What Lenses Would You Keep?

I purchased a new Nikon D7000 and have 5 lenses in all now...

1. 35 mm 1.8G
2. 50 mm 1.8D
3. 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6G
4. 55-200 mm 4-5.6G
5. 18-135 mm 3.5-5.6G

I was leaning towards keeping 1-4 above and selling the 18-135 with my D40x body.

What would you do if you had the above lenses?

I would keep 1 and 5 for reasons of versatility and sharpness.

The 18-135 is a very good lens.
However I do see redundancy with #1 & 2

Selling the 18-135 with the camera would make it a lot more attractive to someone that doesn't have lenses yet. It will also sell for more.
Those lenses go for less than $150 used.... some closer to $100.
The 18-135 still around $200.

ptmurphy said:

I purchased a new Nikon D7000 and have 5 lenses in all now...

1. 35 mm 1.8G
2. 50 mm 1.8D
3. 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6G
4. 55-200 mm 4-5.6G
5. 18-135 mm 3.5-5.6G

I was leaning towards keeping 1-4 above and selling the 18-135 with my D40x body.

What would you do if you had the above lenses?

Click to expand...

1. Keep
2. Keep
3. Bundle with the D40x when you sell it
4. Keep
5. Sell and replace it with the 18-105 VR. I had two 18-135s, they were ok, my
18-105 VR is superior in all ways

ptmurphy said:

I purchased a new Nikon D7000 and have 5 lenses in all now...

1. 35 mm 1.8G
2. 50 mm 1.8D
3. 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6G
4. 55-200 mm 4-5.6G
5. 18-135 mm 3.5-5.6G

I was leaning towards keeping 1-4 above and selling the 18-135 with my D40x body.

What would you do if you had the above lenses?

Click to expand...

I always get quizzy about answering questions like this one because my choice will depend on the type of shooting I do rather than yours. Ultimately, you know best. The obvious duplicate you have is 18-55 vs. 18-135, where if I were you, I'd keep the longer lens, even though it's not VR, and ship off the D40x with the 18-55. But if this were my decision, I'd sell both lenses and use the proceeds (plus maybe a little extra ca$h) to buy a fast lens like the Sigma 17-50 f2.8.
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Thanks for all of the comments so far. Interesting how everyone's thought processes work a little bit differently.

Still trying to figure this out...

eNo said:

I always get quizzy about answering questions like this one because my choice will depend on the type of shooting I do rather than yours. Ultimately, you know best. The obvious duplicate you have is 18-55 vs. 18-135, where if I were you, I'd keep the longer lens, even though it's not VR, and ship off the D40x with the 18-55. But if this were my decision, I'd sell both lenses and use the proceeds (plus maybe a little extra ca$h) to buy a fast lens like the Sigma 17-50 f2.8.

Click to expand...

I have to agree 100% with eNo.

But for "MY" type of shooting... I would also put the 35 or 50 in the 'for sale' group with the 18-55 and D40x... and get the 17-50... and keep the 18-135 if you're able. No, it's not necessary if you have the 55-200 and 17-50 but in lots of circumstances that one lens may be nice to have on you, as opposed to 2.

I happen to shoot the Tamron version but the idea of having a 17-50/2.8 in your collection would be a nice addition. I don't doubt you will find yourself using it the most of all your zooms. Obviously it's not long, but it's fast... allowing for more creativity and better low light shooting.

If this purchase is one of your options... I would go for it.

So... to summarize...

Keep 1 or 2 and 4, sell 1 or 2 and 3, buy 6 and sell 5 if you need to

Interesting that you suggest selling the 35 mm or 50mm 1.8. I just bought the 50mm. I've had the 35mm lens for a while and use as a low-light walk around lens, but found it not that great for portraits due to having to get too close at times for head shots, etc., which would cause some odd perspectives.

I bought the 50mm basically for portraits to give me a little more space.

Good advice for thought!

Well, if it gets down to what our personal choices are for a lens lineup:

My lenses---Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 gotta love that steady 2.8 and I have a real sharp copy

Nikon 18-105 VR my favorite walk around lens

Sigma 10-20 I shoot mostly wide

I'm selling my 35mm f/1.8 'cause I find it too limiting, I'm not a prime lens guy

toomanycanons said:

ptmurphy said:

I purchased a new Nikon D7000 and have 5 lenses in all now...

1. 35 mm 1.8G
2. 50 mm 1.8D
3. 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6G
4. 55-200 mm 4-5.6G
5. 18-135 mm 3.5-5.6G

I was leaning towards keeping 1-4 above and selling the 18-135 with my D40x body.

What would you do if you had the above lenses?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I tend to agree here, but find that I only need one "walk around" lens and the 18-105 works quite well for that here (would dump 3, 4 and 5 for the 18-105). The 18-135 is a great lens, but lacks VR. I might go for the 18-200, but it's pricey.

I have the 50mm 1.8D but find that I don't use it much and the 35mm G probably wouldn't get used much either. Not a bad choice, if you use them.

A lot of this really boils down to what you'll really use, and nobody can give exact advice on that.

What I love (outside of the "going to the zoo with the family" stuff): The 70-300 VR gets some good use here -- love that lens. Recently bought a 105mm VR Micro-Nikkor because I want to get more into macro stuff. This lens is "sweet" in every way, but I wouldn't take it to the zoo or the beach.

In reality, these "best lens" threads seem to miss the point because application is everything and nobody knows what you do better than YOU. It's funny that we're willing to make recommendations without knowing the application. The 50mm D is a great portrait lens (but, I don't do much of that, so it rarely gets used here). The 70-200 2.8 VR is a killer birding lens; but I don't do that, either and can't afford one. (The work I see is stunning; just not my "bag.")

Point is, we buy SLR's largely for the lens interchangeability, but when it comes down to lenses, we lose reason. Think about what you'll use it FOR and this will become a lot more obvious.

In the bag for an upcoming beach trip to Mexico next year: D7000, 18-105 VR, 70-300 VR, a Canon SX30 superzoom P&S and a pretty well used Canon 780SD pocket cam. That's what fits this application for me; each has it's purpose. These would all be bad choices if portraits were the goal.

Think first, buy later. It'll save you some coin.

ptmurphy said:

I purchased a new Nikon D7000 and have 5 lenses in all now...

1. 35 mm 1.8G
2. 50 mm 1.8D
3. 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6G
4. 55-200 mm 4-5.6G
5. 18-135 mm 3.5-5.6G

I was leaning towards keeping 1-4 above and selling the 18-135 with my D40x body.

What would you do if you had the above lenses?

Click to expand...

I'd be tempted to sell the 18-55 unless you have the VR version and use it for close focusing. I'd also be tempted to sell the 18-135 and replace both with the 16-85 VR The 55-200 may be all the tele zoom you need.

The 50 1.8D may make a nice package for an extra $100 or so. Depends on your buyer.

.....keep the 18-135mm (an extremely sharp all-around lens, and the two fast prime lenses. Sell the 18-55 kit lense and the 55-100 companion lens. You might even eventually want to sell either the 35mm or the 50mm. Then invest in a good DX wide-angle zoom (Nikon 12-24 or 10-24, Tokina 12-24 or 11-16) and better quality long glass, perhaps the 300mm f/4. Then yuo will have a first-class kit that can capture anything with professional quality.
--
HARRY LAVO
70 years and (still) lovin it!

A pair of Nikon bodies | All the glass I need | Manfrotto pods and clamp system| Enough software to still be only half-way up the learning curve

I had two 18-135 lenses and neither was "extremely sharp". My 18-105 is way better.

toomanycanons said:

I had two 18-135 lenses and neither was "extremely sharp". My 18-105 is way better.

Click to expand...

I can say the one I had was.

Yup, I'd keep 1-4. That'll actually be our setup for shooting weddings once we get lens 1.

ptmurphy said:

I purchased a new Nikon D7000 and have 5 lenses in all now...

1. 35 mm 1.8G
2. 50 mm 1.8D
3. 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6G
4. 55-200 mm 4-5.6G
5. 18-135 mm 3.5-5.6G

I was leaning towards keeping 1-4 above and selling the 18-135 with my D40x body.

What would you do if you had the above lenses?

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the input - I definitely have some options and things to think about. I am thinking to maybe keep everything, including the D40x and let my daughter use it and the "extra" lenses to learn on. We'll see!

ptmurphy said:

Thanks for all the input - I definitely have some options and things to think about. I am thinking to maybe keep everything, including the D40x and let my daughter use it and the "extra" lenses to learn on. We'll see!

Click to expand...

This may be the best solution! Take the family out shooting together & swap lens from body to body.

Why would you get rid of any if you do not have to? "Give" your daughter the 40 and a piece of glass you already have and let her see if she enjoys it. If she does, you will be getting her a new camera for a birthday and then consider upgrading glass for her next Christmas - voila you now have a passion you share with your daughter for the rest of your lives.

I think this may be the best course of action! I don't have to get rid of anything, just have some redundancy it seems. But getting my daughter interested may be a great time to bond.

ptmurphy said:

I purchased a new Nikon D7000 and have 5 lenses in all now...

1. 35 mm 1.8G
2. 50 mm 1.8D
3. 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6G
4. 55-200 mm 4-5.6G
5. 18-135 mm 3.5-5.6G

I was leaning towards keeping 1-4 above and selling the 18-135 with my D40x body.

What would you do if you had the above lenses?

Click to expand...

1. keep (for streetwork and lowlight)
2. sell (you don't need it)
3. sell (if possible, with your d40x as a nice starter set)
4. keep (for moderate nature, birds, wildlife)
5. keep (most versatile, for walk-around, holiday and portrait)

--
Happy photographing!