Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hello Nikon members,

I was wondering if some of you guys can put in your input. If you already have a Nikon D3S and a Nikon D800E coming, what would you spend $10,000.00 in lenses. Lets say you shoot fashion, glamour, portraits, landscape, some sporting events and children playing sports.

How would you spend $10,000.00 in lenses including taxes and no used equipment, just brand new.

Thank you for your input.

Seriously? I guess if I wasn't worried about bodies I would probably look at picking up the following Nikon's, keep in mind, if you dropped $10k in one shot you could definitly work out a better deal than msrp which is what I'm using here, from wide to tele:
24 f/3.5 PC-E $2,399
24-70 f/2.8G $1,869
50 f/1.8G $250
85 f/1.4G $1,899
70-200 f/2.8 $2,400
AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II $450

With taxes you're looking at $10.5k. I'd be torn to change the 24 PC-E with the 24 f/1.4G but I think I'd be covered. Now here's the list of what I actually have vs what I want:
28 f/2.8 AI-S
35 f/2D
Sigma 50 f/1.4 HSM
105 f/2.8 VR
24-120 f/4 VR
70-300 f/something VR (the VR is busted and I need to get it fixed)
All bought used either here, Fred Miranda or Craig's for about $2,900 in total which isn't bad. Makes me wonder if I made the right lens decisions LOL

Hello Dimitris,

Thanks for your reply, those are interesting choices. If you had to choose between Nikon 16-35 vr or Nikon 14-24, which would it be and why?

Btw, you have a nice collection of glass.

10k would get you in the door easily for everything except "sporting" events.

Too be honest, neither. I don't shoot that wide and think I would prefer the 24 PC-E over both as I shoot FX and 24 is wide enough for me. If I had to choose, I'd probably go for the 16-35 only because it's easier to use filters I guess. As good as the 14-24 is, I'm not sure I'd use it often enough to justify the cost in my mind and I seem to like primes more than zooms. I got a really good deal on the 24-120 and my wife prefers zooms so it was an easy buy.

Yes, those lenses can get up there.



Prime lenses is what I love. I will be using high tech nd drop in grads so I am leaning towards 16-35 vr. But a lot of fellow peers say the 14-24 is an awesome lens. Then later I would have to buy that outfit from Lee to use drop in filters.

I don't want too many zooms so I am opting out of the 24-70.

I was thinking :

Nikon 16-35 VR
Nikon 35 1.4G
Nikon 50 1.4G
Nikon 85 1.4G
Nikon 70-200 F2.8 VR11

Yup, I thought about that. Sam on here (and a great wedding photographer) shoots the 24/35/85 f/1.4 triple header, I'm not convinced about the Nikon 50 f/1.4G, that's why I went with the Sig and have been very happy with it. As I don't have a lot of money and don't mind manual focus, I've been thinking of adding the Rokinon 35/1.4 as it's a third the price of the Nikon. I'll see how that goes.

I mostly use a couple of B+W ND's and the Daryl Benson Reverse Neutral Density Graduated in P size although I wish I went with the Z-Pro 100mm size just cause, so filter use is important to me enough to think twice about the 14-24, still a great lens.

I have the Z- Pro 100 mm with hi tech filters and I hope it won't vignette that much on the wide end but I have a feeling that I am gonna be challenged with the 16-35 in distortion at the wide end also. Looks like I need to google more and do some more research but I think on Friday I will pull the trigger on whatever I choose between now and Friday. I also heard that the 50 1.4G us slow and not so good in low light so you just reaffirmed this.

I am tired from selling all my lenses in the last 3 days and hope my shopping will be quick so I can get back to shooting.

I really appreciate the time you took to try and help me out. Its always great to see fellow photographers who take the time to try and help others. Hopefully we get to meet at a shoot and the Tim's will be on me.

Thanks,

Solomon

I have the rokinon. If speed isnt of the essence, it is a great buy. I got mine during an amazon sale, and i rarely buy 3rd party lens (zeiss being the exception)

If i were to redo my entire roller, it'd be 24, 35, 85, 100 zeiss, 300. I can live without my 400 albeit reluctantly, but that 300 is damn useful to me. I dont remeber the last time i used my 70-200.

How do you like the Rokinon? Other than manual focusing, any issues? I was thinking of getting it for use on a D700 but having little experience with them bit a bit unsure.

Nope. Some ppl claim the infinity mark is off but i never had that issue. Really like the lens (esp for what i paid for it). I was considering the zeiss or the nikkor because i REALLY liked the latter, but i figured there is no way those things are 4-5x better than the rokinon, so i kinda gambled. Glad it paid off.

MF to me isnt a big deal. I use my pc-e a lot and my macro is a MF also; no big deal really.

Hmmm, thanks Borbor, the rokinon is really quite the lense. I haven't purchased the Nikon 35 1.4G yet but how slow is it? Slow like a Canon 85L Mark2?

Yes 24 is definitely on my list and don't get me started on Zeiss lenses because I love them but I will go broke before you know it. I used to have the Zeiss 35F2 ZE.

If I had a million dollars .... I'd be rich.

Nikon Trinity and primes.
14-24 - $1950
24-70 - $1900
70-200 - $2400
35/1.4G - $2000
50/1.4G - $600
TC-17 - $450

Of the three 1.4s, the 35 shouldnt cause any concern in af speed.

No way in a month of Sunday would i replace my 100 f2 with any 105 macro from Nikon.

Already have the 24-70, so I get extra $ to spend!

70-200 vr II
85 f/1.4G
24 f/1.4 G
TC-20
105 vr micro
16-35 vr II

600mm f/4

I think I have narrowed it down.
Nikon 35 1.4G
Nikon 50 1.4G
Nikon 85 1.4G
Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR11
and
What do you guys think Nikon 16-35VR or Nikon 14-24 or Nikon 24 1.4G?
This is so hard because I use hitech filters with zpro holder and want to get 24 1.4G but don't know if that is gonna be wide enough to me and before anybody says use your feet and step back. Its the perspective I am after.

Maybe later if I need this lens

I have both. 24 is an amazing lens, but there are times when you dont feel like carrying too many lenses, and that's when the 16-35 comes in. Get both and I guarantee that you will be very happy.

Do you need to buy everything at once? What camera are you coming from and what was your widest lens in 35mm terms? You could always rent the 24 f/1.4g and 14-24 /2.8g and see which one you like better before buying?

Also, can I be your friend and borrow some of your lenses?

Hello Dimitri,

I was a Canon user before and I am coming from a Canon 1DMark 4 and a Canon 5D Mark 2. I had a 17-40L at the widest. I usually shoot at 18mm on the 5Dmark 2.

I need to buy all at once because I actually use these lenses and don't buy new ones unless I need them. Also, there are already some lenses I want to rent from NPS because they are trying to expedite my process since I am coming from CPS. I think I am leaning towards the 14-24 now.

Of course you could be my friend. Coffee is already on me and we can shoot together anytime. I also have about 10,000.00 in lighting gear so if you are an Elinchrom user come on over and try some stuff out.

Thanks,

Solomon

Had the 14-24 and didnt really like it. I found the 17-35 to be a lot more useful. Love the 24 1.4

Ymmv

The new Nikon Primes (24/35/85) are awesome! They're not Nikon 24-70 fast but they're not really about focus speed. The 50 is good but nothing special and not any faster or slower then the 50D but the color is consistant with the other G lenses. I'm hoping to see a "pro" 50mm f/1.4 or 1.2 from them soon.

BTW they just annopunced a 28mm f/1.8.

MMMM, so the 24 1.4 is good right?


Thanks, Sam, now I am considering 24 1.4 and I really appreciate all the help from the members so maybe we can all meet for some coffee on me. When I started I got into the zooms but I shoot with 2 bodies and starting to shy away from them. I don't mind that it is slow and if I need speed I can use 70-200 since I shoot at that FL anyways at events.

It seems both Canon and Nikon can't seem to muster up a pretty good 50mm. I like the perspective of the 50mm and for some reason seems natural and undistorted but maybe that's me.

I sold my 50mm f/1.2 AI-S thinking I was going to see a AF-S soon. Was I wrong....

I had it for 2 years, used it like 3 times and I wasnt going to spend $$$ on the Lee system. The usage wasnt justifying the cost.

Is the 24 1.4 good?

Is the pope German?

Do bears shit in the woods?

lol
I didn't know the pope was German.

Thanks for the wikipedia.

I think bears poo where ever the hell they want too

Thanks for the offer. I'd love to go out and shoot more while drinking coffee. mmmm coffee. Good luck with the purchase and welcome to the dark side, it's fun over here.