[nick52]

Hey everyone! I just recently got my Tamron 28-75 and I love it!
I was saving up for the Tamron 70-200, but now I am having a hard time with deciding which lens to buy. I will be going to New York City in about 40 days, and was wondering what lens I should get that would best go with my 28-75. I will mainly be doing architectural photos in New York, but I normally do portraits.
My price range is less than $650
Any help would be great!

[jaytee]

Do you have the kit lens, I should think you would want to go at least as wide as 18 in NYC.

[westmill]

You might as well go for the Tamron 70-200 F2.8 as planned.
Outstanding value. Kinda completes your set. Big buildings in New York, so would be good for zooming in on detail etc.

[JinDesu]

Architectural - full buildings, might as well consider the 17-50 instead of the 28-75.

I do a lot of walking around with the Tamron 70-200 in NYC. I use it to get street shots from across the street, and to do DOF isolation shots with my subjects (flowers, cats, you know, the lot). It's a bit tough to work with in close quarters though - I walked through the San Gennero Fair with it once and it was very tricky to use. The 17-50 and the 28-75 would be much better (and cheaper) in those situations.

[Franky2step]

Sigma 10-20, should be great in NYC, or the Tamron 10-24 !!

[pearsaab]

just got back and took a 50mm and 15mm and it did everything i needed...amy

[ducdao]

I used DA15 when walking in Manhattan City but I found the DA35/2.8 more useful when I took the Circle Line tour as the DA15 was too wide and the DA35 was perfect.

[SpecialK]

I will be taking the 12-24 when I go. A used one would stretch your budget, however, but one of the other 10-xx wides would work.

[DSims]

Get a DA15. Alternately, try an FA20 (or DA21) or 12-24.

The DA15 and DA21 easily fit in a front pocket.

The FA20-35 is also really good.


I've owned all but the DA21 and 12-24, since they're more or less redundant with what I have.

[Lacrosse321]

I shoot around NYC all the time with just an SMC A 35-70. Small, light, great quality shots, and CHEAP on the used market. That range gets most of what I need, and is plenty wide for outdoors. Although, admittedly, I did just buy a Sigma APO DG 70-300mm to get some shots from Brooklyn across to the Manhattan skyline.

[joe.penn]

Nick, your Tammy 28~75 is an EXCELLENT lens to be taking to NY, it will serve you well for random street photog (and other shots) throughout the city. Now, as others have mentioned, you would also want to take something wide with you - the absolute perfect match would be the Tammy 10~24, that would give you a total coverage of 10~75 which would probably cover practically everything you would shoot in NYC (except for the 1 out of 1,500 shots where you need a longer telephoto, you know, something a far floating in the harbor, etc.)...

[RioRico]

Everyone answers with their favorites. Here are mine:

My basic kit (for cities and hamlets, large and tiny): Tamron 10-24, DA18-250, FA50/1.4. Or for the 18-250 you could substitute Tamron 17-50 or 28-70, and 70-200. But I generally depend on the DA18-250.

That's a visitation kit. Prowling the city is another matter. The 10-24 and 50/1.4 are basic, and I'd add fast (f/2 or better) lenses at 24|28mm and 85mm. I like prowling cities with just MF 24/2 and 85/2 or 100/2.8.

[joe.penn]

Everyone answers with their favorites.

Actually, not everyone - I answered with the 28~75 and I do have that lens, but have never used it in a city environment as of yet. I also noted the 10~24 and I don't even have that lens. So no, not everyone answers with their favorites.

BTW: My favorites for city dwelling are the Vivee 85mm and the DA50~135 (I have no favorite preference for a wide angle)...

[katomight]

Whatever you do decide to take -- it should be cheap and expendable. Thievery is rampant in every part of the city, and expensive-looking cameras are choice targets. I've been in and out of the town for 50 years, and it has only gotten worse. Every art school kid thinks the subway is fascinating -- so forget it. Just don't do it.
If you are serious about architectural shooting, you should work out a schedule where you are able to shoot with the fewest numbers of persons around who might jostle you. Look long and deeply at the architectural photos that you find most effective -- decide what elements in their makeup and shooting make them so. Write them down in your notebook and keep it at hand.
Study Berenice Abbot and others who have made careers shooting the city for its geometricity and grim grandeur. Again, articulate to yourself what makes each shot "work". She spent many long hours planning as well as shooting.
Concentrate much less on kit and more and how, when, where and why you want to shoot. Unless of course you are a first-time tourist, in which a point and shoot will do nicely.
As is the case so often with us all, fancy equipment won't make up for a bad shot -- but a good, well-planned shot can be execute with decent 2nd-tier equipment that you have bought second hand.
Practice beforehand in your own hometown by taking architectural photos; analyze them for elements of success and failure, and concentrate on replicating those elements on your visit.
Buy a second-han, junky bag or backpack. Never carry a camera bag around with its logos. That only screams, "Steal me!"

[reeftool]

You want a wide lens for the city. The DA 12-24 is super and versatile. The DA 15 is excellent and small, light, and made with pixie dust. Almost all the wide choices from Sigma and Tamron are pretty good also. Stop in at B&H while you're there and go nuts!