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Author Topic: Mid Range Lens for D700  (Read 3212 times)

Aztex

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Mid Range Lens for D700
« on: December 27, 2014, 11:59:32 am »

Howdy,

A late adaptor to full frame digital I have been using a D300s for a few years. Had good luck with landscapes printed in A3 paper and enjoyed the more "telephoto" look of the Dx sensor.

So now my 24mm is 24mm and my 50mm is 50mm. Both are decent Nikkors D style but I am looking for one nice lens for say 24-80mm. Perhaps a zoom…I'd like to get one killer lens and have ~$1500 for said lens. Could up that by selling one or both of the primes I have if a killer zoom in suggested.

Last time I invested in expensive glass was film days and while I still have some of those favorites on the list I see Nikon is offering a lot more lenses recently. The G's seem ok but I still think about an F3 so would like something with an aperture ring UNLESS this severely limits me.

I'm more of a shooter than gear head. Since Calumet closed up I have no good source for hands-on trials and fear I'll have to buy online which I have not done for lenses.

If I had to claim one focal length I'm considering it would be a 35mm f/1.4 or f/2 there abouts.

I mostly shoot New Topographics kind of industrial landscapes.

https://aztexphoto.shutterfly.com/pictures/99

Thanks,

Aztex
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Herbc

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2014, 12:26:31 pm »

You can't go wrong with Zeiss, if you like MF, otherwise, Sigma Art 35, or 50, or Nikon's 85mm F1.8G, which rated VERY
high on DxO's rating, although no aperture ring.
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Aztex

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2014, 12:35:15 pm »

Hi,

I almost "upgraded" my 50mm 1.4 to a Zeiss only to find it is marginally better and not really Zeiss per se, part of the Kyocera reorganization or some such.

People seem to discount DXomark and many human reviewers I have found.

Is there a good source of reviews trusted by some on LL?

Thanks,

Aztex
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Herbc

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2014, 02:56:59 pm »

I am afraid you will find opinions are plentiful on this site and others about reviewers and labs.  Lensrentals does a fair amount of reviews, and they are pretty good.  Lloyd Chambers does very fine detail pixel peeping and focus shift work, but some here don't like him as he is a Zeiss devotee and has strong opinions that clash with some who also don't like him.

I suggest you look over the internet postings, discount personal opinions and rely more on labs and technical reviewers, but the internet is famous for wild reporting as to virtues and flaws of equipment.

Best solution is get your hands on gear, rent or borrow, shoot 100 frames of what you intend to use it for, and make up your own critique.  good luck 8)
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langier

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2014, 03:08:28 pm »

Lensrentals.com is a good place to start. Rent some of the mid-ranges lenses and zooms and see what you like.

For me for a mid-range using my D3/700/800 is the 24-120 f/4 G. Though it is slower than my 24-70 2.8, the extra 50mm of reach make it a more useful lens and range to me for much of my shooting. On a D700, IMO this lens is very adequate in sharpness. The distortion is easily fixed in post.

If fixed-focus is more of your liking, the 85mm f1.8 G is one with nice reviews.

With either, you would still have enough $$ left over to take them out and shoot in the wild which is what it's all about anyway.
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dwswager

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2014, 03:28:52 pm »

Howdy,

A late adaptor to full frame digital I have been using a D300s for a few years. Had good luck with landscapes printed in A3 paper and enjoyed the more "telephoto" look of the Dx sensor.

So now my 24mm is 24mm and my 50mm is 50mm. Both are decent Nikkors D style but I am looking for one nice lens for say 24-80mm. Perhaps a zoom…I'd like to get one killer lens and have ~$1500 for said lens. Could up that by selling one or both of the primes I have if a killer zoom in suggested.

Last time I invested in expensive glass was film days and while I still have some of those favorites on the list I see Nikon is offering a lot more lenses recently. The G's seem ok but I still think about an F3 so would like something with an aperture ring UNLESS this severely limits me.

I'm more of a shooter than gear head. Since Calumet closed up I have no good source for hands-on trials and fear I'll have to buy online which I have not done for lenses.

If I had to claim one focal length I'm considering it would be a 35mm f/1.4 or f/2 there abouts.

I mostly shoot New Topographics kind of industrial landscapes.

https://aztexphoto.shutterfly.com/pictures/99

Thanks,
Aztex

The Nikkor 35mm AF-D f/2 is a good, inexpensive option.

I didn't really figure out what you actually want, but the 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G is a killer lens at it's price point.  Not quite as good overall as the 16-35mm f/4G VR, but a great lens if you are trying to go wide.  Get that neither has an aperture ring.  Unfortunately, most new Nikkors are 'G'elded.
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gaetan81

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2014, 02:35:06 am »

Hello,

I use the Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm 2.8D ED lens. It is basically the old brother of the current 24-70mm.
It is really good and sturdy, has the aperture ring (as it is no G but D lens).

I recomment you this reviewer : http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_02.html#AFS28-70ED

Kr,
gaëtan
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E.J. Peiker

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2014, 04:15:30 pm »

Since you mentioned that zooms are an option, both the Nikon 24-70 f/2.8G and the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC out-resolve the D700 and would be good choices.  The Tamron has much less CA.  The Nikon has slightly less linear distortion.  Both of those are corrected by most RAW processors and can be set to automatically correct for them.
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HarperPhotos

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2014, 05:31:28 pm »

Hi Aztex,

I had a Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5 G lens on my then Nikon D800E camera and for it price of $597.00US is a very good lens.

I wanted a longer lens and after trying out the Sigma 24-105mm F4.0 Art lens which is a "dog" of a lens I decided on the Nikon 24-120mm F4.0 G lens and I am very happy with my decision.

Cheers

Simon
« Last Edit: December 31, 2014, 03:03:49 pm by HarperPhotos »
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Simon Harper
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Auckland, New Zealand

Aztex

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2014, 12:35:57 pm »

Hello,

I use the Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm 2.8D ED lens. It is basically the old brother of the current 24-70mm.
It is really good and sturdy, has the aperture ring (as it is no G but D lens).

I recomment you this reviewer : http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_02.html#AFS28-70ED

Kr,
gaëtan

Oh yea!

I remember this source!

Thanks for reminding me.

Hurry paycheck! Lenses on the shelf!

Aztex
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Colorado David

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2014, 01:21:03 pm »

I have used that site a lot over the years.  I'm not sure the information has been updated much very recently, but for what it has, it is valuable.

PeterAit

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2014, 12:15:25 pm »

Nikon makes a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom that I used to use on my D700 with excellent results. It's rather heavy, and if you don't need that extra stop, consider the Sigma 24-105 f/4, which I am currently using as the "go-to" lens on my D600. It's part of Sigma's Art Series and has had some very stellar reviews.
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E.J. Peiker

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #12 on: December 31, 2014, 02:02:04 pm »

Sigma has currently stopped production of the 24-105 for an unspecified reason.  They have not stated when they would resume production of it.
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HarperPhotos

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Re: Mid Range Lens for D700
« Reply #13 on: December 31, 2014, 02:45:50 pm »

Hello,

I can understand why Sigma stopped making the 24-105mm F4.0 Art lens. From the tests I did with it the corners where soft even stopped down to F8.0-11.0 especially at the wide end. This was the reason I when with the Nikon 24-120 F4.0 G lens. Call me old fashioned but I like my lenses sharp over the entire frame.

Check out this review about the Sigma.

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/864-sigma24105f4eos

Cheers

Simon
« Last Edit: December 31, 2014, 04:15:54 pm by HarperPhotos »
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Simon Harper
Harper Photographics Ltd
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Auckland, New Zealand
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