Starter lens for D700

AndyWest

AndyWest

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I have just pulled the plug on a D700. I have never had full frame before but have always wanted one. I need to get a lens and was going to go for either a 50mm f1.8G (none in stock at work :( ) or the 1.4G version. Having played with 50mm lenses on FF I really do love the focal length and beautiful DOF you get with FF.

So Question is: Is there anything else I should be looking at in the 50mm range as a walk about lens. Budget is tight having just spent a wad on the D700! Short zoom, or another make would be fine.

Ta
 
24-70 f/2.8. Of the 50mm varieties, the f/1.8 is the best bang for buck, with the older pre D version probably being the best of the bunch. Mine cost just £40 a few years ago and outperforms the newer f/1.4 AF-S version in all but aperture at the widest. Not being a fan of ultra shallow DoF means I don't miss that 1/2 stop or so anyway!
 
Pre D eh! Interesting. I'll check that one out. Thanks.

Also trying to keep weight down too :D
 
Nod said:
24-70 f/2.8. Of the 50mm varieties, the f/1.8 is the best bang for buckQUOTE]

I can only echo this, for a walk about I will generally use my 50mm f/1.8g as my normal go to lens and I also have a Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 if I want a bit more flexibility in terms of focal length.

However the 24-70 may well be out of the question looking at your budget, I don't know how much sigma's offering go for used but it may well be worth looking at. Failing that, you won't go wrong with a 50mm.
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I tried the 50mm 1.8G on the D600 and it was pretty special, lovely depth of field and sharper than a sharp thing! I'll probably go for one of those to get me going. I do prefer primes!
 
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2nd hand 35-70 f2.8D, you can pick them up for around £200, pin sharp, built like a brick and I'm loath to take it off my D700!
 
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 without the built in motor is the best bang for buck you can have for the D700, ive got it and i recomend it all the time and those that have bought on my recomendation agree.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 without the built in motor is the best bang for buck you can have for the D700, ive got it and i recomend it all the time and those that have bought on my recomendation agree.
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Interesting. I'll check it out, thanks.

Some really good suggestions here, thanks all :thumbs:
 
AndyWest said:
Interesting. I'll check it out, thanks.

Some really good suggestions here, thanks all :thumbs:
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Plus one. I'm one of the guys he's recommended it to!

I bought this lens after Gary lent me his (very generously). The only thing to say is that it needs to be the non bim version if the body has a motor!

I made this mistake (thankfully managed to swap it) and the difference was night and day with the focussing.

A few examples on the d800

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63852338@N07/sets/72157632471761719/

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=453704

Hope that helps

S
 
Get the 50mm 1.8 D. Very sharp, great performer on D700. Best value lens for Nikon. Often in the classifieds at bargain prices. Paid £55 for mine.
 
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Sir SR said:
Plus one. I'm one of the guys he's recommended it to!

I bought this lens after Gary lent me his (very generously). The only thing to say is that it needs to be the non bim version if the body has a motor!

I made this mistake (thankfully managed to swap it) and the difference was night and day with the focussing.

A few examples on the d800

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63852338@N07/sets/72157632471761719/

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=453704

Hope that helps

S
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So does the non bim version use the same 'screw' AF system as D lenses?
 
Gary Coyle said:
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 without the built in motor is the best bang for buck you can have for the D700, ive got it and i recomend it all the time and those that have bought on my recomendation agree.
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This!

For the money there really is nothing better. All I would say is to make sure you check it thoroughly. I went through 3 before I found one I was totally happy with. But when you get a good one they're fantastic!
 
trevorbray said:
Get the 50mm 1.8 D. Very sharp, great performer on D700. Best value lens for Nikon. Often in the classifieds at bargain prices. Paid £55 for mine.
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Holy Moly that is a sharp lens! Gonna hunt me down one of those bad boys!
 
EspressoJunkie said:
This!

For the money there really is nothing better. All I would say is to make sure you check it thoroughly. I went through 3 before I found one I was totally happy with. But when you get a good one they're fantastic!
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Another good recommendation! cool. I have heard they are stunning around the 50mm mark.
 
The Tamron 28-75 is a cracker of a lens. I have the one with the motor in and it works fine,is tack charp and has no issues whatsoever on the D700.

Here is one from recently;



Wills by Don't like to be Bored, on Flickr
 
I saw a similar image on Flickr today! So it doesn't really matter if it has a built in motor or not? AF speed is not a real concern for me.
 
Tractor Boy said:
The Tamron 28-75 is a cracker of a lens. I have the one with the motor in and it works fine,is tack charp and has no issues whatsoever on the D700.

Here is one from recently;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontliketobebored/8326839883/

Wills by Don't like to be Bored, on Flickr
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I had one briefly on my d800 and although 90% of the time it was fine, compared to the non bim version it hunted a bit whereas the non bim was very snappy in comparison! The non bim was night and day better in lower light.

An example of the BIM version on the d800 before I got the non-BIM version


DSC_1486 by Sir SR, on Flickr


Sister in law Tamron test by Sir SR, on Flickr

Ta

S
 
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They are very good! I think I'll keep my eyes peeled for the non BIM version, or save for the new Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC.

I have won a nice (i hope!) 50mm f1.8D from the bay so I'll have something to play with :)
 
AndyWest said:
They are very good! I think I'll keep my eyes peeled for the non BIM version, or save for the new Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC.

I have won a nice (i hope!) 50mm f1.8D from the bay so I'll have something to play with :)
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There's a Nikon 28-70 at aperture which may be worth a look if you can't find a tamron.

S
 
I started out with a 1.8G 50mm lens for my D700 and have only recently upgraded to the 1.4G version but its a fantastic lens and is on my camera 90% of the time!
 
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