Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hi, I am new to this forum, and i wanted to ask some advise.
I am an university student and i am looking to get new gears with saved money. My budget is approximately 2000 dollars.

My current equipment is
Nikon d700
Nikon 50mm 1.8 ad-d
Nikon 85mm 1.4 af-d
Nikon 28mm 3.5 ai
Nikon 28-70mm 3.5-4.5 af-d
Sigma 15-30mm
Nikon SB900

I am more into portrait but i love to do some creative shots with my wide angle, and landscape is fun for me too once in a while.


So here are some choices i have thought of, please give me your advise.

1. Get a 70-200 vr or save a bit more for 70-200 vr II.
- I would love to include one of the two lenses to my collection as i love candid shots and portraits.. but i already have a 85 1.4 for portraits.. so Im not too sure.

2. Get a 14-24 2.8
- Sigma 15-30mm is good, but the reviews i've read about 14-24 just makes it so tempting.

3. Get a 24-70 2.8
- I dont have a good midrange zoom i can make use of... but then again, i dont feel the need for midrange zoom that much...

4. Get a 105mm 2.8 micro, another sb 900, some strobe equipments and a 70-300mm vr.

Thank you so much!

when i was an university student I wish I had $2000.

generally you purchase a lens based on what you feel is missing, if you want to go wide, go 14-28mm. 70-200 comes in handy for portraits too.

When I was a university equipment I would have wished to have that current equipment, let alone another $2000.

+1 what bhrm said, what do you think is missing?? Don't spend the money just because you have it.. but only you know what you really need/want.

buy a second body, you need it to be a pro

If you really love wide, trade the 28-70 and the 15-30 and get the 14-24. It's got no peer afaic.

otherwise, get the 70-200, either iteration is fine.

Thanks bhrm, what's a great advise. I'll try to figure out what i really need in my bag..

I was also wondering what lens you guys 'generally' use the most.

I mean, i was thinking about 24-70, and i couldnt really think of a use for it. I hear its a good walk around lens, but isnt the size and weight similar to 70-200. And i feel that the reach of 70-200 is better for street photography or candid shots. I understand that 24-70 is a versatile lens, meaning that it can shoot landscape at 24mm, and portrait at 70mm. But wouldnt it be better to shoot landscape with 14-24 instead, and portrait with 70-200?

Yeahh, i am very pleased with the equipment i have, and they're all bought with my savings/earned money since grade 7 (LOL).

d.

Welcome to the community. I'd love to see some of your work. Ever thought of upgrading your body?

he should definitely trade his D700 in for a D3, now, where to find one.

I say get a 70-200

haha bart you read my mind

I think there's a 180/2.8 afd in the 'Selling' section. Great for outdoor portraits, and save you $.

* advice.

You could try something like this:
http://www.cpr.demon.nl/prog_plotf.html
(there seem to be a couple like this, Exposureplot, Exifplot, etc)

.. which lets you see the focal lengths you use most, that may help decide what you next route would be. e.g., if you find you're often at 85mm and can remember wanting more reach you know your answer. If you're all over the place within the mid range perhaps that 24-70mm would be actually be more useful than you think. etc etc

If the graph doesn't show you anything you could perhaps try some lighting equipment?

thank you guys!