new lens or new Nikon or...?

cameron65 · Apr 16, 2011

OK Tomorrow is the day that I will spend appr. $ 2500 on equipment. Question is; do I get a 70-200 mm VR Nikkor f/2.8..........or a Nikon D700.........or a 24-70 mm f/2.8 and have a bit left?
I am going to do outdoor portraits and weddings. I own a Nikon D80 with a 50 mm f/1.8, 18-70 mm f/3.4 (kit lens) and a 70-300 mm VR f/4.
What would you recommend? :greenpbl:

KmH · Apr 16, 2011

IMO, if you are going to do outdoor portraits and weddings, and don't know what gear to spend $2500 on to do that, you have other, more pressing issues.

What are you going to use for main, fill, and diffusion? Particularly outdoors?

The 18-70mm won't work full-frame on a D700 because it is a DX lense. Sell it and probably the 70-300 too (to slow). Sell the D80, and put those funds towards a D7000 to backup the D700.

The 18-70 is only f/3.5 at 18 mm, then the max aperture increases to f/5.6 at 70mm. Same for the 70-300. It's f/4 only at 70 mm and goes to f/5.6 as you approach 300 mm.

djacobox372 · Apr 16, 2011

You're due for a body upgrade, the d80 is a good camera--but a poor high-iso performer.

I'd suggest a D7000, a tamron 17-50mm f2.8, and a nikon 80-200mm f2.8 af-d (two ring) which should just fit your budget if you find good deals.

cameron65 · Apr 16, 2011

KmH said:
IMO, if you are going to do outdoor portraits and weddings, and don't know what gear to spend $2500 on to do that, you have other, more pressing issues.

What are you going to use for main, fill, and diffusion? Particularly outdoors?

The 18-70mm won't work full-frame on a D700 because it is a DX lense. Sell it and probably the 70-300 too (to slow). Sell the D80, and put those funds towards a D7000 to backup the D700.

The 18-70 is only f/3.5 at 18 mm, then the max aperture increases to f/5.6 at 70mm. Same for the 70-300. It's f/4 only at 70 mm and goes to f/5.6 as you approach 300 mm.

I know that my DX lens wont work on a full frame body. But that is the only lens. No not selling D80, for weddings I need a backup camera. And I will still use my 70-300 on that camera. Just consider to get the 24-70 mm F/2.8 and the next few months I will have enough for a D700.

I know djacobox372, I am due for a body upgrade....D700 keeps calling me

kundalini · Apr 16, 2011

I bought most of my good glass while still owning the D80. Then I upgraded the bodies.

If you're mainly shooting outdoors and not restricted with room to maneuver, I'd probably do the 70-200mm first, then the 24-70mm, and lastly the D700. However, KmH brings up a very valid point. What are you doing about your lighting? The D80 sucks lemons for high ISO, but with the right lighting, that could be a non-issue for portraiture and possibly weddings (which I don't do).

cameron65 · Apr 18, 2011

kundalini said:
I bought most of my good glass while still owning the D80. Then I upgraded the bodies.

If you're mainly shooting outdoors and not restricted with room to maneuver, I'd probably do the 70-200mm first, then the 24-70mm, and lastly the D700. However, KmH brings up a very valid point. What are you doing about your lighting? The D80 sucks lemons for high ISO, but with the right lighting, that could be a non-issue for portraiture and possibly weddings (which I don't do).

Well outdoor portrait photography, but weddings are outdoors AND indoors. For lighting I have one SB600 probably needing one more flash gun. Also one reflector.
I did not get a chance to get my new equipment but pretty sure that I will first get a 24-70mm, then a 70-200mm and as last a new camera body.