New lens or new body??

[TamiAz]

My husband has hinted around that he is going to let me invest in a 70-200mm lens. I rented one a couple of months ago when our daughter was playing in a softball all-star game. I have been complaining that I can't take pictures of her games once the sun disappears, but I was able to take pictures the entire game with the 70-200 lens. I was able to show him the difference with the pictures I took.

I have a Nikon 5100 and I plan on upgrading to a full frame eventually. Would it make more sense to up grade to a new body first with better ISO capabilities or get the new lens even though I have an entry level camera. I felt kind of silly with this huge lens attached to my little D5100..

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tirediron]

Better lenses almost always trump better bodies! If you can get "permission" to buy the lens now, get it. That's an expensive piece of glass, and as you've learned, rather a nice one. I use a 70-200 on a crop-frame body and it works very well. You could also sell him an upgrade idea by saying that rather than spending >$3000 on a new FF body, you'll look at something like a used D700 for <$2000.

 

[laurenvictoria]

Better lens! and get the body in like a year haha

 

[MLeeK]

I'd vote the lens. A battery grip helps to balance the weight and girth of the lens to the tiny body a bit.
You'll find that your D5100 performs admirably at high ISO's combined with a GOOD lens. It's a matter of learning to expose properly for high ISO's, processing for high ISO's and being able to use that fast lens to get you a whole lot more!!!

 

[boomer]

I would go for the 70-200 in your case for sure!

 

[Robin Usagani]

Was the light the limiting factor or the reach?

 

[Derrel]

Nikon is expected to formally announce their entry-level full-frame D600 camera body in August or September. I expect that camera to be a 24MP FF body with the SUPERIOR sensor technology Nikon has been putting into its FF bodies since the original D3 in 2007. The leaked photos of the D600 appear to be VERY real. The current D4 has a 16MP sensor on FF; the current D3200 has a 24MP sensor on APS-C. The D800 has 36MP on FF. The D3x had 24.5 MP on FF. So...the upcoming "entry-level" full-frame Nikon could be announced in three weeks to perhaps two months' time. Expected price? Most say from $1599 to $1899.

So...honestly...this is a bad time to make a decision that impacts FF versus a BIG cash outlay for a lens. Admittedly, the 70-200 VR Nikkors, both older and the new model are excellent lenses. But my gut feeling is that the D600's HIGH-ISO capabilities will be amazingly good (based on the D3/D4/D800 capabilities, all kick-butt cams at elevated ISO values). I think if there is a time to wait, that time is now. If you want to move to FF the, I say wait for the new D600, and pre-order one the day it is announced. I think the 70-300 VR G lens would be a great pairing with a D600. I own one...it's a surprisingly good lens. A D600, a 70-300 VR-G, and a new 85/1.8 G would make a great outfit. Your current 50 will migrate forward just fine.

 

[KmH]

A new Nikon AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 ($2400) is much more expensive than a new AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ($1100). Both are very good lenses.

The difference in cost ($1300) is enough to get both a new body and a 80-200 mm f/2.8, plus you could add in what you can sell the D5100 for, unless you elect to keep it.

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

 

[AndrewStewart]

All suggestions are helpful for me. Discussion point is awesome.

 

[fjrabon]

keith makes a great point. The two main reasons why the 70-200 is so much more expensive than the 80-200 are these:

1) the 80-200 needs a focus motor on the body, as it doesn't have an internal focus motor, whereas the 70-200 is AF_S has the focus motor built right into the lens. THis is a deal breaker on a D5100, but on a full frame (or really any of the crop frames that aren't the D3100, D3200, D5100 or older versions) it doesn't matter at all. because those cameras have focus motors built into the camera bodies.
2) The 70-200 has VR. If you're shooting sports, you're going to want your shutter speed fast enough to freeze action anyway, which often times makes VR superfluous.

Given these two issues, I think that a combo of a new body + the 80-200 f/2.8 is your best bet. However, the D5100 already handles high ISOs as well as just about any camera out there, because it has the same sensor as the D7000. If you want to go full frame, as derrel said, it is a good time to wait. However, the problem becomes that your best bet with a new lens is a lens that the D5100 can't effectively use (the 80-200 AF lens).

It's a bit of a quandary for the current moment.

 

[Dao]

One minor point I'd like to make.

( New body now + new expensive lens in the future ) cost more than ( New expensive lens now + new body in the future)

i.e.

A> If you buy the D800 now and the lens 2 years from now. You pay premium price for the D800 as well as the lens (lens price in general goes up).

B> If you buy the lens now and the D800 2 years from now. You pay premium price for the lens now, but the D800 is going to be less (Camera body price in general goes down)

So if you go with route A, you end pay more for the lens and body.


Before you get both items, I believe (I could be wrong since I do not have any experience with your camera or lens) the images in case B should be better.

 

[Derrel]

Last month I bought a Mint Minus condition, "cabinet lens". A Nikkor 80-200mm f/4 Ai-S, with the PASSED sticker still minty on it, and the engraving immaculate and, it had 97.5% or better "original finish". I payed $79.95 for it. Now, mind you, it's manual focus. But it is f/4 all the way, no loss of f/stop. And it weighs about two pounds LESS than a 70-200 VR. And it uses smaller 62mm filters. And it is less-obtrusive than a 70-200 or an 8p0-200/2.8 autofocusing zoom lens...but...I payed only $79.95 for it...for people who do not absolutely "need autofocusing", older Nikkors like this can be exceptionally good value propositions. One of the best features of the Baby Nikons, as I started calling them years ago, is their ability to mount OLD lenses with no restrictions. The D3000- series, and the D5000- series, the D60, and the D40- series Nikons can mount these somewhat older lenses with no issues. Just something to think about...