Re: Which lens combination?

E

ectobuilder

Veteran
Re: Which lens combination?

For general shooting and assuming a budget of about $2K-$3.5K (for lenses / adapters) which would you choose? Used lenses are also game in this question.

COMBINATION 1:
- Sony 18-200mm Kit Lens
- Samyang 85mm F1.4
- Nikon 50mm F1.2
- Samyang 35mm F1.4
- Sigma 24mm F1.8
- Samyang 14mm F2.8

COMBINATION 2:
- Nikon 17-35mm F2.8
- Nikon 35-70mm F2.8
- Nikon 70-200mm F2.8
- Sony 16mm E-Mount Lens

So one combo has a slow zoom but fast primes and the other has fast zooms but slow and probably not as sharp prime.
 
maybe combo 2 but instead of the emount 16mm get a tokina 11-16?

combo 1 is nice too but you're either gonna be shooting the kit lens ALOT or switching lenses ALOT
 
eheath said:
maybe combo 2 but instead of the emount 16mm get a tokina 11-16?

combo 1 is nice too but you're either gonna be shooting the kit lens ALOT or switching lenses ALOT
Click to expand...

Had to rule out the Tokina due to budget. Knowing that, would you still go for Combo 2?
 
I mean, the sony 16mm is barely going to be different verses the nikon 17-35 if you want something wider id say pinch some pennies and get that tokina 11-16. i think you'll be happier with the zoom kit, alot less in your bag and i mean 17-35 eliminates like 3 primes and i bet they all look very similar to the 17-35 at the given focal lengths. As people have said before, 2.8 is the new 1.4 you dont really need a 1.4 lens unless you want to see in the dark.
 
I had the tokina 11-16mm for two days and then returned it because I found it just too wide for my personal taste. But everyone is different, I'd go rent one and see if you need that wide of a FL first.
 
Those Samyangs are outstanding for the price -- but dirt compared to Nikkor or Canon (EF or FD) or Zeiss (Contax or Cosina) in terms of optics.

Your second package has some very strong (and heavy, need rails) Nikons, but even the best zooms don't beat primes.

Relative to your budget -- I'd go to KEH and get the Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 AIS, Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS (this one is a big deal, research it online), the 35mm f/2 D (note: D, not AIS), the 50mm f/1.8 AIS (essay here, research it) and the 85mm f/2 AIS. In a worst case scenario at KEH (meaning all EX+ or LN) that's about $1500. Also, ALL of those share the 52mm front end -- meaning just ONE variable ND.

For a super light weight telephoto (no rails) that is as sharp as the 70-200mm F/2.8 -- look into the "legendary" E-Series 75-150mm f/3.5. That's the only E series I've ever bought -- and that lens never, never fails to impress. Also with the uniform 52mm filter thread.

I always recommend KEH.com and always recommend against Ebay anything. If something says "EX+" at KEH -- you're getting a museum piece. Several months back KEH sent me a Nikon 300mm f/4.5 ED-IF marked "EX+." The back end of that lens is open -- meaning the iris blades are exposed -- and that lens is notorious for used copies that look nice on the outside being caked with crud on the inside. We examined the lens they sent with magnifiers, black lights, and everything else we could throw at it -- and truly -- they sent us a museum piece both inside and out. Ebay doesn't work like that.
 
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