Nikkor lens choice - which way to go?

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

02/08/2014 10:07:45 AM · #1

Hey all

Looking for some input from Nikon peeps. As most of you probably know my 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 VR lens was my primary lens for a long time. Then it sustained some damage that resulted in erratic AF performance.

Nonetheless, I kept my ol' warhorse, because even in its still somewhat dodgy condition (at high-speed bursts I could count on every 4th or 5th shot being oof as the AF lost the subject) it could and did perform well enough to land me the red in Best of 2013. In fact it is my dedicated shooting lens for rodeo and most other horse sports, due to its range and because it has survived pretty bad sand/dust/mud/rain etc.

Now, I've been saving for a 70-200mm f2.8 VRII. I hear that lens is just amazing for colour and sharpness, and don't doubt that it is.

However, had I been using a 70-200mm that day, I would not have got that shot - that was shot at 18mm.

So now I'm wondering, should I send in the ol' warhorse and see how much it would cost to fix and go ahead if the price falls within my budget, and continue to make the most of its range...or continue to save for the 70-200mm and take the hit in terms of missing the close end?

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

02/08/2014 10:30:32 AM · #2

I have both the 18-200 and a 70-200, and quality, fast focusing and overall handling are night and day between the two. Keep savin' :)

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

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

02/08/2014 10:30:48 AM · #3

I have the 18-200, and it was always my favorite lens. Here's a bit of a long story, my journey....

Always looking for "the perfect kit", I've bought almost the whole Nikon "trifecta", of the 70-200 f2.8, the 24-70 f2.8, and 16-35 F4 (well, the real trifecta would have been the 14-24mm instead, but that incredible lens is also a boat anchor).

And then I had to keep buying bigger bags too. And a cotton carrier harness for the camera.

And now, with a D600 and D7100, I have been buying m43's stuff, looking for something small and light.

And then it dawned on me. You, know, I had a pretty good kit with my old D90, 18-200, the Sigma 10-20, and the 10.5mm fisheye. Fit in a pretty small bag. Wasn't too heavy. Good focal length coverage. Not quite as small and light as a m43 camera and lenses, but good image quality.

So I've been thinking that I might just go back that way as my travel kit.

To make a long story short, it might be worth fixing that lens. I always got great results with mine. I would not have bought the D600 without the 28-300 which is as good or better than the 18-200, but it's also bigger and heavier.

I never travel with the 70-200. It's just too darn big. But it does make a nice portrait lens, if I'm not going to be walking around with it (that was part of the charm of looking at m43 cameras...a lightweight 70-200.)

On the other hand, the 24-70 has become one of my favorites, and despite it being heavy, I did take it with me to Rickett's Glen this fall and used it for most of my landscape shots, even over the 16-35. But not as good for a crop camera. (I shot with the D600).

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

02/08/2014 10:36:12 AM · #4

Hmm good food for thought, thanks guys...and a quick update...I've found a used 70-200 f2.8 VR for a pretty damn good price ($1350) the seller used it only to shoot his son's hockey games and now he no longer plays hockey so he has no use for it anymore.

I hear it's a weighty lens, and I also have the 300mm, but then should I ever go full frame then I'm pretty much all there though I would have to replace my wide-angle. But that's a long ways away.

Anyhow let's see who else chimes in and when I hear back from buddy.

Thanks guys!! :-)

grahamgator

Nikon Z7II

02/08/2014 11:03:03 AM · #5

My go to lens for most everything is the 24-70 f2.8; I use it more than anything else unless I am shooting macro. The 70-200 f/2.8 is a wonderful lens, sharp, fast and use on a tripod most of the time for wildlife and portraits, because of the weight. I am a small person and I get really tired when I am carrying that lens around. I have not had any experience with the 18-200, but I think you would like the 24-70. I am looking to purchase a good prime landscape lens when I can dig up the funds. Good luck.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/08/2014 11:15:02 AM · #6

I just looked and B&H has four of them used @ less than $400.......the last one I bought was a refurb and was $585....

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

02/08/2014 11:15:02 AM · #7

Good question. Do you still have the 10-20 and the 50?

There are some less expensive but still really good options in the 70 - 200 range. Maybe you could combine one of these with a shorter zoom for the same price as the 70-200 vrii.

70-200 2.8 vr I - most of the advantages of the vr ii are only noticeable on a FF sensor camera (vr ii has better corners on FX). This lens doesn't have the buzz anymore because it's not the latest and greatest, but it is still a great lens on DX, and last time I checked, used ones were $1400-1500. It's actually pretty good on FX as well, but the pixel peepers will look down on you if you put this on a FX camera.

70-200 f4 - this is my current 70-200. I prefer it over the 2.8. Every bit as sharp (arguably sharper), focuses fast, images look amazing, and it's a pound lighter and $1000 cheaper. The downside is it doesn't have 2.8, which might matter to you if the rodeos are at night.

80-200 f2.8. Nikon still makes these, but there's a healthy used market ($7-800). Non AFS, so it focuses slower than the others, but images are sharp and beautiful. If you go this route, get the twist zoom, not the push-pull, which is an older design that focuses slower than molasses. I took most of my hummingbirds with this one.

There's also a 80-200 AF-S, which was made for about a year a long time ago. These are rare enough that I've never seen one. The people who have them (

spiritualspatula is one) swear by them aren't giving them up, so they're hard to find, but if you run across one, it's worth considering.

70-300 vr - in a different league than the others because it's a variable aperture this is still worth mentioning. It's a sharp, fast focusing lens that's surprisingly nice for the price. Sharper and faster focusing than the 18-200, which I've also had, and a nice compact(ish) package, for less than $700. I got one as part of a deal when I got my D800, figuring I would resell it for the cash, and ended up keeping it.

There's also a Tamron 70-200 that people seem to like that I haven't tried.

Keep in mind that all of the 2.8 options are heavy. I can't hand hold any of them. I can hand hold the f/4 and the 70-300, they're not terrible.

On the short end, I'm not any help. You probably want one of the 18-something zooms that Nikon keeps pumping out every year or so, but I don't know what's what in the DX lens space anymore.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/08/2014 11:17:14 AM · #8

Don't overlook the 18-300.......it's $849 new.

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

02/08/2014 02:20:59 PM · #9

Originally posted by Ann:

Good question. Do you still have the 10-20 and the 50?...70-200 2.8 vr I - most of the advantages of the vr ii are only noticeable on a FF sensor camera (vr ii has better corners on FX). This lens doesn't have the buzz anymore because it's not the latest and greatest, but it is still a great lens on DX, and last time I checked, used ones were $1400-1500. It's actually pretty good on FX as well, but the pixel peepers will look down on you if you put this on a FX camera.

Yes, I now have the Sig 50mm f1.4 and the Sig 10-20mm. Also a 300mm f.4 so a 70-300 would be redundant. As for the weight, I find it no worse than my 300mm, and I'm fairly strong so not concerned abput weight. After all it's Nikon we're talking here, not ~~boat anchors~~ err, Canon lenses ;-0

Soo...I went and did it...and now there's a guy out there who is very, very happy :-) And he's a local celeb of sorts...a foodie!!! Steph Grilling Gourmet

Message edited by author 2014-02-08 14:28:47.

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

02/08/2014 03:44:25 PM · #10

Originally posted by snaffles:

Soo...I went and did it...and now there's a guy out there who is very, very happy :-) And he's a local celeb of sorts...a foodie!!! Steph Grilling Gourmet

In your situation I would have done the same. Enjoy it!