Suggestion for mid zoom?


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Johan

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Jun 25, 2004
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Mohamed Sultan
Just upgraded to D200, and with a friend who wants my D70 kit set I now need to purchase back a mid zoom. Since I already have 12-24 and 70-200, I narrow down to 3 choices

1) AFS 24-85 F3.5/4.5

2) AFS 18-200

3) AFS 18-70

17-55 and 28-70 is out of the question coz my finance minister will kill me if I get another $$ item after my D200 purchase!

Am leaning towards the 24-85 since this lens is not too expensive and the optical performance seems excellent in the reviews. Anyone who have use it and can comment or show some pics?

18-200 is an interesting choice esp the convenient it brings for travel but not sure how the performance from 18-70 against the 18-70 lens? Also, how does it perform against the 24-85?

Advices appreciates :D
 

You are going to get overlaps no matter which lens you pick. Try getting a 50/1.8. But if you really want a mid zoom, then the cheapest alternative is the 18-70.
 

Thx for the advice but I already have a 50mm/1.4. Am not too worry about overlaps as that help minimize lens switching but more concern on getting a good optical mid zoom that don't cost too much. So that's why I am interested in how the performance of these 3 lens compare.
 

i think it boils down to how many lens you want to carry in your outing, local and overseas and your needs.

if you get the 18-70, you will end up carrying three lens everytime. should cost about $300 thereabouts.

if you get the 18-200, you will end up carrying two lens. this is VR and is about $1300.

if you get the 24-85, you will end up carrying three lens. someone said this is about $600 and if it's fullframe, it's a good buy.


here's one way of working it out.
if the 18-200 is as good and as sharp as the 18-70 or 24-85 and if the price diff is not a concern for you, it might be your best choice.

if you like to punish yourself with extra load in outings, than go for the 24-85 :bsmilie:
the 18-70 is definitely lighter.
 

Actually if u already got 12-24, 50, 70-200, yr focal length are very well covered, there are not many situations that u "must" shoot at 25-49mm or 51-69mm.
But, if u still want to buy, I would agree and suggest AF24-85f28.4D, not easy to find nowadays though.
 

Astin said:
Actually if u already got 12-24, 50, 70-200, yr focal length are very well covered, there are not many situations that u "must" shoot at 25-49mm or 51-69mm.
But, if u still want to buy, I would agree and suggest AF24-85f28.4D, not easy to find nowadays though.
I can find it, but still prefer the 28-70 :D
 

How does this compare with the AFS optic-wise? One is AFS while the other have 2.8. Which would be a better choice and why?

Is it difficult to find both lens?

Cheesecake said:
how about AF24-85 f2.8-4D?

i'm using this lens. around S$600 used and it is superb.
 

Johan said:
How does this compare with the AFS optic-wise? One is AFS while the other have 2.8. Which would be a better choice and why?

Is it difficult to find both lens?
when i was shooting film, i had the best zoom lens, the AF28-105 f3.5-4.5D. its truly a stellar and under-rated lens. but when i made the switch to digital with the D1, that lens became... well, not as general purpose a lens as i hoped it would and thus i began shoppin around for a new general purpose zoom lens.

i tried the AFS24-85 f3.5-4.5. personally, i find it light and plasticky? even the 28-105 feels alot more solid than this lens. to me, this lens perform well but not good enough to compare with the 28-105. even though it might be an AFS lens, the AF is not that fast.

then i was introduced to the AF24-85 f2.8-4D by a fellow CSer who was selling it. wow! this lens heavier than the other two but i think its a tall order for it to match up to the 28-105. the results are pretty decent(managed to hold its own against the 28-105), i find it better than the AFS version. the price is fair(slightly more than the AFS) so i sold my 28-105 and bought this lens. the AF is pretty fast and i like to shoot at f4(or lower) in night flash fotography.

however, if i was to be shopping for a general purpose lens now, esp. when i do not have any, i would get the AFS18-200VRII if i can afford it.

u can get this lens in the Buy and Sell forum for around S$600/.
then u can shop for a truly wide lens such as the Sigma 10-20(very wide good lens!).
if it interests u, u can get a AF80-200 f2.8 lens too for the tele situation and shots la.
 

tokina 28-80.

my personal advice, get a lens starting from 17 or 18mm. use ur 12-24 only for really wide situations. now with my 12-24+28-80 setup, i find myself changing lenses very often as they intersect at a very unconvinent spot.
 

Bro, long time no see.. n D200 liao..:cool:

Go for AFS 18-70 since you got 70-200 covered..:)
 

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