Prime lens kit for DX -- revisited

[dala]

Hi all you prime lovers out there,

Some time ago you all helped me staking out my roadmap to a set of prime lenses targeting top image quality for a limited budget.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=31449470

The final verdict (and the current state of my gear inventory as of now) is:

Nikkor 35/1.8G -- to be purchased
(Nikkor 50/1.8D) -- had it from before
Nikkor 85/1.8D -- purchased
Sigma 150/2 macro -- to be purchased

(As well as a Sigma 10-20/4-5.6 that I had from before, for wide angle use.)

I'll be visiting San Francisco in a couple of weeks and am thinking of using that opportunity to get the last lenses. The problem is the general availability of the 35/1.8. There seems to be very short supply of this gem over there. My idea was to order from Adorama or BH to get a really good price, but they seem to have infinitely long waiting lists.

The joker in the line up was the long Sigma macro. The role of this lens would mainly be for general longer telephoto use and some macro use. I'm still hesitating to pull the trigger on this one. It should be sharp and well built, but it lacks VR which can be good for tele usage.

If I don't buy it now, I'll have to wait until the next time I fly over to the states. What should I do?

 

[slimandy]

The first prime lens I'd recommend with DX is a 35mm f1.8. The next 'must have' lens regardless of format is the Sigma 150 macro. Next, depending on whether or not you will still retain metering (D200, D300 or better) a 105 f2.5 AIS.
I also love a 35mm f1.4 AIS and Sigma 24mm f1.8.

I don't find 50mm a useful length on DX. Not wide enough for general purpose; not long enough for portrait.

--
http://www.andrewsandersphotography.co.uk

 

[dala]

The first prime lens I'd recommend with DX is a 35mm f1.8. The next
'must have' lens regardless of format is the Sigma 150 macro. Next,
depending on whether or not you will still retain metering (D200,
D300 or better) a 105 f2.5 AIS.
I also love a 35mm f1.4 AIS and Sigma 24mm f1.8.
I don't find 50mm a useful length on DX. Not wide enough for general
purpose; not long enough for portrait.

--
http://www.andrewsandersphotography.co.uk

--

Thanks for the encouragement. There is no discussion about the 35/1.8 -- I'll get that as soon as stores get it in stock.

The main issue is whether the Sigma 150 macro will work well as my main long tele. It is nice that it also fills the role as the macro lens of my setup, but I'm having this feeling that there are better teles for roughly the same price or less...

 

[Nyarlathotep]

The 35mm f/1.8 is back in stock at BH. The all important fast standard for DX. You should definately pick this one up for DX.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/606792-USA/Nikon_2183_AF_S_Nikkor_35mm_f_1_8G.html

+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Aaron

 

[Les Olson]

The only real alternative to the Sigma 150mm is the Nikkor 180 f/2.8, which is a comparable price and a little lighter. We really need a medium telephoto DX (about 135mm f/2.8) that is lighter than the Sigma and less expensive than the 135mm f/2 DC.

You don't have any wide primes. Any reason for that, other than not having a lot of choice? Nikon needs to make a 16mm f/2.8 DX soon. Thom Hogan is enthusiastic about the new Voigtlander 20mm. Has anyone else tried it out? Is manual focus at f/3.5 without a replacement screen practical?
--
2 November 1975.

'... Ma come io possiedo la storia,
essa mi possiede; ne sono illuminato:
ma a che serve la luce?'

 

[dala]

The only real alternative to the Sigma 150mm is the Nikkor 180 f/2.8,
which is a comparable price and a little lighter.

I have considered that one, but still quite a bit more expensive that the Sigma (which is already quite expensive for my budget).

We really need a
medium telephoto DX (about 135mm f/2.8) that is lighter than the
Sigma and less expensive than the 135mm f/2 DC.

Agree with you. But apparently restricting tele lenses to DX doesn't reduce the weight very much by.

You don't have any wide primes. Any reason for that, other than not
having a lot of choice?

That is the reason.

Nikon needs to make a 16mm f/2.8 DX soon.

I agree. A wide angle DX prime around 16-20 mm would be very much appreciated.

Thom Hogan is enthusiastic about the new Voigtlander 20mm. Has
anyone else tried it out? Is manual focus at f/3.5 without a
replacement screen practical?

I've looked at that one, but not sure it's worth the money.

 

[dala]

Yes, I managed to get one of the units in the latest batch. Should arrive in a week now. Yey!