Every day lens for D80

[RedDevil]

I have had my D80 for about 2 years now and would like to upgrade from the supplied kit lens that came with the camera. I am looking for an everyday replacement and have been looking at the following

Nikkor 24-85 F/2.8
Nikkor 16-85 F/3.5-5.6
Sigma 24-70 F2.8

Do any of you have a recommendation on either of these lenses or maybe recommend another suitable alternative

Thank you

[chris-p]

Hi Red Devil, welcome to the forum

It's really tough to advise you properly without knowing what other (if any) lenses you have. The two f/2.8s are the most tempting lenses on your list but neither are very wide. If you don't shoot much wideangle, or have a separate wideangle lens, then it's not a problem.

If you want to keep a wider angle of view, I would consider all of these lenses:

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0 OS ~£330
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 ~£320
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS ~£600
Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8~£1000

[OldBoy]

I would choose the Sigma 17-70 from that list, as most people who have it rave about it.

[RedDevil]

Thanks Guys, apart from the 18-135mm kit lens that came with the camera, the widest lens I have is a 50mm prime f1.8D. I have been hankering about getting a Sigma 10-20mm but I like the sound of the Siigma 17-70 that you both recommend.

[OldBoy]

Thje Sigma 10-20mm is also a cracking lens and most people swear by it, but I wouldn't say it was a walkabout lens. a walkabout lens should be something like 70-200mm or 70-300mm, which would cover most situations and would be classed as a medium zoom.

[Ashleyj]

If your budget stretches to it I would have a look at the Nikor 18-200mm VRII, a excellent lens.

It may be a little too large and heavy to be truly called an everyday lens, but it's about all I use these days.

And I can also add my recommendation of the Sigma 10-20mm, as everyone has said it's a great lens.

[sdo01]

Originally Posted by Ashleyj

If your budget stretches to it I would have a look at the Nikor 18-200mm VRII, a excellent lens.

I have this lens and it is a great lens but after using it for about 2yrs the focusing motor drive went on it and it cost £150 to get it repaired after talking to a few guys in my club who also had this lens they experienced the same issues as me.

If you are going for this lens I would suggest you take additional cover on it.

Regards

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by sdo01

I have this lens and it is a great lens but after using it for about 2yrs the focusing motor drive went on it and it cost £150 to get it repaired after talking to a few guys in my club who also had this lens they experienced the same issues as me.

If you are going for this lens I would suggest you take additional cover on it.

Regards

Sorry to to hear that.

I must be lucky as I've had mine since 2007 (admittedly the first generation one), and so far I've had no problems with it apart from the zoom creep that they all seemed to suffer with. I solved that with a rubber O ring around the lens at the zoom ring. It does make zooming a little stiffer, but definitely stops the lens creeping out to 200mm when walking about.

[sdo01]

Originally Posted by Ashleyj

I solved that with a rubber O ring around the lens at the zoom ring. It does make zooming a little stiffer, but definitely stops the lens creeping out to 200mm when walking about.

O ring where might one find this? hate it when the lens zooms out then walking about.

Yeah mine is also a 1st gen model glad to hear you have not had any issues with yours

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by sdo01

O ring where might one find this? hate it when the lens zooms out then walking about.

Yeah mine is also a 1st gen model glad to hear you have not had any issues with yours

Just check out any good plumbers merchants, take your lens and ask them to have a look for one that is a fairly close fit around the barrel.

I have one which is not a true O ring, more of a seal. It is flat on the inside and as such straddles the join between the rotating zoom ring and the fixed part of the lens. I think it is a seal out of a waste pipe fitting.