URGENT: Suggestion needed on used D610

[astroNikon]

I would have skipped it too - too high a price for it's high usage.

You can get FF lenses for cheaper than you think. Just look at the AF-D lenses (like that 28-105) - all you need is an in-body focus motor for AF though.

When I bought my d7000 kit all lenses after that were AF-D and saved tons of money. Then I bought a refurb'd d600 and had to do no lens selling/swapping.

Luckily the d7000's body is slightly smaller than the d600 (the d7000 fit in my camera backpack but the d600 didn't) though similar in looks though are not the same body but share some electronics. The d750 is also similar which is another great body but higher priced.
(copied from Nikonusa.com)
D7000 ==> Approx. Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth)
5.2 in. (132 mm) x 4.1 in. (103 mm) x 3.0 in. (77 mm)
D600 ==> Approx. Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth)
5.6 in. (141 mm) x 4.4 in. (113 mm) x 3.2 in. (82 mm)
D750 ==> Approx. Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth)
5.6 in. (140.5 mm) x 4.5 in. (113 mm) x 3.1 in. (78 mm)

 

[Raj_55555]

You can get FF lenses for cheaper than you think. Just look at the AF-D lenses (like that 28-105) - all you need is an in-body focus motor for AF though.

When I bought my d7000 kit all lenses after that were AF-D and saved tons of money. Then I bought a refurb'd d600 and had to do no lens selling/swapping.

That's a nice point, I'll keep an eye out for the AF-Ds.

 

[astroNikon]

That's a nice point, I'll keep an eye out for the AF-Ds.

my main AF-D trio are
18-35 / 3.5-4.5
24-85 / 2.8-4.0
80-200 / 2.8

the 24-85 has a macro capability too from 35-85mm.

 

[Raj_55555]

That's a nice point, I'll keep an eye out for the AF-Ds.

my main AF-D trio are
18-35 / 3.5-4.5
24-85 / 2.8-4.0
80-200 / 2.8

the 24-85 has a macro capability too from 35-85mm.

I actually saw a deal on the 80-200 today, how does it compare to the 70-200? any ideas?

 

[astroNikon]

70-200 has VR and is heavier and more plastic
but has focus override which can come in handy in certain situations. but it costs alot more.
it depends upon your budget. I'd get the 70-200/2.8 VR II if i could afford it, but the 80-200 is a great lens.

 

[Derrel]

I actually saw a deal on the 80-200 today, how does it compare to the 70-200? any ideas?

Read the Thom Hogan review on the 80-200 f/2.8 AF-D lens.

As Hogan wrote back in 2010: "A D3x exposes the 80-200mm as being good, but not great. At 200mm here's the f/2.8 and f/5.6 results:"
80-200mm f 2.8 Lens Review by Thom Hogan

The center of the frame at f/2.8 looks substandard. The corner is dreadful.

 

[Raj_55555]

I actually saw a deal on the 80-200 today, how does it compare to the 70-200? any ideas?

Read the Thom Hogan review on the 80-200 f/2.8 AF-D lens.

As Hogan wrote back in 2010: "A D3x exposes the 80-200mm as being good, but not great. At 200mm here's the f/2.8 and f/5.6 results:"
80-200mm f 2.8 Lens Review by Thom Hogan

The center of the frame at f/2.8 looks substandard. The corner is dreadful.

My first reaction was to reject the idea of getting one, but after going through the complete review I think it's still a pretty good deal. The only real problem seems to be the poor quality when shooting wide open, let's see

 

[Derrel]

I really do not see the value in carrying a big, outdated lens that's not worth shooting at f/2.8...when there's a new, modern, lighter f/4 model with outstanding optics and VR available...meaning the 70-200 f/4 VR-II lens. I mean, if the lens is NOT good at f/2.8, and the 80-200 AF-D is not very good at f/2.8 in the center, and the edges of the frame are dreadful...is it worth the extra bulk and weight?

What makes things tough for me to offer meaningful advice is you being located in India, me being in the USA...I am not sure what the used market is like there; in some places around the globe, prices on camera goods are very high, this price issue seems due to individual country-based distributorship, where "Official Importers" bring the goods into the country, and the prices they charge are what we here in the USA would consider outrageous. Australia for example has outrageous prices on Nikon gear.

I really think the Tamron 70-200 VC would better this old Nikon lens handily. The "better" 80-200 AF-S lens would too. For slow, deliberate work, the $99 80-200 f/4 Ai-S is an astoundingly good lens, but is manual focus. I don't know what a good price is in India for an 80-200 AF-D two-ring.

The thing is really this: on 24 MP FX...this lens is not good enough to use at f/2.8 for many uses. It was fine back on the D1x with 5.4 megapixels...it was fine on a 10-MP D90....

 

[Raj_55555]

In India the prices are almost always higher than in the USA (Dollars to rupees converted) by a substantial margin. For example I remember when the tamron 150-600 came out, just after the launch it was about 400$ costlier in India.
Another thing that really bugs me about the Indian market is it's complete absence of a refurbished market. I wonder what they do with the returned products.

It'll be very difficult to find a copy of the 80-200 AFS, I looked around on amazon, ebay and a few other places but nothing. I think get your point and I'll also pass on the 80-200 deal that I saw. I'll just get the Tammy if and when I get one, although given my fickle mind I'd probably end up with the D5 by then.

 

[Braineack]

buy Astro's Sigma 500mm. Shipping to india won't be very expensive.

 

[Raj_55555]

buy Astro's Sigma 500mm. Shipping to india won't be very expensive.

Umm.. I'm not sure what Astro's sigma is, do you mean the 150-500 or something to do with astro photography? Sorry, Google didn't have an answer as well.

 

[astroNikon]

buy Astro's Sigma 500mm. Shipping to india won't be very expensive.

Umm.. I'm not sure what Astro's sigma is, do you mean the 150-500 or something to do with astro photography? Sorry, Google didn't have an answer as well.

he means that I'm selling a Sigma 150-500 lens => FS Sigma 150-500 AF APO DG OS HSM lens for Nikon Photography Forum

 

[Raj_55555]

buy Astro's Sigma 500mm. Shipping to india won't be very expensive.

Umm.. I'm not sure what Astro's sigma is, do you mean the 150-500 or something to do with astro photography? Sorry, Google didn't have an answer as well.

he means that I'm selling a Sigma 150-500 lens => FS Sigma 150-500 AF APO DG OS HSM lens for Nikon Photography Forum

Oh! I actually saw that post back then, I was drooling all over when you slashed the price down to 575$ but didn't comment for the obvious problem of me being in India. The combined price of the customs duty and shipping will skyrocket that sweet price.

 

[Skaperen]

my first reaction to the description was to the high shutter count.

maybe that is why he is selling it off.