Hello from NYC!

EAMArt · Oct 17, 2013

Hello!! I am a long time reader first time poster.
I would like to introduce myself; my name is Emilia and I live in NYC. I started taking pictures in high school when I took two classes on film photography. If I remember correctly, my weapon of choice was a Nikon FM10. Then a few classes in college.
I put down the camera when I finished school due to lack of funding for a DSLR and no easy access to a dark room. And besides, I am a painter.
That changes about four years ago when my husband (bf then) got us a Nikon D5000. Since then I quit my office job (at a cold ice sculpturing studio) in May and upgraded to a D600. I wish to make photography more than a hobby and help my hubby out a bit.
By now, I know quite a lot about my camera but there is still room to improvement. I hope you guys can help me grow.

I guess I can ask my first question now:
I want to get a lens for the D600. So far the only FX lens I have is a 55mm 1.4 and I love it so!
On my D5000 camera I had the 18-55mm and 55-300. I did like the zoom from the 55-300 and used it a lot.
I am eyeing the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR II (I could get it for about $850) to be my work-horse lens. But is it a smart purchase? Will I soon be interested in the 24-120mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR II ($1099)
Once again, nice to meet you all and thank you for your help

IceCanAm · Oct 18, 2013

Welcome to the site.

114florida · Oct 18, 2013

Thank Emilia for taking a membership. Welcome to the Forum.

Thank you again.

smalltowngirl13 · Oct 18, 2013

Welcome aboard Emilia!

The_Traveler · Oct 18, 2013

welcome
what kind of photography are you interested in doing?

The_Traveler · Oct 18, 2013

If you are planning to help your husband, I assume you expect to be using this camera/lens to earn money.

If so, you should aim your purchases towards building the armamentarium used in your money-earning niche.

EAMArt · Oct 18, 2013

Well my aim is to be a portrait/wedding photographer. I don’t think it’s realistic for me to become a NatGeo photographer and travel to Antarctica to photograph Emperor Penguins or to Southern Africa to run with the gemsbok.
We are not pressed for money, but it would be nice to have some of my own income so I can be like, “don’t worry honey, I’ll got the bill this time.” I am also making a book of my neighborhood dogs. I know I’ll get something out of it but not till the summer of next year.
As for weddings, I can always rent out lenses from my local photo store. I did that last Friday for a friend’s wedding that I shot. I got the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S and Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S for about $60. Easy pick up fast drop off and the lenses were in perfect condition.
I want something that I can take pictures of everyday life (landscape, friends, city, dog, food, etc) but also be good for work related shoots if need be.

wbarthur · Oct 18, 2013

welcome

The_Traveler · Oct 18, 2013

Unfortunately there is no lens that fulfills every criteria.
Wedding require fast glass and maneuverable - which means expensive.

I shoot mostly street stuff - which is similar to wedding and portrait stuff because the focal length needs are similar - fast, maneuverable. (altho for the sake of handling I use smaller bodies)
I use the equivalents of 40 (1.7), 90(1.7), 24-70 (2.8) and 70-200 (2.8).
To do these - even with non-Nikon lenses - would be 4-5K.

Your budget means that you need to stick with very flexible, not super expensive glass.
There is no easy fast answer.
Why not rent both your possible choices and try them out for a day?
Look at their speed and quality with potential shot situations.
Compare the images at possible exposures and focal lengths.