Is it worth it?

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Tunbridge

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I’ve currently got a D3000 which I’ve had a while now with the kit lens (non VR). Last year I got a Nikon 50mm 1.4 and love it, I just find it a bit limiting sometimes as a lot of my photography is of my young family and the fix focal length can be limiting as they don’t stand still very long (if at all). I also get sick of changing back to the kit lens every time I need something wider.
As I’ve got some money burning a hole in my pocket I was thinking about investing in a Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 as I’ve read good things about it, it falls in my budget (second hand) and I think it would really suit my needs as an everyday walk about lens. The question is whether its wasted on my D3000? I will upgrading the body later to a better DX format Nikon (not sure which yet but maybe a second hand D300s?) but in the meantime will I see the benefit or should I upgrade the body first and stick with my kit lens?

I was thinking that if I did get the 17-55mm 2.8 and use it most of the time I’d probably sell the 50mm 1.4 to raise funds towards upgrading the body.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone used a lens as good as this on an entry level body?
 
Don't know anything about Nikon but I'm sure putting a decent lens on your body will get good results and won't be a waste. Besides, when you eventually upgrade you won't have to look out for such a lens as you will already have one.

As for selling the 1.4 to cover the 17-55mm f2.8 .. depends on which you will use the most but I will bet any amount of money that the majority of people would use a 17-55mm more than the 50mm.

I do anyway. :)
 
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Good glass is always worth it. Keep the 50 if you can afford to for a coupla months.
Move it on if you find you're not using it.
 
I agree, a decent lens will never be a waste, and you should be able to sell it with depreciation than you will get selling the camera body. Also you then have a lens which will perform well on any other DX camera that you choose to upgrade to.
 
Yep, I'm with lens first crowd (though I haven't always followed my own advice).

I bought a D3000 a few weeks ago as it was going cheap and I find a second body pretty handy. I have been playing around with the 24-70 on the D3000 and though it looks a bit out of place, the results are just fantastic. In terms of pure results, you'll get far more benefit from a nice lens than a change in body.

So yep, I say got for the 17-55
 
I'd say keep the 50mm too. I have the 17-55 for my D7000 (had a D3000 but didn't have that lens at the time) but the 50mm is great for portraits (I only have the 1.8 - would love to try the 1.4!). I had been planning to sell my 35mm f/1.8 to part-pay for my 17-55 but I was too attached in the end and have kept it. I'd recommend considering a D7000 when you upgrade btw - I love it! Add the grip to it too and it's as chunky as the D300 just about...
 
Thanks again guys, looks like the 17-55 will be the way forward.

I will probably keep the 50mm 1.4 even if it's just for occasional use as I'm really pleased with the results it gives.

In the long term i'd love the D7000, can't quite justify it at the moment but one day!
 
I bought my D7000 in Poland for £719 - think the price has gone up since due to short supply after flooding in Thailand so glad I got it when I did! :)
 
Well I went a bought a 17-55mm 2.8 (out of the classifieds on here)! Looks great, certainly another league to the kit lens. It does look a bit daft strapped to the front of the small body of the D3000 and isn't all that well balanced but I knew this was going to be the case and will be rectified later in the year when I upgrade the body.

Haven't used it in anger yet as its raining but I'll report back on the results when I do.

Thanks for the advice again guys, appreciated as always.
 
Tunbridge said:
Well I went a bought a 17-55mm 2.8 (out of the classifieds on here)! Looks great, certainly another league to the kit lens. It does look a bit daft strapped to the front of the small body of the D3000 and isn't all that well balanced but I knew this was going to be the case and will be rectified later in the year when I upgrade the body.

Haven't used it in anger yet as its raining but I'll report back on the results when I do.

Thanks for the advice again guys, appreciated as always.
Click to expand...

Enjoy the lens ...it can produce some amazing results :thumbs:
 
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