need help with lens combinations

[willey1221]

hey guys, so I've finally figured out I want to buy a Nikon d750 but now I have to decide which lenses to purchase, I have none at this point of time. My top priority is portraits followed by landscapes and a little bit of everything else because I am going to be going to college for photography. So far my list of lenses includes the following:
Tamron Sp 70-200mm f2.8 Di VC
Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 Di VC
Sigma 135mm F1.8 DG HSM ART
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM ART
Sigma 24-35mm F2 DG HSM ART
Sigma 12-24mm F4 Art

I'm more or less stuck deciding if I should get a 135mm or the 70-200mm or both? I'm also in the same boat with the 24-70mm or get the 50mm and 24-35mm? or I guess another possibility could be scrap the 24-70 and scrap the 24-35 and get a 35mm and a 50mm. I'm sorry to have to ask this question I imagine there's a lot of questions like this on the forum but not quite like mine. It's hard to know exactly what I want since I don't have access to these lenses, so I'm here asking for the advice of you experienced guys. Thanks. My budget is about 3-5 grand, and I can always purchase more lenses next year.

 

[tirediron]

Have you sought any guidance from the school where you will be studying? I would think that they would require you to have certain items if they don't provide all of the kit. Without a budget, it's really hard to give any advice at all, other than to say, "All of them".

 

[willey1221]

School doesn't start till September and my budget was 3000-5000$

 

[tirediron]

That's no reason not to call and ask them ahead of time. You could probably get all of that for <$5K on the used market without any difficulty.

 

[ronlane]

I agree with John but for portraits there are other lenses to consider as well. The 85mm f/1.8 (or 1.4) and the 200mm f/2.0 would be good on a full frame camera.

I'm not sure on the prices but 3-5K doesn't seem like enough money to get that list of glass and the D750.

 

[Braineack]

start with the first two on your list for versatility, add the rest as needed...

or start with the 105mm 1.4E, 85mm 1.4G, 58mm 1.4G, and 35mm 1.4G

 

[astroNikon]

When in doubt, get the 70-200 as it contains the 85, 135 focal lengths, though not the more open apertures.

Considering it's portraits .. I would think 85/135 and the 70-200.
Unless it's in a very confined space for classes, then the 24-70.

Yup, you should call and ask.
But the 24-70 and 70-200 is a standard lens kit to have.

 

[Designer]

So far my list of lenses includes the following:

How did you arrive at that list? Did you read any reviews? IMO, there are better lenses available.

I agree with tirediron about asking at the school for their recommendations. You seem to be picking lenses based mainly on the focal length, which could work, but then there are other considerations as well.

Good luck in school!

Be sure to check in with us from time to time and report your progress.

 

[willey1221]

So far my list of lenses includes the following:

How did you arrive at that list? Did you read any reviews? IMO, there are better lenses available.

I agree with tirediron about asking at the school for their recommendations. You seem to be picking lenses based mainly on the focal length, which could work, but then there are other considerations as well.

Good luck in school!

Be sure to check in with us from time to time and report your progress.

Yes I read reviews and also went on www.dxomark.com

If there are other lenses that you think I should consider that are around the 500-1500$ range possibly $2000 if it's a must have lens then I'm all ears.

 

[Gary A.]

Willey1221-

First off, getting all that stuff at the same time as a 'starter' kit can actually be detrimental for developing your photographic skills. The pros I know have harmonized with their equipment. The camera is an extension of their hands and the lenses are their eyes. They see the focal length they desire before putting the viewfinder to their eye. They instinctively know the sweet spots and DOF of each of their lenses. This is only accomplished by time with your equipment. With so much stuff all at the same time as a starter kit ... one ends up diluting time with individual lenses and thereby extending the learn curve.

Granted, slowly adding equipment one at a time after you attained harmonization with each lens is a lengthy and time consuming approach and isn't nearly as much fun as getting a boatload of stuff.

At this point, you should do quite well with:

Kit #1 - 70-200, 24-70;

or

Kit #2 - 70-200, 24-35;

If the money is burning a hole in your pocket then:

KIT #3- 70-200, 24-70, 12-24

Add the primes later. Zooms and Primes are quite different animals. The sharpness of zooms will vary at different focal lengths ... the better the zoom the less variation in sharpness as you zoom. The better you become, the more you harmonize, the better you will be able to judge the differences between a zoom and a prime and determine if any differences between the two are significant to what you shoot and how you shoot.

Generally, the 70-200 is great for action/sports and portraits, the 24-70 works well for landscapes. Remember that in general, a photographer can use any focal length to capture any genre ... but the further away from what is considered an optimal focal length for that genre, the harder it will be to capture a successful image. (i.e. It is easier to shoot a successful portrait between 85mm and 135mm than at 20mm or 200mm.)

 

[table1349]

Have you sought any guidance from the school where you will be studying? I would think that they would require you to have certain items if they don't provide all of the kit. Without a budget, it's really hard to give any advice at all, other than to say, "All of them".

Yep, it's kind of like having an f1.2 lens. You can shoot at f1.2 but you don't have to. Find out what you need and buy that. You don't have to spend the whole budget just because you might have the money now.

 

[Dave442]

The 24-70mm would be my first choice. I see you noted Sigma Art lenes, they now have the 24-70mm ART as well and it might ship before school starts.

 

[Derrel]

Buy the twoTamron zooms to start

 

[willey1221]

Thanks for all the responses, I was unaware that Sigma had made a 24-70mm ART lens, so ill probably go with that, and the 70-200mm Tamron. I wasn't posting all the lenses to buy, I was just wondering what would be good to start with, like to go out and buy 3 maybe 4 of them. I'll probably also buy the 12-24 Sigma Art. Maybe 1 more prime on top of those 3 and in the future I'll see what I like and possibly buy one of the 35/50/85/105/135 primes.

 

[Braineack]

its not even on the market yet.