Need Advice on which lens to get

[elutris]

This is the present system I have

Nikon F80D body
28mm-80mm/F3.3-5.6 AF(came with the body)
50mm/F1.8 AF
28mm/F2.8 MF
135mm/F3.5 MF

The way I see it, I only have 1 good AF lens which is the 50mm/F1.8. The 28mm-80mm restricts me in terms of low light settings(which I often like to take in). The 28mm and 135mm would be good for me if only they are AF. But they are still usable if I have no choice.

Should I get a
80-200mm/F2.8 AF OR,
35-70mm/F2.8 AF

Right now, I have a choice to get a AF D 80-200mm/F2.8 ED with tripod collar for $1000. I have not been able to find an offer for the 35-70mm lens but I understand a new one will cost ard $1000 as well.

Are there any other lens you recommend I get and between the above 2 lens, which one should I get with reference to what I already own?

Thanks for all your advice!

[ckiang]

Quote: Originally posted by elutris This is the present system I have Nikon F80D body 28mm-80mm/F3.3-5.6 AF(came with the body) 50mm/F1.8 AF 28mm/F2.8 MF 135mm/F3.5 MF The way I see it, I only have 1 good AF lens which is the 50mm/F1.8. The 28mm-80mm restricts me in terms of low light settings(which I often like to take in). The 28mm and 135mm would be good for me if only they are AF. But they are still usable if I have no choice. Should I get a 80-200mm/F2.8 AF OR, 35-70mm/F2.8 AF Right now, I have a choice to get a AF D 80-200mm/F2.8 ED with tripod collar for $1000. I have not been able to find an offer for the 35-70mm lens but I understand a new one will cost ard $1000 as well. Are there any other lens you recommend I get and between the above 2 lens, which one should I get with reference to what I already own? Thanks for all your advice!

Spend a bit more and get the AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED with the tripod collar. The push-pull ones are optically good, but being such a big and heavy lens, it exerts some strain on your camera mount if you mount it on the tripod via the camera. The pushing and pulling can also exert some strain on the mount.

You can get a used 35-70/2.8 from TCW for $700 or so. Used of coz. But 35-70mm isn't a very good range though it's optically excellent. It's a bit like a zoomable 50mm prime.

If you are looking for a fast mid-focal length zoom, consider the Tokina AF 28-70 f/2.6-2.8 ATX Pro II. Costs $650 at CP.

Regards
CK

[ziploc]

This is easy. Go get the Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8 or the AFD 35-70/2.8 and pass me the lobang for the AFD 80-200/2.8

[elutris]

thanks for your replies ckiang and ziploc.

But from judging that I already have a 28mm-80mm/F3.3-5.6, albeit not very good, should I still go for the Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8?

How is lens quality of Tonika ranked against Nikkor?

Or are there any of ranges of lens I should look into? For example, is there one from ard 28mm to 105mm or 135mm? With a respectable F-stop ard 2.8?

[ziploc]

Sell your 28mm-80mm/F3.3-5.6 and get the Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8. Seriously though, the Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8 is a very good lens, in terms of both optical and build quality. If you are on a budget and cannot afford to get that top-of-the-range Nikkor AF-S 28-70/2.8 IF-ED, this is the one to get.

[ziploc]

CKiang,

How's the new Tokina 28-80/2.8 comparing to the 28-70/2.6-2.8? I heard that the clutch of the new lens can be snapped back into MF at any position, is that right? And how is its optics compare to the old design? Any idea?