best lens combo for Nikon D300 etc'

[trance_mama]

I do not want to carry to many lenses. i like small "f" values for depth of field. What are the best Nikon AF lenses that will enable a wide range of shooting options: from wide angle to telephoto, without too much equipment and with very open aperture ( low f values)?

Thanks for your help!

[djwixx]

Nikon 14-24mm f/4 - A wide option I'd love to have when my legs don't have an option to step back!!!
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 - it's wide enough for my liking.
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 - long enough with a 1.4TC not to slow it down too much.

But that's enough of what I want .........................

If wide to telephoto is your need then I suspect many would recommend the 18-200VR as a reasonable all rounder, but at f/4.5 as the widest I doubt it'll be what you want. I like the option of a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8.

Have you got any ideas on what you consider wide and what you consider telephoto and what subjects you like taking?

[trance_mama]

Thanks DJWIXX.
I have been reading reviews about the Nikkor 14-24 f2.8. sounds like an amazing lens! a little scarry that you cannot protect the lens with a protection filter...but i guess one has to be careful..
think 14-24
24-70
70-200
All f:2.8, would make a heavy good choice...$$$$$- but a good investment.
I guess they are all quite heavy but that is the price of quality. Am I wrong?
Any other comments?

[photobuggg]

I have an 18-200VR and so far I am happy with it. Apperture ranges from 3.5-5.6 but VR could help for camera shake. You can travel really light with this lens.

[djwixx]

Thanks DJWIXX.
I have been reading reviews about the Nikkor 14-24 f2.8. sounds like an amazing lens! a little scarry that you cannot protect the lens with a protection filter...but i guess one has to be careful..
think 14-24
24-70
70-200
All f:2.8, would make a heavy good choice...$$$$$- but a good investment.
I guess they are all quite heavy but that is the price of quality. Am I wrong?
Any other comments?

Any quality lens will cost money and the only way you'll reduce the costs is to go with Tamron/Tokina/Sigma in some cases or buy older models second hand, or accept a compromise once you figure out exactly what you need. What range of lenses do you currently have and what are you looking for as a carry around. Why do you need a wide aperture? Do you intend taking shots in low light frequently? The lack of noise on the D300 is excellent at higher ISOs so you already have a few stops to play with.

[djwixx]

I have an 18-200VR and so far I am happy with it. Apperture ranges from 3.5-5.6 but VR could help for camera shake. You can travel really light with this lens.

Thanks for the correction of the aperture range on the 18-200. I think I was thinking about the 70-300 hence starting at f/4.5

Below is a review of the 18-200, if a little over enthusiastic, but he knows a lot more than I do
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

[photobuggg]

If you look at the the reviews posted on the internet, you will find a great deal of criticism about the 18-200VR. The most common one you would find would likely be it's distortion and softness of images taken. But if you look at the comments from the users in pbase and their galleries, it seems that it is a decent lens to shoot with. I stuck to the users' comments and the galleries that I can see and got myself one. So far I am pretty happy with it. Sometimes lab tests could be deceptive as they are based on certain conditions which may not be the actual condition that you will be shooting. I trust what the pros/users say.

[mikelong]

I stopped using my 18-200VR because of distortion and softness. I replaced it with both the Nikkor 18-70 f3.5-4.5 (soon to be replaced by the 24-70mm f2.8 for a D700) and the 70-200 f2.8 VR. Problem now is weight because it's a heavy set, but the quality and sharpness, in IMHO, are superior to that of the 18-200 VR.

[prinothcat]

my .02..
The new 16-85 DX VR 3.5/5.6 and an old school 80-200 AF-D (70-200 VR if money is no object).
So far I'm seeing the 16-85 as far better built than the 18-xx series lenses. Crisp images through its full range. Small and light. A little expensive though.
Other options for wide zooms I have considered are the Tokinas the 14-24 f4 and the new 11-16 f 4, both are DX lenses. The 11-16 is still on the table for next summer.
Plenty of good has been said about both the 80-200's (there are about 3 AF versions) and 70-200 so it comes down to picking the one that fits the purse.

[rdsb]

Of course it depends on what you want to shoot. During my holidays in Africa I carried a 10-20 Sigma, 18-250 Tamron and an 80-400 Nikor.
Rutger

[moxfactor]

10-20mm f2.8 Sigma
+
50mm f1.8 Nikkor
+
70-200mm f.2.8 Sigma
+
2x TeleConverter

The EX Sigmas' are worth their price and more, not to mention they're only half of what Nikkors go for.

[djwixx]

50mm f1.8 Nikkor

People get bored with me for saying it, but I have to agree that this lens is the best lens you'll ever get for the money. $125 for a F1.8!!!!!

[trance_mama]

thanks for all your answers!
I think there is good information here.
see you soon with some new lenses on a D300.

Cheers!