Thaths wrote:
Sorry to post this to Silk. I know there are quite a few shutterbugs
here and I would like to hear your opinions.
Others have suggested some lenses, but rather than try to cut and paste
a Frankenstein's Monster of an email or send individual replies, I will
summarize in this one, perhaps somewhat out of context. A lot of this
comes both from my own experience with my D70 (I'm also looking to
upgrade to a D200) and from advice via Philip Greenspun.
I currently have a Nikon N80 with Nikkor 28-105 f/3.5-4.5D and Nikkor
50 f/1.8. I am going to be buying a Nikon D200 in a couple of weeks. I
think I can get the body for circa $1700. I am looking for a lens to
go with this body. Several stores seem to be pushing kits including
the Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED for a total of $2000.
Some of the other commentators in this thread commented on keeping the
50mm f/1.8. I see no reason to sell it, but you should know: the D200 is
a small-sensor body; Nikon does not (yet) make a full 35mm sensor size
DSLR body. Thus, your effective focal length changes for *non-DX
lenses*, which are the only specially-designed lenses that match the
sensor in Nikon DSLR bodies. The 16x24mm (APS-C) sensor gives you a 1.5
magnification when dealing with standard lenses designed for 35mm SLRs.
Note that even *with* DX lenses, the "normal" perspective on an APS-C
DSLR is still with a 35mm lens. A 50mm DX lens on a D200 is not the same
as a 50mm "regular" lens on an N80. The difference is that DX lenses are
*only* meant to work with Nikon's DSLR bodies and the lenses cover a
16x24mm area, as opposed to a 35mm area.
So, for instance, your N80 and 50mm f/1.8 gave you an actual 50mm, or
roughly "normal" perspective. That same lens on a D200 will give you an
effective 75mm perspective.
You'll want the Nikon 35mm f/2 or the Sigma 30/1.4 EX DC HSM in Nikon
mount to get an effective 50mm perspective. This would be your new
general prime lens. Normally I don't recommend third-party lenses, but
these Sigma lenses are affordable, well-made, and cover areas Nikon (and
Canon) do not with their small-sensor DSLR bodies and
made-for-small-sensor-DSLR lenses. In particular, Nikon does not make a
faster 35mm lens, and the ultrasonic motor and extra f-stop are nice to
have.
I have the 35mm f/2 myself. It is not a DX lens, so it will work as a
decent 35mm wide angle on Nikon film bodies. The Sigma 30/1.4 EX DC HSM
is a "digital-only" lens, also built to cover the 16x24mm APS-C sensor
size, much like Nikon's DX line (the "DC" is Sigma's indicator).
I do not have a lot of spare cash to spend on high-end lenses. The
most i can probably afford is $500 for a decent middle-end lens. Based
on my photography pattern[1], I think having a zoom that starts at
wide angle makes sense to me. I probably will sell my 28-105 and buy a
telephoto zoom later.
My questions:
1. What lens under $500 would you recommend for the D200?
The Sigma 18-50mm F/2.8 EX DC lens in Nikon mount is $500 USD or less
from Amazon.com in the US, and is better than the DX kit zooms that top
out at an f/4 or worse maximum aperture. It is a mid range zoom, but a
good one. I have a Nikon 15-55mm f/2.8 DX lens on my Wish List, but it
runs around $1180 USD from a decent online camera supply vendor.
I have the 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 DX kit zoom, and it's "okay", but the 35mm
f/2 is my daily shooter prime lens for the D70. I only use the zoom when
I have tons of natural light and limited mobility towards the subject.
2. What lens would you recommend if money was not an issue?
I think you mean what *lenses* would I recommend.
The Sigma digital-only lineup looks like this:
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
Another Sigma that's built for a 35mm SLR, but still good with DSLRs:
Sigma APO MACRO 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
But those are all pretty affordable and are third-party lenses. In most
cases, they provide options Nikon DX lenses dont, or at at significant
cost savings to the equivalent-or-better Nikon non-DX lens. If cost
weren't an issue, well, here's my current wish list:
Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 DX ($1180 USD for grey market import)
Nikon 12-24mm f/4 DX ($885 USD for grey market import)
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 ($1570 USD for grey market import)
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 ($330 USD for grey market import)
There's more, but between the Sigmas and the Nikons, that's more than
enough for me to buy to outfit my Nikon digital bodies and have some
useful high quality cross over lenses for Nikon film bodies. I can rent
edge case lenses easily enough.
--
Dan Moniz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [http://pobox.com/~dnm/]
