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New zoom lens

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vandul

Happy New Year! I'm new to this forum, and i've found information on here that has been very helpful. I just got my camera in september and have been getting into photography. It's a Nikon FM10, i've been thinking about getting a lens with a greater zoom, right now i have a Nikkor 35~70mm. It's a fine lens, but what would you recommend if i was looking to upgrade?
 
> dear jason, with Nikon, you will be spoilt with choices of lenses. If zoom lenses are your interest I'll suggest that you'll have to consider your budget, then the nature of photography to be undertaken. A good general purpose zoom would be the 24-120VR, and if you can stretch your budget a bit then the 70-200VR in the alternative or in addition. i hope this helps. inno'
 
Hello Jason,

In my opinion, if you already have a good 35-70mm zoom, I would hang on to it for a while. Which lens model do you have? The choices are not so easy for mid-range lenses. Nikon made several 35-XXX zooms and these were notorious for poor quality control. The newer AF lenses range from poor to excellent in terms of optical and/or build quality (lots of plastic), and some are G types and therefore do not have an aperture ring on the lens barrel. The AF-S 28-70mm f2.8 is superb but very expensive. May I suggest that you keep your 35-70mm and add something else: perhaps the 28mm f2.8 AIS for a wider angle of view, or try to find a second hand Series E 75-150mm f3.5 or 70-210mm f4.0. All of these have excellent reputations (the 28mm f2.8 is simply awesome). If you are up for some research then try www.nikonlinks.com for tons of info on everything Nikon (and then some). Most of all have fun.

Cheers
 
I have a D-100 and a sigma 17-35 2.8-4wide angle and a Nikkor 24-85 f/2.8-4 that are both very good. I too wanted a middle distance zoom and went looking for an 80-200 f/2.8 ED IF AF that I found for USD300. The one I purchased happened to be a MK1, w/o tripod ring and it is a stunning lens. I would strongly recommend this lens as long as you can live w/o the tripod mount. I can, last week I freehanded a cheetah up close and was rewarded with an image that is technically amazing. I can see the driver of the truck and the truck itself clearly enough in the reflection to identify the make and model of the vehicle reflected in the big cats eye...... My next lens is going to be the nikkor 300mm f/2.8 ED IF AF, also Mk1 with a 1.4 converter. I think anything above 200mm should be a fixed prime. Just my HO.

Christopher L. Johnston PO Box 354 Omaruru ~ Namibia
 
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Hay just a thought I have a great like new Nikon (Tokina) AT-X 840 AF II 80-400mm APO for sale for $355.00. This is a very clean great lens. Contact me for more info and pictures. Almost never been used like new. This is a great lens. ask anybody. Tom
clarktmc@dashlink.com
 
wow, thanks for all the input. Greg I think the 28mm f2.8 AIS may be a good idea(how much in USD do those usually go for?), but i will do some more research
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Thanks alot, i'm sure you'll see me around this forum often.

I'm not really sure what model lens it is, it came with the FM10, but the manual says
Zoom-Nikkor
35-70mm
f/3.5-4.8
 
BTW - personally regarding larger magnification I used to think that over 200mm should use a prime, but I've been pleasantly suprised by the 80-400 VR nikkor. It is slow to focus so any action shots are done with manual focus but the image quality is very very nice, better than my 70-200AF-S VR with 2x converter.

The 35-70mm lens that comes with the FM10 is decent and actually surprisingly good @ f8 (as with most lenses) I use the 35-70mm f2.8 and my companion for it is the 24mm AF f2.8 The 35mm you already have vs a 28mm won't be much of a difference and most of the time you can foot zoom.
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Just a suggestion the 24mm f2.8 is a fine lens and very affordable.
 
hmmmmmmm

thanks, i'm thinking that i'm going to work with the lens i have right now, but i'm deffinately going to upgrade in the future, and all this info will help, thanks again. I want to get comfortable with this lens, and a little more experience under my belt, before i move on.

My Site:
http://digwiz.megalixer.com
My Art:
http://vandul.gfxartist.com
 
From some years I was not interested of photography. Lately my interest is returned and I noticed like the zooms by now are the
"standards" lenses. Until some year ago they were considered expedient rising that did not have some possibility to compete with
the fixed lenses in terms of quality of image. It is still therefore?

Thanks
 
My personal opinion is that the prime lenses are still superior to the zooms produced today. I'm from the school of using a prime and zooming by walking forward and backward. A little harder in some cases but a lot more fun and only expedient rising when walking up hill. I do own a cheap Sigma 100-300 which I play with but don't expect much from and I'm thinking of buying a 24-120VR for events. For serious work I use all primes and all Nikon. Always the fastest I can afford.
 
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