So many choices, my brain hurts!

[kmria]

@Cathus, I can see where I was so wrong for calling myself pro when it was some thing I was getting paid on side. I can see what you mean, I do apologise if I was harsh.

@Oldboy, you are bang on money. I like what I have done but I always miss that crucial sharpness in my photos. My 70-300 VR lens does give out good sharpness but it not anyway near the pro sharpness. I am at the stage where I want to move on from being getting paid on side to doing this full time and for that I think I will need that 70-200 VR.

When I transfer photos on computer, I always have to add sharpness in PS (some thing I learned from one of the issue of your magazine) but I feel if I want to do this full time, I need shots to be sharp from camera rather then from Photoshop.

So I am off to Jessops tomorrow and will try out 70-200 VR and 50mm 1.4 (or is it 1.8?) or 24 - 70 2.8 VR (as suggested by cosmicma.

I hope that these lenses will help me cover both family portraits and weddings. Once again thanks for all your replies and sorry for not being clear from start

EDIT: one more thing I would like to add, is it even possible to go for tamron or sigma lenses as they are cheaper?

[Cathus]

I think you will find that adding sharpness is a given whatever the lens, you just might have to add a little less.

I have a lens that costs £7,200 currently, one of the best telephoto lenses you can buy. I still sharpen them post-capture, as I do with my other lenses, incl a £2,000 f2.8 300mm & my other L-quality Canon lenses.

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by kmria

So I am off to Jessops tomorrow and will try out 70-200 VR and 50mm 1.4 (or is it 1.8?) or 24 - 70 2.8 VR (as suggested by cosmicma.

I hope that these lenses will help me cover both family portraits and weddings. Once again thanks for all your replies and sorry for not being clear from start

EDIT: one more thing I would like to add, is it even possible to go for tamron or sigma lenses as they are cheaper?

Nikon don't make a 24-70mm F2.8 VR but they do make a 24-70mm F2.8 which is a cracking lens, yes I have that as well.

The Nikon 50mm F1.4 is also a great lens, but I don't use mine that much. At almost £200 pounds cheaper the Nikon 50mm f1.8 D AF Lens is what you need and highly rated by the users.

Tamron and Sigma make some cracking lenses but not all their lenses match Canon's or Nikon's throughout the range. I read reviews which suggest the Sigma 24-70mm isn't close to the Nikon version. You need to read reviews about these to get a balanced view.

[jimmyosram]

Originally Posted by Cathus

you're shooting professionally and you want the advice of what are mainly a group of amateurs & hobbyists?

Speak for yourself Cathus ... I'm a paid photographer I'll have you know.

Well, that is if you count the wife saying,

"Here's a fiver - now sod off and take some photo's of God knows what and let me watch Corrie in peace ..."

[Cathus]

Blimey, if my wife gave me a fiver every time I took photos I'd be able to get a new lens

[donoreo]

How do I get my wife to pay me? Jimmy, tell us how you did it!

[MattUK]

More importantly, how do we get Jimmy's wife to pay us?!

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by MattUK

More importantly, how do we get Jimmy's wife to pay us?!

Yes, an even better idea! She could pay you guys in the UK to make sure Jimmy never interferes with her television watching