Given $$ - What to buy? - DPChallenge Forums

08/04/2009 10:29:49 PM · #1

I recently received a generous Gift Certificate to BuyDig.com. Now I am truly have a terrible time deciding what to buy...could you guys help me spend it...it is $200. I have cked out the tripods on the site but I do not think they are what I am looking for at this time. So I have it narrowed down to lenses, I don't mind adding some $$ to the GC but I don't want to go over board...here is a list of my lenses that I currently have...

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED - lens that came with the camera...good ol' standby
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR - not exactly what I thought it would be (almost to much zoom)
Vivitar MF Macro 55mm 1:2:8 f/2.8 for Nikon - current favorite...I love the sharpness

here is what I am interested in:

Nikon 50mm F/1.8 D AF FS-52 Lens, With Nikon 5-Year USA Warranty - $134
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens w/ Nikon 5-Year USA Warranty - $189
Nikon 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor, With Nikon 5-Year USA Warranty - $249

Most of the other lens are to price for me right now...the web site is here and I am willing to hear any opinions as to what "you" would do...

personally I think I am leaning to the 55-200mm as I think that would give me a better range than my 70-300mm which works great for "long" distance, but not much in my yard...

08/05/2009 09:40:04 AM · #2

bump for the day crowd....

Zigomar

Fujifilm X100T

Lensbaby 2.0

08/05/2009 09:53:59 AM · #3

Originally posted by Ja-9:

here is what I am interested in:

Nikon 50mm F/1.8 D AF FS-52 Lens, With Nikon 5-Year USA Warranty - $134
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens w/ Nikon 5-Year USA Warranty - $189

Judging only by the Canon version, I'd say that 18-55mm is a waste of money, even though it has the VR. I'd look for the Tamron 28-75mm f 2.8 one. 50mm 1.8 is a decent one, it's the best deal for the price, although the canon version costs even less than 134 bucks..
Just my opinion.

08/05/2009 09:56:09 AM · #4

The only one of those lenses that is in any way better than what you already have is the 50mm f/1.8.

If you were going to splash the cash, I'd probably try for the 50mm f/1.4, it's a REALLY nice lens.

08/05/2009 09:57:18 AM · #5

Originally posted by Zigomar:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

here is what I am interested in:

Nikon 50mm F/1.8 D AF FS-52 Lens, With Nikon 5-Year USA Warranty - $134
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens w/ Nikon 5-Year USA Warranty - $189

Judging only by the Canon version, I'd say that 18-55mm is a waste of money, even though it has the VR. I'd look for the Tamron 28-75mm f 2.8 one. 50mm 1.8 is a decent one, it's the best deal for the price, although the canon version costs even less than 134 bucks..
Just my opinion.

I looked at both the Tamron's and the Sigma's but they are both high (or so it seems to me) maybe I am wrong and I am not as familiar with those lens as I am the Nikon, the Vivitar that I have I really love...

08/05/2009 09:58:18 AM · #6

Originally posted by shalrath:

is it that much better...as I don't mind going there either...so the f/1.4 is better than the f/1.8 right...

08/05/2009 10:17:57 AM · #7

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by shalrath:
The only one of those lenses that is in any way better than what you already have is the 50mm f/1.8.

If you were going to splash the cash, I'd probably try for the 50mm f/1.4, it's a REALLY nice lens.

is it that much better...as I don't mind going there either...so the f/1.4 is better than the f/1.8 right...

I'm a sucker for sharpness and shallow depth of field... so for my purposes the 1.4 is that much better. I'm not sure what you'll be shooting with it, but it is a great all round lens. I owned the 1.8 and sold it because I just never used it.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

08/05/2009 10:26:57 AM · #8

Here's a couple of shots with the 50mm 1.4

I can send you some 100% crops if it will help your decision.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/05/2009 10:27:49 AM · #9

I think ~~I need~~ you need a Canon 10-22.

08/05/2009 11:07:18 AM · #10

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I think ~~I need~~ you need a Canon 10-22.

no "Help ME spend $$" not "YOU"...but I would share if you owned a Nikon...hmmm

08/05/2009 11:08:30 AM · #11

Originally posted by shalrath:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by shalrath:
The only one of those lenses that is in any way better than what you already have is the 50mm f/1.8.

If you were going to splash the cash, I'd probably try for the 50mm f/1.4, it's a REALLY nice lens.

is it that much better...as I don't mind going there either...so the f/1.4 is better than the f/1.8 right...

I'm a sucker for sharpness and shallow depth of field... so for my purposes the 1.4 is that much better. I'm not sure what you'll be shooting with it, but it is a great all round lens. I owned the 1.8 and sold it because I just never used it.

That is more of what I like and want...

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

08/05/2009 11:13:06 AM · #12

We are looking at Monitors also...I have a Toshiba Qosmio laptop computer...do any of you have Large monitors for your laptops and what is the quality of the picture...I really like the quality of my Toshiba...

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/05/2009 11:32:00 AM · #13

Originally posted by Ja-9:

no "Help ME spend $$" not "YOU"...but I would share if you owned a Nikon...hmmm

I DO! It's a film camera, but it IS a Nikon. I also have a Coolpix L6, but I'm not sure how I could get a zoom lens to mount to it.

mgsmith53

Pentax K-R

Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL

08/05/2009 12:13:25 PM · #14

Being a Pentax guy I can't say which would be best for you, but I can say a 50mm prime is pretty handy. Very fast, very lightweight, and normally very good optics. I have an old manual SMC-M 50mm f/1.7 that I got for a song. I'm only just starting to see how very sweet it is!

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/05/2009 01:31:53 PM · #15

Well, I added a battery grip to my d80, and this handstrap, and I am very happy with both!

The 50mm 1.4 is a very nice lens.

Message edited by author 2009-08-05 13:32:36.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/05/2009 01:37:54 PM · #16

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Well, I added a battery grip to my d80, and this handstrap, and I am very happy with both!

The 50mm 1.4 is a very nice lens.

this is the lens that I am leaning to...even though I have a 55mm...it is total manual...so I would like an automatic if possible...

unless my husband talks me into a large monitor for my laptop...not sure of the quality although

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

08/05/2009 01:50:40 PM · #17

You almost have enough for a SB-600...did you think about that? Great flash! You can use it off camera with the D80 too, using the built in wireless!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/05/2009 01:58:23 PM · #18

Originally posted by nshapiro:

You almost have enough for a SB-600...did you think about that? Great flash! You can use it off camera with the D80 too, using the built in wireless!

they do have flashes!!! can you tell me the difference between these...pls

//www.buydig.com/shop/SearchResults.aspx?cti=&scs=true&kwd=sb-600+flash&x=0&y=0

they also have a 900

Message edited by author 2009-08-05 14:00:10.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

08/05/2009 03:07:30 PM · #19

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by nshapiro:
You almost have enough for a SB-600...did you think about that? Great flash! You can use it off camera with the D80 too, using the built in wireless!

they do have flashes!!! can you tell me the difference between these...pls

//www.buydig.com/shop/SearchResults.aspx?cti=&scs=true&kwd=sb-600+flash&x=0&y=0

they also have a 900

I have two SB-600's. I use them both off camera. To do so, you need to have your D80 flash up and set to commander mode. Then you can set the power of the remote flashes right from the camera menu. Although the on camera flash will flash, you can either set it to contribute or not to contribute to the exposure (in other words, it can be set to only flash as a communication to the other flashes).

With only one SB-600, you can also just put it on the camera like a normal flash, and do bounce, etc.

The SB-R200's are remote only flashes. They are most often used as part of the Macro flash kit. I don't think they will work in the hotshoe. But they will work as remotes, according to the Nikon website. So you could get one or two SB-R200's, and use them on stands with your on-board flash. I may pick up one myself as I need a third flash for a background light, and all Nikon prices have gone up significantly recently (I paid about $170 for my two flashes; they have gone up about 30% in the last year (as have all the Nikon lenses).

I assume the SB-R200's are also not as bright (have a lower guide number) than the SB-600.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/07/2009 09:34:41 AM · #20

What did you end up with?

seasaw

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

08/07/2009 11:00:48 PM · #21

If it helps, I posted a couple of shots with the 50mm F1.8 taken hand-held with Nikon D70.

The F1.8 is a very good lens for the money!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/07/2009 11:03:13 PM · #22

Originally posted by seasaw:

If it helps, I posted a couple of shots with the 50mm F1.8 taken hand-held with Nikon D70.

The F1.8 is a very good lens for the money!

unless my husband talks me out of it I am going to go with the 50mm f/1.4...I think that is the best of what I can afford for the moment...

seasaw

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

08/07/2009 11:08:45 PM · #23

The 1.4 is sharper and better built than the 1.8 - you will not be sorry with that choice!

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

08/08/2009 08:24:54 AM · #24

The 1.4 is a great lens. The 1.8 is also a good lens. Some may even argue that it is sharper than the 1.4 At least I have seen that discussion around here in the past. Biggest difference is Build the 1.4 is a rock compared to the 1.8 which is mostly plastic. You would enjoy the results of either.