Nikon Kit Lens Replacement

rhubarb

rhubarb

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Giles
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(groan not another what lens thread....)

Hi all, big dilemma at the moment. My wife's D70 is being repaired and she'll soon be wanting here 18-70 kit lens back which I've been using on my D300 since I had it, so I'm looking for a replacement.

Its going to have to fit in between my 10-20 (which lives on the camera at the moment) and 70-200. If I was a canonite then there'd be no choice it'd be the 24-105 f4 but Nikon / Sigma don't do an equivalent which is a shame.

I do find myself constantly changing lenses at the moment. I'm doing a lot of travel around asia and it would be nice to have something I could just leave on. And when travelling weight is always an issue.

So my choices are as I see them

1) Nikon 18-70 f3.5-4.5 - ie another kit lens. Never had a problem with it, quite like it and its quite sharp. But I do find it satying off the camera now in prefernece for the 10-20 and then going to the 70-200 (but thats too heavy for general use) - probably a missed opertunity I guess

2) Nikon 16-85 f3.5-5.6 VR - seems to be the replacement for the above, and it's getting good reviews and VR would probably be usful. Extra length also useful could consider this a walkabout but the max appeture could be a worry for low light - I take a lot of night shots you see - but VR2 supposedly drops it by upto 4 stops

3) Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 - seems lots of people like this and it would give me a little more appeture over option 1.

4) Sigma 24-70 f2.8 - would the loss of 4mm at the bottom end be an issue, nice to have constant f2.8 all the way through but is it better than option 3), also here its a little clunky

5) Sigma 18-50 f2.8 - I considered this a while ago before I got the 10-20. A lot of people I spoke to says it doesn't really offer any more than the kit lens in real terms, and the gap from 50-70 might be an issue.

So there's the dilemma - oh haven't included the Nikon 18-55 or 24-70 (which I'd love) but they're stupid money really. Have I missed anything? So any ideas? Option 2 and 3 seem to be the best I have at the moment

Thanks
 
Is cost an issue in deciding?
 
foodpoison said:
I would go for the 18-70 again.
It is a fantastic lens, with a fantastic focal length.
Click to expand...

:agree: get another one, unless you really want to splash out and get the 24-70 f2.8 which is silly money


edit - I have been looking at the sigma 50-150 f2.8 HSM II as a walkabout lens, but you would lose some width between the 10-20 and that, but its significantly lighter then the 70-200 :dunno:
 
I too have the 18-70 and it is what is on the body when the camera comes out of the bag.
 
Yep cost is a factor hence the Nikon f2.8 were out of the question. I'm in Hong Kong at the moment so the range for the Sigmas is £186 for the 24-70 to £222 for the 18-55 so not much in it really, and then the Nikon 16-85 is £340 which is at the very topest end.

The 18-70 is a tempter I have to admit
 
rhubarb said:
Yep cost is a factor hence the Nikon f2.8 were out of the question. I'm in Hong Kong at the moment so the range for the Sigmas is £186 for the 24-70 to £222 for the 18-55 so not much in it really, and then the Nikon 16-85 is £340 which is at the very topest end.

The 18-70 is a tempter I have to admit
Click to expand...

:lol: See how much you can get me a Sigma 120-300 for while you are there please :nuts:
 
rhubarb said:
Yep cost is a factor hence the Nikon f2.8 were out of the question. I'm in Hong Kong at the moment so the range for the Sigmas is £186 for the 24-70 to £222 for the 18-55 so not much in it really, and then the Nikon 16-85 is £340 which is at the very topest end.

The 18-70 is a tempter I have to admit
Click to expand...


whatever you buy remember to flatpack the box in a padded envelope to home if you want to keep it.

all helps confuse those nice customs people if they stop you.

Of course I'm sure you will stop and declare it:)
 
I would stick with the 18-70 kit lens but for travelling with a lighter bag, I would be tempted by the 18-200 offerings from Nikon or Sigma (both VR or OS). The only thing stopping me getting one of these superzooms is that they are Dx only and I still use film.
 
LadyLens said:
:lol: See how much you can get me a Sigma 120-300 for while you are there please :nuts:
Click to expand...

There about £1100 here, but I' m affriad I don't have anywhere near enough luggage allowance to lump that through I'm affraid !!! I was amazed when the postman turned up with mine just how huge the thing is in it box. I asked if he'd made a mistake but he hadn't, then I opened it thinking there must be tons of packaging - but nope just it's carry case. It is great though
 
My weapon of choice in that league is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. It is just simply a fantastic lens - I believe the new model incorporates its own AF motor now :)
 
ive got the 17-70mm 2.8 on my d70 and it hardly ever comes off the camera. Its wideish and longish and produces some nice pictures and its also a decent price i picked mine up for just over 100 notes :)
 
rhubarb said:
There about £1100 here, but I' m affriad I don't have anywhere near enough luggage allowance to lump that through I'm affraid !!! I was amazed when the postman turned up with mine just how huge the thing is in it box. I asked if he'd made a mistake but he hadn't, then I opened it thinking there must be tons of packaging - but nope just it's carry case. It is great though
Click to expand...

:lol: I know, I just had one for a week, you should have seen the looks I was getting, little woman, BIG lens!
 
I'd go for the Sigma 24-70. It's a great bit of glass, well made and very versatile. I don't think that the 4mm between 20 & 24 cant be covered by taking a step backwards really, so it's not really an issue at all.

UK price is about £270'ish, but imports are about £50 less. (You can tell I've been looking can't you :D)

Steve
 
id get the sigma too mate, ive got the 24-60 f2.8, and its super sharp and great quality (77mm filters *** ££££££££)

I sometimes wish i had a bit wider, but eventually i will buy a 10-20 so it wont really be an issue...

4mm is nothing, and if you cant step back a few pacesto get it at 24, shoot at 20mm with the 10-20 and crop it a tad.
 
Can I add to your confusion?

How about the two-together, 18-55 and 55-200? Great price combination and each is very light. Even their VR counterparts are feather-light.

And then there is the excellent 24-120VR! I had this for years before I sadly got rid off it. It has excellent range, wonderful image quality; and best of all a fantastic range.
 
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