 35mm, it is a great lens but i also find it a real pain in the arse in certain situations. From a personal point of view i find the versatility of my 18-55 kit lens to be a greater advantage than the so called optical quality of the 35mm
 
Yeah, Jessop has re-opened small number of stores. I am planning to visit the one close to me on Oxford Street in few days.

I have been using the 18-55 VR that came with my D3100 on my D7000 and it is good. The other lens I had was the 50mm 1.8D which I sold on ebay few days ago and I will be buying 35mm 1.8. I am considering Tamron 18-50 2.8 as the Sigma is still beyond my budget

Cheers
 
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