Bought the camera early this year with the kit lens and then bought a 50/1.8 and then a 35/1.8 FX for taking family photos. I am now looking to get a better zoom lens and would love to hear some experiences between the DX and FX versions of the lens given the huge price difference.
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D7100 zoom lens DX or FX version?
- Thread starter preetster
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- nikon d7100
One thing to think about is that with the new 24-70 2.8 VR there should be a big supply of the now "old" 24-70 2.8 s available as pros upgrade. I've seen quite a few used ones already but they are still in the $1000-1500 range. Perhaps after the VR is in wide use prices will drop down (I hope).
What is cool to me to think about is that say instead of dropping $2000 on a new top grade Nikon lens, for the same money a person could buy something along the lines of: (1) the same lens in an older generation ($800-1000?), (2) plus a new 3rd party specialty lens (say Tokina 11-20 2.8 $550), (3) plus an older generation Nikon super high quality portrait lens ($300-650?), (4) and possibly even another 3rd party high quality zoom/other used or new (say sigma 17-50 2.8 $250-320). Having said that, if I were making a living from photography rather than just a hobby the $2000 for the best lens would be worth it to me fore sure.
I can post some pics from the 80-200 with the 7100 if you want cuz it's really sharp even wide open. But i need to read up on how to post pics in the forum. One thing I noticed though is with that combo that live view gives more consistent focus for very long range targets when shooting at or near wide open. But then I did set the 7100 fine tuning for that lens at much too close and that is perhaps why. And I think that is one of the drawbacks to keep in mind with odler lenses, focus may not be quite as good as AFS and also one might get some more chromatic abberation because it doesn't have the most advanced coatings like the current generation. As with everything plusses and minuses I guess.
One thing about the used/less expensive appraoch is that it does let you build over time as you find "gaps" you want to fill or perhaps "specialty" lenses. F.e. I love love love the 85mm 1.4 but can't find it used for less than 1200. So I bought the 105 f2 DC for a fraction of the cost and it gives very close to the same dramatic bokeh images (some would say better images, but I still prefer the 85 1.4 slightly which is just personal preference). One thing though that some may not believe is that I have tried both extensively and on my camera the screw drive 105 DC grabs focus very quickly (not lightning quick like the 70-200 VRII, but really quick) vs the 85 hunts a lot when wide open and it's really annoying. And I actually love hearing the 105 focus. Sort of like driving a stick shift vs. automatic, I feel more involved in the process I guess.
What is cool to me to think about is that say instead of dropping $2000 on a new top grade Nikon lens, for the same money a person could buy something along the lines of: (1) the same lens in an older generation ($800-1000?), (2) plus a new 3rd party specialty lens (say Tokina 11-20 2.8 $550), (3) plus an older generation Nikon super high quality portrait lens ($300-650?), (4) and possibly even another 3rd party high quality zoom/other used or new (say sigma 17-50 2.8 $250-320). Having said that, if I were making a living from photography rather than just a hobby the $2000 for the best lens would be worth it to me fore sure.
I can post some pics from the 80-200 with the 7100 if you want cuz it's really sharp even wide open. But i need to read up on how to post pics in the forum. One thing I noticed though is with that combo that live view gives more consistent focus for very long range targets when shooting at or near wide open. But then I did set the 7100 fine tuning for that lens at much too close and that is perhaps why. And I think that is one of the drawbacks to keep in mind with odler lenses, focus may not be quite as good as AFS and also one might get some more chromatic abberation because it doesn't have the most advanced coatings like the current generation. As with everything plusses and minuses I guess.
One thing about the used/less expensive appraoch is that it does let you build over time as you find "gaps" you want to fill or perhaps "specialty" lenses. F.e. I love love love the 85mm 1.4 but can't find it used for less than 1200. So I bought the 105 f2 DC for a fraction of the cost and it gives very close to the same dramatic bokeh images (some would say better images, but I still prefer the 85 1.4 slightly which is just personal preference). One thing though that some may not believe is that I have tried both extensively and on my camera the screw drive 105 DC grabs focus very quickly (not lightning quick like the 70-200 VRII, but really quick) vs the 85 hunts a lot when wide open and it's really annoying. And I actually love hearing the 105 focus. Sort of like driving a stick shift vs. automatic, I feel more involved in the process I guess.
Some recent critter pics with 80-200 most are shot wide open I think unless it shows obvious depth of field then it was f4-5.6.
105 DC a couple pics that show foreground and background bokeh. first one is wide open second is probably f5.6 Even the smallest amount of light shows up in the background as little globes. Note that the railing which reflects light in the second shot would normally be a source of nasty bokehness with a lot of lenses but with this lens it's not so bad. It's still distracting but its softer than I would have thought at 5.6
105 DC a couple pics that show foreground and background bokeh. first one is wide open second is probably f5.6 Even the smallest amount of light shows up in the background as little globes. Note that the railing which reflects light in the second shot would normally be a source of nasty bokehness with a lot of lenses but with this lens it's not so bad. It's still distracting but its softer than I would have thought at 5.6
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