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Author Topic: Your Insight re: my lens selection  (Read 4445 times)

Raymond Bleesz

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Your Insight re: my lens selection
« on: March 16, 2013, 09:46:59 pm »

Recently, I unloaded all my primes, my F2's & 3's as well as my D100 & 200.  I have settled on a D600 with the following lenses:
Lenses: Nikkor's  18-35mm, 12-24mm, 24-120mm, a 70-200mm with a 1.7 ex. 

I use the 24-120 a great deal as well as the 70-200.  I do not need to go beyond the 70-200 w/ the 1.7 ex.  I do not need to go wider than the 12-24.

I have thought about a 85mm prime as I do a fair amt of portraiture, and I do not do micro work.  I have thought about a 24-70mm type lens for what it does as well as for portraiture. (I have heard that the 24-120 is a "weak" lens yet it has done well for me based on what I know.)

What is your insight into this kit?  What is redundant?  What is weak?  What mm lens would be an add to this kit? Your insight please.

Raymond
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Raymond Bleesz

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2013, 09:38:07 pm »

Anyone out there who wants to respond to my inquiry, and it's an honest one at that!  Raymond
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jwstl

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2013, 10:08:45 pm »

For someone who does a fair amount of portraits, an 85 would be nearly essential. And Nikon's 85 1.4 and 1.8 are 2 of the best lenses they-or anyone else-make. The 1.8 is an especially good deal right now thanks to the instant rebates. I'd also look at some of the other fast primes.
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duane_bolland

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2013, 10:16:37 pm »

I'm a Canon guy, so I'm of no use to tell you what you want to hear.  But I'd like to point out that every lens ever made is a series of trade offs between cost, performance, speed, build quality, etc...  Whatever works, man.  Only you will know.  If a lens isn't working for you, replace it.  Otherwise, ignore the forums and get on with shooting.  I personally love my fast 85mm and I use it a lot, but that doesn't mean you need one.
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The View

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2013, 11:20:24 pm »

The 24-70/2.8 and the 70-200/4 seem to be outstanding lenses.

Don't know about the wide angle zooms. Just noted the pretty good (and expensive 17-35/2.8).

« Last Edit: March 17, 2013, 11:22:16 pm by The View »
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Vieri

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2013, 03:39:53 am »

Raymond,

your lens selection sounds good, but I am curious about your rationale in choosing both the 18-35 and the 14-24? I think you'd be better served by an 85 since you mentioned that shoot portraits instead of one of these two lenses.

Best,

Vieri
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Petrus

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2013, 04:23:55 am »

New Nikon 85mm f:1.8 is one of the best lenses on the market at the moment, but at the same time both light and (relatively) cheap. For portraiture you could also consider the old 105mm f:2 which has the extra possibility of manipulating the out-of-focus areas. It costs twice as much, though.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/36858-GREY/Nikon_1932_Telephoto_AF_DC_Nikkor.html

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BernardLanguillier

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2013, 07:23:31 am »

Did you mean 14-24? The 12-24 is a DX lens that will not cover the D600 sensor.

I would also include the 85mm f1.8 in such a line up, such a level of quality has probably never been available at this price point. This lens draws circles around optics costing 3 times as much.

Cheers,
Bernard

Raymond Bleesz

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2013, 08:52:43 am »

Bernard et al----yes, the 12-24mm was a early purchase & in hindsight, it may have been a mistake, however, it's usable. The 85mm would be a good buy. No one mentioned the 24-70mm lens as a possibility---curious.  Raymond
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LKaven

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2013, 09:11:00 am »

Bernard et al----yes, the 12-24mm was a early purchase & in hindsight, it may have been a mistake, however, it's usable. The 85mm would be a good buy. No one mentioned the 24-70mm lens as a possibility---curious.  Raymond

The 24-70 is a wonderful lens, with excellent low-to-midtone contrast due to nanocoating, and superb sharpness.  It is extremely useful in any circumstance where you cannot change lenses in real time.  It has some of the trades associated with a mid-range zoom: some distortion (barrel at the short end, pincushion at the long end), and bokeh that is somewhat harsh beyond the focus point.  The primes do somewhat better at those things.  But the 24-70 has a wonderful "draw" and is a top notch optical performer.  It also has weather sealing, which the 28-50-85 f/1.8 primes do not.

For around $200, every portraitist should have a 105/2.5 AIs.

The best portrait lenses at the moment are the 85/1.8g or 85/1.4g, the 105/2 DC, and the 135/2 DC.  They are older type screw-drive lenses, but that never slowed me down, as I prefer to focus manually (so that the autofocus points don't influence my artistic choices).  The two DC lenses have a beautiful and refined aesthetic character on the highest order.  As others have said, the 85/1.8g is the optical deal of the decade.

Since you seem to have 18-35 covered, you might consider selling the 12-24 and picking up the Samyang 14/2.8.

jwstl

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2013, 11:15:05 am »

The best portrait lenses at the moment are the 85/1.8g or 85/1.4g, the 105/2 DC, and the 135/2 DC.  They are older type screw-drive lenses, but that never slowed me down, as I prefer to focus manually (so that the autofocus points don't influence my artistic choices).

Only the 2 DC lenses are the older "screw-drive" lenses. Both the current 85s are AF-S.
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LKaven

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2013, 01:07:27 pm »

Only the 2 DC lenses are the older "screw-drive" lenses. Both the current 85s are AF-S.

I edited that first sentence to add the g lenses, but forgot to edit the sentence following.  Thanks for pointing this out.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2013, 06:05:45 am by LKaven »
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Brian Hirschfeld

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Re: Your Insight re: my lens selection
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2013, 01:04:18 am »

Certainly I would suggest the 24-70mm lens since it is on my camera most, and since you have the 70-200mm the 24-120 seems needlessly redundant....I'm surprised that there is no 50mm in there, and since others have said you do portraiture, I would expect the 85mm to be in there for sure. The f/1.4's are great and the 1.8's are great deals like others have said. If you want something wider and don't want to spend for the 24mm 1.4, the 28mm 1.8 (I picked one up recently to try out the focal length cheaper then a summicron) is a stunningly sharp choice which is absolutely amazing. Also the 105 macro is great because it is both a macro lens as well as a 105mm lens with weather sealing etc etc

I would personally have

Maybe 28mm f/1.8
Def 50mm f/1.4 (or 1.8)
Def 24-70mm f/2.8
Maybe 85mm f/1.4D or G or the 85mm 1.8
Def 70-200mm
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