What lens to buy, done research but advice needed

[Shaq]

Hi All,

OK I have done some research into lens but now need some advice more than anything.

Current Lens
I have the Nikon 18-55 kit lens and a Tamron 70-300, which isn't great but does the job at the moment.

What I shoot
I most shoot either holiday/travel type photography so could be a landscape one moment and then more of a little critter the next. I also photograph quite a bit of indoor volleyball, bad lighting, small sports hall kind of thing. Use the kit lens for this as the minimum zoom on the Tamron is often too close.

My Thinking
So here is what I am thinking of doing...

Selling the kit lens and replacing it with the Sigma 24-70 2.8 - thinking here is I can use this as my everyday type lens and for the volleyball stuff. Really want the constant 2.8 as I love playing with DOF.

Buying a 18-200 type lens - thinking here is to have this as a jack of all master of none lens for travelling, so I can snap a landscape one moment and zoom in on a critter the next. Looking into it the Sigma is a great lens, as the Nikon can be prone to slipage at big zooms. But there is a Sigma 18-250 now and I know Tamron do some other options in this kind of style. Opinions people??

Over all these two lens would give me a good range from 18-200 and if I need more than 200 I still have the Tamron 70-300 and in time if I find I need a better zoom lens could get a 150-400 or something.

Budget
As for budget well it's more about value for money for me, I know the Sigma 24-70 is pricey but I like what it can do etc. So I wouldn't say budget is not an issue but as long as costs are comparable to the above lens

Thanks in advance for any help
C

 

[strobemonkey]

Holiday and travel photography - your kit lens should do if you want to include the background, you don't normally want f2.8 in these situations.

Volleybal/sports - if you find the 70mm of your tamron too long, then you might find the 50 f1.8 or f1.4 (I don't know Nikon but my canon 50 f1.4 is a lot quicker when focusing than the f1.8) - you normally need a big apperture (low f number) and quick focusing lens when shooting indoors because of bad lighting.

I'd say if it was me, I'll keep your current lenses and get a 50mm.

 

[cambsno]

I have had the Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 which is regarded as a great lens. I now use a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 instead which is around 1/3 of the price and virtually as good (less so at 2.8 bit hardly any different from 5.6 +). Would strongly recommend that.