Originally posted by alexeyga
Regarding the IS, well, it's hard not to notice that I can't shoot the 50mm at 1/20th anymore...
I also notice the lack of SR/IS when shooting in low-light, and yes, it was a revenue-based decision more than anything for Nikon to put the IS in the lens. Still, if you own a VR lens, it works very well.
Quote: As far as primes go... It's a mixed bag.... I hate changing lenses, so I prefer quality zooms... But I still miss the 77lim, 35Lim... And I wish Nikon had the equivalents of DA21, DA15 and FA31... At least, a good condition Nikon 85/1.8 runs for 300-400$... though it's 3 times the size of 77lim...
Agreed. Nikon makes some other-worldy exotics like the 28 1.4, but that's a $3500 lens. It's everyday current prime linup contains nothing like the Limiteds. The 85 1.4 is pretty great, but the 85 1.8 is only good - not in the same league as the 77ltd, for example.
Nikon does have two lenses that any switcher should watch for, though:
Nikon 180 2.8 IF ED AD, and the
Nikon 300 f/4 IF ED AF (pre-AFS version). I bought both used for about $1000 combined. That 180 is as close to a Pentax Limited as I've ever shot in another brand. Metal barrel, so sharp wide open, beautiful bokeh. The 300 stuns me too.
Nikon now has the $199 35 1.8 which compares nicely to the FA 35 f/2, and has the $120 50 1.8, but aside from that, bang/buck Nikon primes are few & far between.
Regarding zooms - over-priced kit zooms like the 16-85 VR? No thanks. Overpriced aps-c standard zoom like the huge $1400 17-55 2.8 with no VR? NO thanks. $2500 70-200 2.8 VR II that only gets to 135mm in close-focus?
No thanks. Nikon 12-24 for twice as much as the Tokina version? Not today, thx.
Big, soft, slow 80-400? Think not, Sigma 100-300 f4 is sharper and cheaper and constant.
(All my Nikon-mount zooms are 3rd party.)
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