Lenses for D300

Hi

I'm about to buy a D300 as my first D-SLR. Have used lots of of Point and Shoot and am unhappy with the level of control I have with the camera and the inability to change lenses/add polarizers etc. Was planning on my first lens to be the AF-S 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED followed by the 70-200 F/2.8. I plan on using the lenses primarily for landscape with the occasional family photo. Are these good first choices or would you recommend something else? Travel for work quite a bit and a little concerned about the weight of the lenses. Looked at the 18-200 but concerned with the build quality and lens creep. Also looking for circular polarizer to go with the lenses and am considering B+W MRC Kaesemann or the Nikon CPL-II. Anyone have an opinion on which is better for the money?

Thanks

Hi Laura,

Wow, what a way to jump into the dslr world. Congrats!

For landscapes, I think you'll need to go wider. The lens you mentioned is great, but landscape shooters usually go with wide angle lenses. 24 on the D300 is more like 36mm in 35mm film terms.

Have you considered the 17-55 2.8? I have it and love it, especially for people shots 9environmental portraits). It's a DX lens, so you'll have to decide if that's a concern for you.

70-200 is awesome, have it, love it. I've started to use that for some landscapes and I like compressing the dof.

Good luck,
Taz

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johntazbazphotography.smugmug.com

Hi

I was trying to stay away from the DX lenses because I figure my next D-SLR would probably be full-frame but maybe I should re-consider. The reason I was going with more zoom is that in Ireland where I take a lot of shots I can never get close enough I.e islands off the coast etc. Would the 12-24 be a better second choice than the 70-200?

Are you getting a flash as well, SB-600 or SB-800? If not, you should consider it.

The pop up flash wont work well with the 24-70 or 17-55 as it tends to cast a shadow, especially when using the lens hood, at the bottom of your image (not to mention it's limited range).

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johntazbazphotography.smugmug.com

Hi,

If you are planning to use it for landscapes and have the money to spend get a 14-24 or if you don't want to spend that much a 12-24 (either nikkor or tokina) or 10-20 sigma. A D300 deserves good glass. The ultimate but expensive setup would be to add a 24-70, 70-200 and 85mm f/1.4.

On a more limited budget consider the 12-24 (or 10-20), 18-70 and 70-300VR with a 85mm f/1.8.
Just my thoughts, but it's up to you.

Laura L said:

Hi

I'm about to buy a D300 as my first D-SLR. Have used lots of of
Point and Shoot and am unhappy with the level of control I have with
the camera and the inability to change lenses/add polarizers etc.
Was planning on my first lens to be the AF-S 24-70mm F/2.8 G ED
followed by the 70-200 F/2.8. I plan on using the lenses primarily
for landscape with the occasional family photo. Are these good first
choices or would you recommend something else? Travel for work quite
a bit and a little concerned about the weight of the lenses. Looked
at the 18-200 but concerned with the build quality and lens creep.
Also looking for circular polarizer to go with the lenses and am
considering B+W MRC Kaesemann or the Nikon CPL-II. Anyone have an
opinion on which is better for the money?

Thanks

Click to expand...

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Regards,
Peter

http://www.pbase.com/peterk52
http://www.peterkoornneef.nl

Yeah, that makes sense.

Ok, then the 24-70 might make more sense due to the distance of the islands. That's a tough choice 12-24 vs 70-200). Personally, I couldn't live without my 70-200, love love love it. Although I don't have anything wider than the 17-55, I might feel the same way about the 12-24 if it were in my bag. For you, it might make a better choice if you think you don't need the reach of the 70-200.

this may not help much, but how did you use your point and shoot? Did you go wide or zoom in to the max? If more on the wide end, then maybe that helps you to understand your shooting style and that may support the 12-24 over the 70-200.

Oh, and just to make your life more difficult, you may want to consider the Sigma 10-20. Many users like it a lot, even over the Nikon depending who you ask. Some say that extra 2 mm on the wide end makes all the difference in the world.
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johntazbazphotography.smugmug.com

If you are new do dslr and consider a D300 as your first camera I would recommend looking at a D80. And the money you save can be invested in good lenses. Both camera's will have a pretty steep learning curve coming from a P&S but the D300 even more so than a D80. As a first time dslr user you will find that a D80 will offer more than you can handle.
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Regards,
Peter

http://www.pbase.com/peterk52
http://www.peterkoornneef.nl

Laura,

I would reccomend you get the D300 (you will be happy with it for years even with a FX camera later on,) and these lenses: 12-24 DX, 18-70 DX, and 70-300 VR. I have these as well as the 70-200 VR and 300/f4, and guess which ones I am willing to carry around. The 70-200 VR is very heavy and the 70-300 VR is a super lens in the 70-200 range. It does get a tad soft, above 200, but think of that range coming for free vs. the 70-200 VR. Also, the 18-70 DX a good lens at any price, but for $300 is the best bargain available.

Have fun and don't write off the "consumer" lenses... the worst SLR lens (e.g., 18-55 DX) is far, far, far better than anything available on a P&S.

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Thanks,
Mark

Hi

I was looking at the SB600. Didn't think I needed the SB800. Agree?

Thanks

Hi

Thanks for the information. I will consider the 14-24. I hadn't researched that one.

I did consider heavily the D80 but I think the D300 is a better choice for me. I like the live view because sometimes when I'm taking pictures hanging kind of over a cliff I can't always have the eye-piece to my eye. Also I liked the 51 point autofocus better. The build quality also seemed better with the D300. I am in a lot of conditions with salt spray. I really want to start learning the technical aspects of photography and being an engineer don't feel the D300 would be that much more difficult than the D-80 if I planned on being in manual mode.

Hope I'm not being to naive.

Hi

Thanks for the input. I will look into the 70-300VR. I hadn't researched that lens. I think I will stay with the 24-70 because I think that will be my primary lens.

Laura

I'm not sure, especially since I don't recall the feature differences between the two. I'd suggest double checking the features and your expected needs to determine the best fit.
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johntazbazphotography.smugmug.com