[FastPhotography]

Not easy.

That's for sure.

We've all been through it. Funny I say that, as new as I am to this site, but just looking around, I can tell, 95% of us have trouble justifying buying a new lens. I'm currently in a situation where I don't use my Sigma 70-300 anymore. It got replaced by the Tak 300/4. Is there any reason to keep it? It's still reasonably sharp, and it's autofocus, and it's in great condition. Do I sell it and get somewhere from $50-90 for it?

I'm eyeing the Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye but I need to justify buying it first.

[Lowell Goudge]

Without the zoom, you have a rather large hole in your coverage of medium tele lenses.

55 to 300 mm is one hell of a big step, as your options.

I think for 300mm you might get better results with the Tak, (I have an SMC 300 F4 which I like) but you need something between 55 and 300

[Canada_Rockies]

Without the zoom, you have a rather large hole in your coverage of medium tele lenses.

55 to 300 mm is one hell of a big step, as your options.

I think for 300mm you might get better results with the Tak, (I have an SMC 300 F4 which I like) but you need something between 55 and 300

I think the OP might shoot the same way I tend to: wide or long, to heck with the middle ground. On my MZ-S, my short kit would be 24-90, 100 macro and 400. I seldom used the 70-210, but OTOH, when I needed it, I really needed it.

[FastPhotography]

I think the OP might shoot the same way I tend to: wide or long, to heck with the middle ground. On my MZ-S, my short kit would be 24-90, 100 macro and 400. I seldom used the 70-210, but OTOH, when I needed it, I really needed it.

I think that's the way I shoot too: the extremes of short and extremes of long.

Sadly, testing out the Sigma 70-300, I was impressed. So it's going to be hard for me to get rid of it!

[SpecialK]

There is no need for justification - you either want it or you don't.

[heatherslightbox]

One of the ways that I use to justify buying expensive lenses is that my photography hobby helps me stay sane.

If you think you may have a reason to use the 70-300 range and would miss it if you got rid of it, then keep it. BTW, is that Sigma the APO version or not? Then again, depending on how badly you want that Zenitar, then whatever you could get for that lens could go into the Zenitar fund.

Heather

[Buddha Jones]

Since you have the 300/4, I'd look to trade it with someone that has a DA50-200mm, seems like a good fit to me.

[FastPhotography]

There is no need for justification - you either want it or you don't.

But come on! I'm not made of money!

[FastPhotography]

One of the ways that I use to justify buying expensive lenses is that my photography hobby helps me stay sane.

If you think you may have a reason to use the 70-300 range and would miss it if you got rid of it, then keep it. BTW, is that Sigma the APO version or not? Then again, depending on how badly you want that Zenitar, then whatever you could get for that lens could go into the Zenitar fund.

Heather

That's exactly what I was thinking, too. The thing is, I haven't used my 70-300 since I got my 300/4 (a month or 2 ago). So I wonder if it's worth keeping, if I haven't even touched it since. And no, it's just the regular version. Sigma 70-300/4-5.6 DL

[FastPhotography]

Since you have the 300/4, I'd look to trade it with someone that has a DA50-200mm, seems like a good fit to me.

The thing is, I don't really use that range. I have a 2x teleconverter I can use with my 50mm if I need to. I just ponder whether it's really worth selling the 70-299 range. Also I ponder whether the Zenitar fisheye will be all it's said to be!

[c.r.brown]

If you can answer YES to any 2 of the following 3 questions then you are justified...

1. Do you want this lens?
2. Is this a good deal (price/value)?
3. Can you hide this purchase from an inquiring significant other?

[Leaf Fan]

3. Can you hide this purchase from an inquiring significant other?

That's the million dollar question.

We have a policy in our house, no hiding something, but if someone doesn't notice it (lens, shoes, clothing, electronics) for 30 days it's a free pass, but again you can't hide it.

The first time one notices that something is new, if you can honestly say, "Oh, honey, I've had that for 2-3 months." you're in the clear.

[Oldschool]

The best solution is to find a combination photo shop and jeweler. This way you both can leave the store happy.

[lithos]

Trouble is, Oldschool, with Pentax lenses being better bang-for-buck than anything else, your wife's gonna end up with the better deal.

[FastPhotography]

3. Can you hide this purchase from an inquiring significant other?

What do you mean by this?