Lens advice needed ... for my friend ...

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/01/2006 06:57:26 AM · #1

I have a friend -- ahem ...
He has a Nikon 50mm f1.4 and is seriously considering 2 other lenses as to have a decent overall range.
I think he is willing to spend $900 (using an introductory rate credit card, naturally).

He says he's pretty much set on the Sigma 10-20mm because that effect is ... well he claims it's "his style".
That lens is $500.

That means there is $400 left.
That's where you come in ...

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

09/01/2006 08:04:42 AM · #2

Originally posted by metatate:

That means there is $400 left.
That's where you come in ...

That means $400 less to charge up interest. My advice NEVER buy toys on credit even if it is a introductory offer.

I for one am never late on my bills but let that payment show up one day late and I bet it voids that intro offer and wathc the interest rate skyrocket.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

09/01/2006 08:45:03 AM · #3

Nothing wrong with using credit cards, just don't ever carry a balance on them. Works out great.

Anyway, 'your friend' has 10-20 covered and 50mm covered. Either buy some comfortable shoes to take care of your zoom needs or start thinking 70-200 heheh.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

09/01/2006 08:53:38 AM · #4

He's got the card thing covered. I just mentioned it because he obviously doesn't have an unlimited supply of money. Sometimes people will say "Get the 1500$ lens because ...." I was just trying to avoid that.

Basically just trying to see what people though about the market when it comes to zoom lenses ...
I think you can get the Tamron 28-200 for under 150$! ... I'm thinking that might be the best value.

Message edited by author 2006-09-01 08:54:11.

ionyou

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

09/01/2006 09:51:14 AM · #5

Originally posted by metatate:

I have a friend -- ahem ...

Likely story. Listen you need not be ashamed. Just don't buy a big lens lest we all think you're compensatin for somethin.

talmy

Nikon D300s

09/01/2006 10:13:09 AM · #6

There's always the 55-200 Nikkor companion to "your friend's" 18-55.
And you would still have money left over. Or a Macro lens (60mm Nikkor, or many Tamron, Tokina, or Sigma lenses around 100mm would fit your budget).

justamistere

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

09/01/2006 10:21:52 AM · #7

If you know anything about Post-Processing, get a friend to do a DVD-video and split the profits with him to pay for lenses. The "Joy of Photography" or any business-challenge, is making it pay for itself. Anyway that's what my momma told me, a few times.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

09/01/2006 10:42:23 AM · #8

Good point ... but The mount is broken on my 18-55 .... just a little piece!!! - I can actually hold it on the camera and it works. I'm going to see if I can work somehting with the camera store if I buy the 10-20 -- maybe they'll give me a break on the repair. --- If not I'm just wondering whether one lens can take care of the entire non-wide range.

Originally posted by talmy:

ShaneBlake

Nikon D7100

09/01/2006 10:56:50 AM · #9

i'd agree with the suggestion to get one of the macro lenses around 100mm... nikon, sigma, or the tamron (my personal favorite...)

it would extend your reach in two directions, both zoom and macro... especially if you grab a 2x teleconverter...

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

09/01/2006 11:07:57 AM · #10

Hmmm ... here's what I am looking at ... a zoom with Macro (obviously the aperature isn't great- but the reviews are decent):

FredMiranda Forum Review of Tam 28-200

talmy

Nikon D300s

09/01/2006 11:35:14 AM · #11

Looks like a good, inexpensive zoom. But I doubt that it makes much of a macro lens. Only goes to 1:4 (macro lenses usually go to 1:1), and since it basically a close-focusing zoom lens it won't be anywhere near as sharp as a good macro lens.

But since the 18-55 is broken (those stupid plastic mounts -- good only if you never switch lenses), the 28-200 does look like a good counterpart to an ultra wide. Of course you won't have 20-28 covered, but gaps don't really hurt.

Originally posted by metatate:

Hmmm ... here's what I am looking at ... a zoom with Macro (obviously the aperature isn't great- but the reviews are decent):

FredMiranda Forum Review of Tam 28-200

zardoz

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/01/2006 11:47:12 AM · #12

If you canâ��t get your 18-55 repaired at a sensible cost and have nothing to loose, may I suggest trying to repair it yourself. Itâ��s not as daft as it sounds. :-)

You say only a small piece has broken off the mount but other than that the lens works fine. I therefore assume that it is one of the lugs on the bayonet. If you have the piece that has broken off it is possible to glue it back on â�� WITH THE RIGHT GLUE! As it happens I sell the right glue and I would happily send you some but Iâ��m in the UK and the airmail shipping rules wont allow me to send it :-( What you need to look for is a two-part cyanoacrylate adhesive that is used in the plastics industry. It is used extensively in the UK for fitting trim strips and windowsills to plastic window frames. I would imagine it is used in the US for plastic siding as well. It consists of a bottle of cyanoacrylate (a type of super glue) and an aerosol of activator.

DONâ��T USE ordinary super glue, most of it is poor quality and it also releases a corrosive vapour that will fog the plastic and could etch the coating off your lens elements! Before starting I would fit the front lens cap and place a small disk of cardboard, held in place with masking tape, over the rear lens element just in case you have an accident with the glue. Iâ��d also cover the electronic contacts on the back of the lens with some masking tape. In fact the more you cover the less the risk!

Try holding the broken piece in place before you start. You get one go at this and you must get the alignment right. Figure out the best way to hold it and keep it aligned. You will need to apply quite a bit of pressure to get a good bond so try the holding manoeuvre several times until you get it just right. Once you are happy with your holding manoeuvre spray a touch of the activator onto the broken off piece and set it aside. Donâ��t worry about the activator going all over the piece, it will evaporate and any residue can be wiped off later. Now apply a few TINY dots of the cyanoacrylate along the length of the broken surface on the lens. Get your broken piece back in place and apply as much pressure to it as you can for at least 2 minutes. You may find you have glued yourself to the lens, donâ��t worry itâ��ll drop off after a month or two. Well, ok, maybe not, if you have, just carefully ease you finger away â�� so long as you didnâ��t go mad with the glue the bond wont be that bad. Set the lens aside for 24 hours, then wipe away any activator residue and finally remove the protective tape and cardboard. With any luck you have now fixed it!

Try the lens on your camera after 24 hours but I would not leave it attached to the camera until a couple of weeks have passed. All types of cyanoacrylate release a tiny amount of vapour for a while and you donâ��t want this vapour building up inside your camera.

I take no responsibility for lenses stuck to cats, missing fingers or exploding D70s â�� hehe

Mike

Message edited by author 2006-09-01 11:57:35.

09/01/2006 12:15:07 PM · #13

I neglected to get the piece because I was pretty much in shock when it happpened and i was already late for work. I din't even realize that the piece was broken.

Do you think it would be possible to permanently mount the lens to an adapter of some kind? (I dont know much about those).

LERtastic

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

09/01/2006 12:24:53 PM · #14

Look into the 18-200 VR if your willing to drop the 10-20, it will give you a huge range, and VR is fantastic!

zardoz

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/01/2006 12:27:41 PM · #15

Originally posted by metatate:

Thatâ��s a shame about not having the missing bit- I can understand you shock though!

My friend has the same lens. When I see him next I will take a look at it to see if I can figure any way of fixing it. I must say that I think it is unlikely without quite a lot of work. Which part exactly is missing? A picture would really help.

09/01/2006 12:31:01 PM · #16

It seems like that lens is a mirage ... can't be found in stock and people have been waiting months.
It definitely seems like the ultimate leave-on lens though.

Originally posted by LERtastic:

Look into the 18-200 VR if your willing to drop the 10-20, it will give you a huge range, and VR is fantastic!

LERtastic

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

09/01/2006 01:12:50 PM · #17

Originally posted by metatate:

It seems like that lens is a mirage ... can't be found in stock and people have been waiting months.
It definitely seems like the ultimate leave-on lens though.

Originally posted by LERtastic:
Look into the 18-200 VR if your willing to drop the 10-20, it will give you a huge range, and VR is fantastic!

Once I get the money, I am going to harass every camera store every day until I get it.

09/01/2006 02:10:29 PM · #18

I took a quick not-so-great pic (I'm at work, of course) ... but I discovered that there are actually 2 of 3 pieces broken. I didn' happen to get a pic of the non-broken piece but I can't right now.
Anyway - it looks like if I could get a replacement mount I'd be good to go (there are philips screws that appear to release the mount). Other than that, it doesn't seem repairable.

Originally posted by zardoz:

Originally posted by metatate:
I neglected to get the piece because I was pretty much in shock when it happpened and i was already late for work. I din't even realize that the piece was broken.

Do you think it would be possible to permanently mount the lens to an adapter of some kind? (I dont know much about those).

Thatâ��s a shame about not having the missing bit- I can understand you shock though!

My friend has the same lens. When I see him next I will take a look at it to see if I can figure any way of fixing it. I must say that I think it is unlikely without quite a lot of work. Which part exactly is missing? A picture would really help.

Message edited by author 2006-09-01 14:14:30.

zardoz

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/01/2006 02:58:35 PM · #19

Thanks for doing the picture. As far as I can see the only option is a new mount.

The mount is indeed held to the body by three small screws. It seems to me that the location of these screws is standard on most if not all Nikon lenses. You will also notice that there are several other small screws around the perimeter of the â��turretâ��. These hold the rear baffle and the electronic contacts block to the mount. The good news is that these hole locations also appear to be in standard positions on the AF-G/D lenses. And all bar two of the screws seem to be in the same location on the AF lenses. Iâ��ll do a little more checking but it looks like you may be able to use the mount from any AF-G/D without modification and from an AF by drilling two holes. Iâ��ll know more once Iâ��ve had a look at my friendsâ�� lens as Iâ��ve never had any dealing with a plastic mount.

If you canâ��t get a new mount you may be able to pick up a damaged lens with a good mount and do a swap. You could even end up with a metal mount!