Prime or zoom?

[janineh]

Hi all, thinking of getting a midrange lens and I am not too sure which way to go. I've got a D700 and a 70-200 2.8, a 85 1.4 and a 60mm macro. What I need is either a 24-70 2.8, which is pricey or I was thinking of a 35 2.0 or even 28 1.8. I do a lot of kids photography, outdoors and indoors. Maybe some of you have some suggestions... Thanks!

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[The_Traveler]

24-70, like divorce, is costly because it's absolutely worth it.

[BXPhoto]

how about we start with your budget. comparing sub par primes to a 24-70 just makes no sense. when I first became a full time photographer i shot with the trinity of zooms (16-35l, 24-70L, 70-200 2.8l) for versatility. As I gained more work and experience I started to seriously find the limitations of 2.8. I then purchased primes and only use my zooms in the studio since Im strobing and at fstops of f5.6-f11. For the last 4 years I have been almost purely a prime shooter. I only keep my 70-200's around for my ceremony/studio work.

Primes take a little more foot work and creativity as well as technical ability to work with much smaller dof but the out come is worth every penny. It is much more expensive to shoot with quality primes, but in return you can shoot at 1.2-1.4 vs 2.8. This alone makes it worth it to me. Nikons prime selection is what has kept me away for so long, but with the recent additions Ive decided to give Nikon a shot this year. Especially with the upcoming 135mm f/1.8 thats suppose to be coming out. The 135L was my bread and butter lens. My main setup is a 35/85/135 setup (The holy trinity of primes).

Now if you have an over all budget of say 1k than maybe the tamron 28-75 and an affordable prime might be a good alternative. Id rather own a 35/50/85 setup over any 24-70 how ever.

[Solarflare]

I would like to point out that Tamron recently released a great 24-70mm f/2.8 vc.

From what I've read, its very close in performance to the 24-70mm of Nikon, and it has image stabilization, and its much cheaper than the Nikon.

It would be the lens I would check out in your place.

[janineh]

Thanks guys! I've looked at the tamron 24-70. Seems like a great lens. I have pre ordered it, but its not available just yet. I have decided on a sigma 30mm 1.4. I do love my primes and I will get the tamron in a few months.