levon_b Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 <p>Hi All,<br> This is my first post on the forums, and have a question about the above lens.<br> I have been doing portrait photography locally and am starting to get requests to do event photography. My current kit consists of a D700, 50/1.4 AF-D, 105 1.8 (AIS), and 80-200 2.8. I also have a 55/1.2 AIS that I use in the studio only, and as a walkabout lens on my F3.<br> I'm looking for something to give me a little bit more room, and only have about a $500 budget right now, and already have an event to shoot next weekend. I've already been using the 50/1.4, and have good results, but I have found myself wanting a little bit more room in certain situations.<br> Does anyone have any advice? I should also add that I'm using the SB-800 along with this setup indoors, and try to eke out as much ambient light as I can before having to use it.<br> I really appreciate any feedback that I get!<br> Thank you,<br> Levon</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedding-photography-denver Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 <p>This is my backup lens, and serves very well if needed. I have the 24-70 too, but its a tank. The only down side of the 24-85, is that is distorts a little strangely. Not an issue for most wedding images as people are he center of attention, not the interiors so much.</p> <p>It makes a decent macro lens too.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kohanmike Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 <p>I use that 24-85 on a D70s and and very satisfied with it. I understand that there is the 1.5 crop factor, but I still use for events and concerts and such. Sigma makes a 24-70 f/2.8 around $560 at B&H.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david-m Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 <p>I have the 24-85 as my hiking and walkabout lens (on a D700) and although it is not very sharp wide open (actually it is a bit soft compared to my 24-70 at 2.8/4) it is very good stopped down a bit. I picked it up pretty cheaply second-hand.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_pearce1 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 <p>This is an older lens, and could stand an update, but aside from the 70-200, which Nikon lens doesn't fall into that catagory.<br> I've used one with both my D3 and D700 to good result. Don't pixel-peep and you'll be fine.</p> <p>Bill Pearce</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpahnelas Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 <p>you seem to be comfortable with primes -- how 'bout a 35/2 or 35/1.4?<br> if you need the flexibility of a zoom, however, nothing beats the 24-70/2.8. it's just way out of your price range...<br> unless you're wedded to nikkor glass, i've read lots of positive comments about tamron's 28-70/2.8. don't discount the utility of the constant f/2.8 aperture for indoor events.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_koenig Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 <p>I really like my Nikkor old 28-105 AF-D, personally. Not quite as fast at the wide end as the 24-85, but I find the long side a lot more useful for me, and it's renowned for its low geometric distortion. It close-focuses down to 1:2 (just like a Micro-Nikkor) and I find it to be pretty decent sharpness-wise. Nothing like the old 35-105 AI-S I used to use.<br /> <br /> The only issue I've had with it is the distance encoding feature doesn't seem to work entirely smoothly, ie it seems to "jump" from one focal length to the next a bit. (You can test this if you mount your SB-800 and zoom the lens - that's how I first noticed it.) Apparently at least one other person I spoke to who tried this on a 28-105 observed this - I don't know how common this is in general with AF-D lenses.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t._zenjitsuman Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 <p>This lens is almost a clone of the pro 24-70 but without the fancy ED glass. The lens is not as robust as the pro lens. </p> <p>DXO makes correction software for the D70s and this lens combo that corrects the wide end distortion which isn't that bad. Read the Photozone.de test you will see its got a good rating and the wide angle distortion is not that bad. On a cropped sensor camera this is an excellent lens since its an FX full frame 35mm film lens. I think its one of the better bang for the buck lenses.<br> a 10-24 lens paired with this lens would be perfect.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levon_b Posted October 14, 2009 Author Share Posted October 14, 2009 <p>Thanks to all for the feedback! I'm picking up a 35/2 and borrowing a Tamron 28-75 to try out to tide me over until I can afford a used 28-70 or a new 24-70.<br> Cheers!<br> Levon</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildflower art Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 <p>You might also consider the Nikon 35-70 2.8, which is great for what I need it to be<br> Matt</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_koenig Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 <p>I now have a second copy (with a lower serial number) of the 28-105 I mentioned above, and this one does NOT have the focal-length encoding problem the 1st copy did. My original one must have a defect.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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