Sigma 17-70mm vs Nikon 18-105mm

[redwine]

Hi,

I will be upgrading my D40 to D90,
have been thinking whether to get the BO and use my current Sigma lens,
or get the kit and sell off my Sigma lens.
(will also add primes down the road)

While the kit lens is longer and comes with VR,
i believe the build cant be compared to Sigma.
The macro on Sigma is also useful for the once in a while macro shot.


Appreciate any inputs.

[slooow]

Are you trying to get the D90 becos D40 has limitations that hinder your photography?

Though i never owned a D40 before, i have played with it on many occasions and find that D40 actually produces very good photos.

If i have the money, i would rather spend it on good lenses/flashes.
Cos if you are getting D90 with the kit lens, i dont think that will help much in improving photo quality

I would prefer to D40 + tamron 17-50mm ($500+) or Nikkor 17-55DX ($1600+)

both these lenses are f/2.8 constant and will be, imo, better than D90 + kit lens

~

If you really need the functions of D90, then again, i will suggest the above two lenses.
the kit lens will produce decent photos but do not expect too much from it. afterall it is f/3.5-5.6.
you will be able to survive with kit lens since D90's iso sensitivity has improved so much over the years. images at iso1600, and even iso3200, are so clean. f/3.5-5.6 will no longer be a critical hindrance to photography. It will only produce fugly bokeh... thats all

happy buying, and happy shooting!

[redwine]

Thanks for the inputs.

Yes, my D40 is kind of getting in my way.
(though i love the size & weight)

I want to get SB-600 so i can fire wirelessly at an angle,
and D40 cannot do that.

I also intend to rent some primes like Nikkor 85mm, 105mm DC.
All this cannot AF on D40 & D40 viewfinder is not really MF friendly either.

[slooow]

Originally Posted by redwine While the kit lens is longer and comes with VR, i believe the build cant be compared to Sigma. The macro on Sigma is also useful for the once in a while macro shot. Appreciate any inputs.

Originally Posted by redwine Thanks for the inputs. Yes, my D40 is kind of getting in my way. (though i love the size & weight) I want to get SB-600 so i can fire wirelessly at an angle, and D40 cannot do that. I also intend to rent some primes like Nikkor 85mm, 105mm DC. All this cannot AF on D40 & D40 viewfinder is not really MF friendly either.

You actually know what you want very well... buy D90!!

Do you know you actually answered your own question even in the very first post? you just cant decide

do you need the "longer range and VR" more or "the stong metal build and semi-macro" functions more?

how about 18-105AFS-VR + a 6T filter?

[redwine]

Yeah..I'm going with D90..that's the cheapest option i can think of.

question is whether i should keep my Sigma 17-70 macro or get the kit lens as well.
i am leaning towards keeping my Sigma,
my impression with kit lens on my D40 is that it feel cheap.

[boyboy]

eh redwine, d40 can trigger off camera flash. just use SU80 mode. no TTL though.

[redwine]

Originally Posted by boyboy eh redwine, d40 can trigger off camera flash. just use SU80 mode. no TTL though.

You mean SU-800 ?

[whkoh]

I think the SB-600 does not have a SU-4 mode where it can be triggered optically. The SB-800 does though.

[slooow]

Originally Posted by whkoh I think the SB-600 does not have a SU-4 mode where it can be triggered optically. The SB-800 does though.

redwine wants to use the body to fire off the flash

not flash to fire off flash

(i think)

[redwine]

Originally Posted by slooow redwine wants to use the body to fire off the flash not flash to fire off flash (i think)

I'm not sure what is the correct 'term',
but i understand for D80/D90,
you can put the onboard flash to commander mode,
and it can trigger another remote flash wirelessly. (thru IR, i think)

i'm not sure whether SB-600 can be "trigger optically",
eg. trigger using pocketwizard

[KenBit]

Originally Posted by redwine Yeah..I'm going with D90..that's the cheapest option i can think of. question is whether i should keep my Sigma 17-70 macro or get the kit lens as well. i am leaning towards keeping my Sigma, my impression with kit lens on my D40 is that it feel cheap.

When you are on the D90 kit lens you won't find it cheap but one of solid build. It's also hailed as the current best kit lens out there! Siggy 17-70 not bad also but prefer the kit lens over it although the f stop is better on the Siggy. The D90's ISO performances itself is already enough to justify that.

[slooow]

Originally Posted by KenBit When you are on the D90 kit lens you won't find it cheap but one of solid build. It's also hailed as the current best kit lens out there! Siggy 17-70 not bad also but prefer the kit lens over it although the f stop is better on the Siggy. The D90's ISO performances itself is already enough to justify that.

D90 kit lense is plastic mount right?

but i like it cos it is 3/4 AFS already... and manually overwrite the focus now

but no "viewing window" to see the elaborate readings


and got VR!!! yeah!

[KenBit]

Originally Posted by slooow D90 kit lense is plastic mount right? but i like it cos it is 3/4 AFS already... and manually overwrite the focus now but no "viewing window" to see the elaborate readings and got VR!!! yeah!

Plastic mount but still nice!

[Daedalus Trent]

Originally Posted by redwine I'm not sure what is the correct 'term', but i understand for D80/D90, you can put the onboard flash to commander mode, and it can trigger another remote flash wirelessly. (thru IR, i think) i'm not sure whether SB-600 can be "trigger optically", eg. trigger using pocketwizard

ok, basically...
the built-in flash can command other Nikon flash units remotely

the SB-600 can be fired off remotely by the commander built-in flash but can't command other flash units

the SB-800 and SB-900 can both be fired off by commander flashes and function as a commander flash when it's mounted onto the camera body


got it?

[redwine]

Originally Posted by daedalus trent ok, basically... The built-in flash can command other nikon flash units remotely the sb-600 can be fired off remotely by the commander built-in flash but can't command other flash units the sb-800 and sb-900 can both be fired off by commander flashes and function as a commander flash when it's mounted onto the camera body got it?

THANK YOU ... understooded.

How about the portion on whether SB-600 can be triggered by Pocket wizard.

[boyboy]

Originally Posted by redwine You mean SU-800 ?

Originally Posted by whkoh I think the SB-600 does not have a SU-4 mode where it can be triggered optically. The SB-800 does though.

oh yea more like SU4 mode

[voldisinarta]

Originally Posted by redwine question is whether i should keep my Sigma 17-70 macro or get the kit lens as well. i am leaning towards keeping my Sigma, my impression with kit lens on my D40 is that it feel cheap.

Keep the Sigma... I personally like the f/2.8 on the wide end. It enables me to take handheld night scene without the need of a tripod, like this one which I took in Jonker Street, Malacca.

[Bootlicker]

The Sigma 17-70mm I Think Its Better And Im Planing To Buy It At Tk Photo

[redwine]

looks like will get BO and keep my Sigma.
Thanks

[KennyDalglish]

Yup I Think The Sigma 17-70 Is Better