What lens combination would you choose...

Foggy

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Chris
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I currently have a Nikon D40 with 18-55mm kit lens, a nifty fifty and a 55-200mm VR.

Am about to upgrade to a D300 and it looks as though I might have a friend that wants to buy the D40, but they want it with the 18-55mm kit lens (which is fair enough).

Don't mind selling it but then I obviously don't have anything wider than a 50mm. So, the 2 options I am looking at are either the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 or the 10-20mm. The 24-70mm would no doubt be the more flexible lens, but is 24mm going to be wide enough? Would the combo of a 10-20mm and the other lenses be flexible enough?

Any input is appreciated!

Nice decision to have to make though :D
 
I don't think thats an either or situation, your going to want both those lenses. Personally I'd find the 24-70 not wide enough and the 10-20 not long enough given the gap up to 50mm. Not to sure on Nikon lenses but I have a Sigma 17-70 on my camera as it was the best walk about compromise I could find.
 
Cheers, something I hadn't considered was the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Might have to see if I can have a play with one of those as it would cover all the bases.
 
Sigma also do a 17-50 ƒ2.8 (or is it 18) that might be worth a glance as it seems to get good reviews as well..

Nigel
 
Any input is appreciated!

I'd question why you want to upgrade the body when you don't really have the lenses in place to justify it?

With your lens bag, its looking pretty spartan, so I'd invest that £900 in glass.

I wouldn't get a Sigma 24-70 personally. As Alex says, the 17-70 is quite nice, the 16-85 VR is excellent. Either will probably be more useful on a crop sensor.

The Tamron 17-50 is the best £200 you can spend glass-wise.
 
Sigma also do a 17-50 ƒ2.8 (or is it 18) that might be worth a glance as it seems to get good reviews as well..

Nigel

Seems that the old 18-50mm f/2.8 has been replaced with an HSM version for a reasonable amount more cash.

Any input is appreciated!

I'd question why you want to upgrade the body when you don't really have the lenses in place to justify it?

With your lens bag, its looking pretty spartan, so I'd invest that £900 in glass.

Thats a fair enough question and one I have asked myself numerous times.

Issues I currently have with the D40:
No internal AF motor - this is frustrating and limits me substantially on the choice of lenses available
3 focus points - they never seem to be where I want them to be
Limited direct access to camera settings - would like to have direct button access to more of the settings (such as the exposure mode)
Poor higher ISO results - really, anything over 400 is paff
No bracketing - would like to be able to take bracketed shots for exposure blending/hdr
Size - its pretty small, my hands are pretty big
6mp - would like to start selling images through Alamy, whilst it is possible to get the images to the required size it is pretty tight as means a serious amount of enlarging

Whilst none of those are show stoppers there are items in there I find myself getting more and more frustrated with. I have an opportunity to sell my D40 for not a lot less than I paid for it so it seems a good time to upgrade the body and get rid of these annoyances.

I have been debating the D90 vs D300 ever since the D90 came out but I just have this horrible nagging feeling I would regret not buying the D300.
 
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