Going to Shanghai for 5-days. Renting Nikon 85mm/1.4G OR 17-55mm/2.8G

[jdong217]

I'm leaning towards the 85mm just because I have been absolutely dying to play with it forever. But will it be bad for city photography and walking around? I mean I don't have all that much time to "learn" the lens and truly get a feel for it. I'm still relatively new to photography and DSLRs.

The rate is kind of expensive. I'm in Hong Kong and the rental rate for the 85mm is approx. 45 USD/day and the 17-55mm is roughly 51 USD/day. :/ I'm going for 5 days and will probably have to rent for a full 7.

Unless anyone knows a cheaper place to rent?

 

[jdong217]

Also, I shoot with a Nikon D3100. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4D is significantly less expensive to rent. Would it be a better choice? And will it autofocus or meter with my camera? No autofocus is fine by me but I'd like at least metering :/

 

[Geaux]

85 1.4 doesn't seem like a great walk around lens, great lens (I own the Sigma variant), just wouldn't want to use it as a walk around. I love my prime lenses, but on my trip to Europe this summer, I was thankful to have the comfortability of zoom lenses. Another thing to keep in mind, 85mm on a crop body is about 127mm.

 

[tirediron]

Having done a lot of travel photography, and been to Hong Kong, I would definitely go for the 17-55. 85mm is an awkward length on a crop-body camera to begin with, and I find shorter focal lengths far more useful than longer ones for this sort of work.

 

[RichardsTPF]

I just arrived Shanghai last week. Great cityscape. I have a 50mm 1.4g and a 18-200mm lens. I found it's hard to shoot cityscape with only 50mm len. Mostly I have my 18-200mm on my camera. For indoor or low light condition, I shot at 50mm w/18-200mm first, then switch to 50mm glass.

 

[jdong217]

I actually just found out they only have 85mm/1.4D. They don't have any DX lenses except for a fisheye and the 12-24mm Nikon AF-S.

@RichardsTPF I have the kit 18-55mm lens, 35mm/1.8G, Tokina 11-16mm/2.8 UWA, and Nikon 55-200mm variable lens (rarely ever use this and actually forget I have it from time to time).

If I had to rent one of the lenses on this list to compliment my lineup for the trip, which one would you guys say? Rent A Pro Limited



Nikkor 10.5mm fi sh eye f2.8G DX ( full Frame) $300 $240 $1200
Nikkor 12-24mm f4G IF ED AF-s DX $300 $240 $120


AF 17-35mm f2.8D $400 $320 $1600
AF 20-35mm f2.8D $300 $240 $1200
AF 24-50mm f3.3-4.5 $100 $80 $400
AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 $200 $160 $800
AF 28-70mm f2.8D $300 $240 $1200
AF 35-70mm f2.8 $120 $96 $480
AF 35-70mm f2.8D $150 $120 $600
AF 80-200mm f2.8D IFED $300 $240 $1200
100-300mm f5.6 $250 $200 $1000
AF200-400 f4G VR $600 $480 $240



8mm f2.8 fi sheye (round image) $600 $480 $2400
AF16mm f2.8 fi sheye (full frame) $300 $240 $1200
AF 14mm f2.8 D super wide angle $500 $400 $2000
15mm f3.5 super wide angle $400 $320 $1600
18mm f3.5 super wide angle $150 $96 $600
20mm f2.8 wide angle $120 $96 $480
24mm f2 wide angle $120 $96 $480
28mm f2 wide angle $120 $96 $480
35mm f2 wide angle $120 $96 $480
AF 50mmf1.4 $120 $96 $480
AF 85mm f1.8 $150 $120 $600
85mm f1.4 $150 $120 $600
105m f1.8 $150 $120 $60



135mm f2 $150 $120 $600
DC135mm f2 depth control lens $200 $160 $800
AF 180mm f2.8 IFED $200 $160 $800
180mm f2.8 IFED $180 $144 $720
200mm f4 $200 $160 $800
AF 300mm f2.8 IFED $450 $360 $1800
400mm f3.5 EDIF $550 $4400 $2200
500mm f4P EDIF $700 $560 $280

That's all they have. Is the 17-35mm worth checking out? As good as the 17-55mm?

 

[pixilstudio]

Zooms are more versatile for traveling. why dont you buy there i bet you could find a great deal

 

[jdong217]

Are the prices in Shanghai significantly cheaper? I'm in Hong Kong right now and while the prices are a bit cheaper than US prices, they're not by much. I just bought the Tokin 11-16mm a few days ago and got it for $620 brand new, maybe could've gone lower if I was smarter but who knows? Anyway, The reason I'm renting is because I really can't afford a new lens right now. I'm pretty much cleaned out. I dream about getting hte NIkon 17-55mm but it's never going to happen. Sigma 17-50 MAYBE at the end of the year

 

[Geaux]

I used my Tamron 18-270, 35 1.8 and Sigma 10-20 my whole Euro Trip. I don't think you really NEED to rent a lens with all the ones you got right now.

Try to pack lightly, carrying a ton of camera gear around won't be fun

 

[DiskoJoe]

Why dont you just go buy a cheap 50mm f1.8. decent walking lens and you could probably get a good deal on one in HK.

 

[DiskoJoe]

I just saw your list. You really dont need to rent anything. I mean you could but why bother. You have all the focal range you need and as long as you have a tripod you should be set.

 

[KmH]

Spam deleted, thread closed.