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I’m researching a mid-range 2.8 zoom lens.
I’ve narrowed it down to two options. Has anyone had experience with either of these? Would you recommend any others?
Nikon Nikkor 35-70mm F/2.8 D Macro AF Lens
Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 DI VC USD G2
The thing I like about the Tamron is the VR. But I like the price of the Nikon.
What do you want to use the lens for? (Portraits? Landscape? Macro?) 35mm isn’t very wide if you want to get much landscape in. Are you using these lenses with a full frame or crop sensor? I have a Sigma 17-70 f/2.8 lens that I use ALL the time on my crop sensor Pentax camera.
I see that you just got a D7200, so it’ll be crop sensor. 🙂 I would recommend a wide lens like the 17-70, as it will be a nice little upgrade to a regular slower 18-55 kit lens. Even 24mm isn’t very wide on a crop sensor.
If you’re wanting it more for portraits or macro work with lots of bokeh, then consider a prime 35mm or 50mm. In my mind there’s no real reason to own a 24-70 unless you have a full frame camera to use it with. 🙂
I couldn’t find a Sigma 17-70 f/2.8, I only found the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS.Is that the lens you’re talking about? Is there one that is 2.8 the whole focal length?
Oh yes, I believe mine is the f/2.8-4 version. Hmm, maybe there aren’t any that are constant aperture, I’m not sure. I’m traveling right now, or I’d look. 🙂 Pretty sure there are at least 17-50mm 2.8 lenses out there though.
@blessingscaptured, I used the Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 lens for a few weeks before, and couldn’t believe the optical quality and versatility of this lens. I would highly recommend it. The constant aperture makes a big difference.
Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 lens for Nikon F-mount
I got mine for $290 used, but it looks like they are going on B&H for $500+.Thanks! @buddingphotographer and @ernestf-lloyd, I’ll look into it. @ernestf-lloyd did you stop using it because you got a mirrorless camera?
I mainly do portraits, and close-up nature. I was a little leery of getting a prime because I didn’t know how versatile it would be, especially if photographing a group. Also, I was hoping for something a little more telephoto then 50mm.
I’ve done some analyzing with the lens I’ve had for the last 3 years (since I’ve had LR). 70-300mm,18-55mm and 58mm manual.
70-300mm–1,900 picture
18-55mm–10,250 pictures
58mm–280 picturesThen if I brake down the different focal length of the lens I’m looking at:
18-50mm–6,703 pictures
50mm–209 pictures
24-70mm–9,125 pictures
28-70mm–8,391 pictures
35-70mm-6,754 picturesIf I get a 24-70mm that cuts out 1,454 pictures that I’ve taken wide angle.
@ernestf-lloyd did you stop using it because you got a mirrorless camera?
That is definitely one reason. The other reason is that I got it along with a bunch of other gear really cheaply to resell later.
So I never planned to keep it in the first place. I would have bought one for myself if I hadn’t switched to mirrorrless a couple months later.Thanks @ernestf-lloyd!
I like the sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5. I just don’t know how worth it is to not have a constant 2.8 aperture.
Hello @blessingscaptured! I was in your shoes about two years ago. I ended up spending my graduation money on a used Canon 17-55mm 2.8 IS for my Canon 60D (crop sensor).
Wow let me tell you that it has been the one of the best photography investments I have ever made. It has a fixed 2.8 aperture all the way through… and it is AWESOME. I find it especially good for weddings or candid photos where you often have to set your aperture and then forget about it as you constantly change focal lengths!
Also, as you get to the long end of the lens, bokeh (background blur) really starts to play in very nicely.On your alternative choice (the 17-70) I thought I would want a longer focal length too when I was going to purchase this lens and seriously considered the Tamron 24-70mm as an alternative (it’s still on my wish list).
However, on my crop sensor I found I often am wanting the wide angle as opposed to the long angle. In my situations, I can more often take a step forward, or even crop in in a serious pinch, then take a step back—like when my back is against a wall.When I want reach, I want to say I want a bit more than 70mm and I pull out my 18-200mm; this is why I shoot with two bodies during weddings when I don’t have time to swap lenses.
If you get the chance to shoot with two bodies (say, one with the 17-50 and one with the 70-300), the gap between 50mm and 70mm isn’t too much to be noticeable, at least in my experience shooting two bodies with a 17-55 and a 70-200.
Long story short… if I were you, I’d go with the 17-50 2.8.
Hope this helps! Tag @loganlamar if you have more questions 🙂
Thank you @loganlamar for the helpful thoughts!
I recently got a Tamron 24-70 2.8 and love it! I’ve hardly taken it off my camera.I’m glad you found something, @blessingscaptured, that you like and use! That’s a genius idea to go take a look at the focal length ranges you typically use to help you determine what lens you think you’d use most. 🙂
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