Lens for a D700

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Jango

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I am needing a zoom for my D700, I have at the moment 2 primes a 50mm & a 85mm both Nikon, I love Nikon glass but at the mo don't want to spend on the 24-70 2.8, so guys, what do you recommend, I shoot portraits and general stuff
 
Nikon 24-120 f4 ?
 
Lately there's been a couple of 24-120mm f/4 up for sale here on tp... £550-600...

Can only give it a "Highly recommended", but I'm of course severely biased...
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A little review: http://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-24-120mm-f4g-vr/4
 
How much do you want to spend? The 24-120/4 is extremely good, but also pretty good is the 24-85 VR if you're on a budget.
 
At the risk of getting shot down in flames.... :) If you're strapped for cash there's always a used, oldy but goody, 28-105. Or forget about a zoom and get a 28/1.8.
 
I have the Nikkor 28-105, if you use it in good light and step it down a bit its a lovely lens. I find the rendering more pleasant than the 85 and 28 1.8 G that I have but its not as sharp. The 24-85 VR is also not a bad option.
 
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, so long as you get a sharp one. I didn't so it had to go. Very soft down the right hand side. Needed f/11 to even start to look good.

Now got a nikkor 35-70 f/2.8. Love it. Everything the Tamron was not. Including heavy and well built!
I have a 20mm and 50mm so fits in well with other D lenes I have.
 
Another vote for the 35-70 f2.8, great no nonsense pro grade lens, useful close up 'macro' mode as well.
 
Thanks guys, certainly a fair few to choose from there. Will check them out.
 
005269 said:
Another vote for the 35-70 f2.8, great no nonsense pro grade lens, useful close up 'macro' mode as well.
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Not considered this lens but may be a good option. The thing is I have come from a D300 using a 17-55 lens that was tack sharp. I do prefer Nikon glass. As regards the 24-85 I think I have heard good and bad about this lens. The same with the 24-120 although a nice reach, thanks for everyone's help.
 
Make sure it's the f/4 version, it's way, way better than the old variable aperture one.
 
I use the 28-70 F2.8 on my D700 and it's a stunning lens. Caveat to that is that, like all the other F2.8 zooms, it's a heavy lens, and especially so when on the D700 which is a heavy body. I tend to use primes more these days, altough I also have the 28-105 which isn't a bad little lens, light and reasonably sharp.
 
Nod said:
Make sure it's the f/4 version, it's way, way better than the old variable aperture one.
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I will do thanks, I know really you can't compare but the 70-200 vr F4 is brilliant on my camera, I used a friends, so surely the 24-120 should be similar sharpness?


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viewfromthenorth said:
I use the 28-70 F2.8 on my D700 and it's a stunning lens. Caveat to that is that, like all the other F2.8 zooms, it's a heavy lens, and especially so when on the D700 which is a heavy body. I tend to use primes more these days, altough I also have the 28-105 which isn't a bad little lens, light and reasonably sharp.
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Nice but really heavy, like the 24-70. The D700 is heavy really to start with, for me. Thank you though for your comment


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The f/4 version is great unless you need the extra stop that f/2.8 will give you. The D700 is more than capable of AF with the slower f/4 lens and also very capable at high ISOs so f/4 is fine on it. The only real loss is the shallow DoF that f/2.8 allows.
 
The main problem with all of these suggestions is one of weight.
If you find the D700 body heavy then most of these lenses are adding a considerable amount relatively speaking.
Don't forget that all zooms are a compromise - can you add to your range by using a lighter prime perhaps?
Just a thought
cheers, cw
 
Chris Wilson said:
The main problem with all of these suggestions is one of weight.
If you find the D700 body heavy then most of these lenses are adding a considerable amount relatively speaking.
Don't forget that all zooms are a compromise - can you add to your range by using a lighter prime perhaps?
Just a thought
cheers, cw
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I could Chris, was just looking to put a zoom on for most of the time, I love the primes, but I hate swapping and changing lenses, but it is something to consider.
 
Jango said:
...the 70-200 vr F4 is brilliant on my camera, I used a friends, so surely the 24-120 should be similar sharpness?


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You should check the above link to PhotographyLife...
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I was in a very similar situation to you and tried a few different ones, all secondhand. The one that gets most use is the 24-120 f4 which tends to stay on there ready for most situations. My first zoom for it, having spent all the money on the body was a cheap as chips Nikon 28-80 3.3-5.6G, far better than any piece of plastic deserves to be and lots of them out there on ebay with very little to lose.
 
Jan K. said:
You should check the above link to PhotographyLife...
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Yeah I have seen that link, it is just so different when you have a portrait image to see & zoom into on your computer, it does get good sharpness. Many thanks.
 
For portraits, there are loads in the dedicated 24-120mm thread over at the NikonCafe!
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Not that I'm trying to sell anything to anybody!
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Ok, somewhere I have never looked, will do it now, thank you.
 
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