Lens for D70-need your insights

I am contemplating buying my son a D70 for Christmas and am pondering

which lens to buy him: the three that I am most inclined towards.

 

AF Zoom Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR

AF Zoom Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF

Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S AF

 

Do any of you have any insights or advice that may sway me one way or

another. I do have the 24-85D IF AF myself and do like it for everyday

shooting. How do either of the others compare optically, and in terms

of build?

 

Many thanks

I use the new 24-120 VR lens for nearly all of my work. I've yet to find anything I dislike

about it. It's a bit slow, but I knew that when I bought it.

I have had a 24/120 and 28/200 for some four or five years or so...I use the 28/200 most of the time...I personally like it because it is more flexible and gives me a small telephoto..

for consumer zooms, it is hard to beat the value of the kit lens. B&H currently has a special on the body, lens and 1GB Scandisk card for something like $1,240 after rebates. Pretty attractive deal if you ask me.

 

Apart from that, the only zooms I would invest in are the higher grade fixed f-stop ones.

 

Cheers,

i'd buy the kit lens

I'd suggest to get the kit lens too, it will be cheaper and it's an excellent all-around zoom lens.

Nick.

 

Unlike the kit lens on the Canon Rebel, the Nikon kit lens is a fantastic, and versatile lens. Really it's better than all the lenses you mentioned as an only lens since it has true wide angle (28mm).

" have had a 24/120 and 28/200 for some four or five years or so...I use the 28/200 most of the time..."

 

I would agree here and add to the statement above that the newly designed Nikkor 28/200 G, ED, D, IF lens is better opticaly (not mechanicaly) than the old one, boosting ED glass count to 3, and Aspherical glass count to 3, and focuses close. Sharp wide open at all focal lengths. Optically you would get the same quality comparing to the other lenses that you consider. It takes better photographer to shoot perfectly at 200 mm comparing to 120 mm.

 

If you get an AF-S lens, it would be focusing faster. Getting AF-S and VR in 24-120 in one lens could make possible some better shots for sports (AF-S), and for static or slow moving objects in low light (VR).

 

However, 200 mm range I find more useful than the VR and AF-S both put together together. I use VR on 80-400mm where it makes more sense than on 120mm.

 

In low ligh I would use ISO 800 and get great picture anyhow.

The same holds true for ISO 1600 for smaller print sizes up to 8x10" - for larger prints I use NeatImage noise removing software when ISO 1600 is really needed, and the pictures look great at 13 x 19 ".

Hi Nick,

 

Thought of getting him one or two fast primes instead of a zoom? You cannot beat the 50mm f/1.8 for optical quality and price.

Another vote for the kit lens. With the crop factor, all of the choices you mentioned, at an effective 36mm FOV, would be too long for me on the wide end. The kit lens is a good piece of glass.

I have yet to read anything bad about the kit lens, I seriously regret not getting one with my D70. My most used lens thes days on my D70 is my 24mm which as everyone knows is a 36 on the D70, can't beat that small size. I also have the 28-70 AFS which is fantastic but probably overkill for my uses. Of the lenses you listed the one I had that I truly regret selling was the 24-85 AFGS, small and lightweight, very fast focusing, and excellent sharpness, I can recommed that one highly. You will greatly enjoy your new D70 and find your film use decreasing.

Another vote here for the kit lens. I also recently picked up a 50mm f1.8

Another vote for the kit lens. With the 1.5 mag factor, it gives you and effective wide angle and short tele. The only drawback is it's slow.

Your son isn't thrilled to death that he's getting a D70 no matter what lens is

attached to it, he's an ungrateful git! ; )

 

If he's new to photography he'll probably want the standard mid-range zoom

like everybody else on the planet (ho-hum, how boring). As far as I'm

concerned my new Tokina 12-24/4 IS the other half of my D70 and the only

lenses that MIGHT make me take it off occasionally would either a fast 50/1.5

or a long telephoto (I have a cheapo 75-300 for those few times I use a tele).

 

BTW, I was reading on CNN that the average American plans to spend at

least $700 on Xmas gifts. That seemed really extravagant but I guess not.

20 2.8, 35 f2, or 50 1.4

If it will be the only lens he has (at least for now) I'd also recommend the kit lens. It really is very impressive. It's quite sharp, even wide open and at close focusing distance, has a wide zoom range, a close minimum focus, and being AF-S, is very quick to focus.