Hi
terpeh /
prataz,
Am also a D80 user and thinking of now moving on from my kit lens 18-135mm(quite a nice kit lens actually). However am quite confused in my options which are given below for your opinions (asking you coz noticed u r using similar combo as one of my shortlisted options):
Option1 - Move to a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and combine with a 70-300mm(Nikon VR oe Sigma etc) for the added reach. Reason behind this choice is that I like the 2.8 capabilities of this tamron lens, since I love to do shoot outdoors, indoors(dim lights), people, kids, family, portraits, etc etc...where i feel the kit lens does not do full justice in terms of the total pic quality(of course the nikkor 17-55 will be the best but that is gulp $2K++!!). I feel the tamron 17-50mm f2.8 will enhance my pics in this case. And of course to add to the reach if need be i can always plug in the 70-300mm when I go to the zoo or outdoor close ups, sports, etc etc...
Option2 - Ditching option1, where i have to use a two lens combo. I can instead go in for the Nikon 18-200mm VR and use it as a all in one lens solution. Yes, reach will be limited to 200mm instead of the 300mm as in option1 but i can live with 200mm. However, what i am more interested to know from your experience since you have used the Tamron 17-50mm is which takes better pics in the overlapping focal range of both. So are the Nikon VR lens pics as good as the Tamron in say the 18-50mm range, same optical quality, bokeh, sharpness, colors, vivid life like etc etc? I have heard mixed reactions to the 18-200mm VR, some people swear by it, some say it is too generalistic, and in my case I am specifically wondering if it will overcome the quality of the 17-50mm Tamron or even better the Tamron with the VR etc?
TS - sincere apologies if this is OT from your thread. Hope that the info that will be provided can be of some use to you too. If not sincere apologies, no wrong intentions to OT your thread mate.
Thanks in advance for the advice & suggestions on the above...
Cheers. :thumbsup:
If you are really keen on replacing the kit lens, then I would recommend tamron 17-50/2.8. You should be be able to save $400 if you buy the body only. Then top up a few hundred for the tamron 17-50.
I own both tamron 17-50/2.8 and nikon 17-55/2.8 and i can tell you for the price you are paying for tamron, it is definitely worthwhile. The pic quality is very near nikon 17-55/2.8.
Then, thereafter, get a 70-300VR. This is also an excellent lens. With this 2 lense, it will cover you from 17-300 with just 15mm gap in between.
Sounds just like my combination =)