Camera Labs

This lense right here the Nikon-17-55mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Nikkor when or what kind of situations or events would you use this one for?

I just got a 50 mm 1.8 and happy with it.
I already have the VR 18-200.
Now I'm thinking of getting a lense that would be useful at night...but just mainly for family parties or gatherings. What would you guys recommend then? Situation: Regular party indoor/garden party at night with kids running around, guys having some drinks, girls chit-chatting, teen-agers dancing etc.... light situation I would say varies. Indoor lighting is bright, outdoor light i would is moderate to subtle to dim lighting.



In cases like this - What kind of wide angle lense would you recommend?

Thanks in advance...

Hi Lowranking
For night shots ? I thought your 50mm F1.8 would be able to cater this ?
If not wide enough, then the 18-200mm would be able to cater for this.
Perhaps, what you are lacking is a flashgun instead ?

_________________
Nikon D7000 and a bunch of Nikkors

Personally, the 17-55mm 2.8 is stupidly expensive for what it is. I would say your money would be far better spent buying an SB600 or SB800 speedlight flash.

_________________
My Flickr

I've read that people are not happy with the quality of their 17-55 for the price that they've paid. I think I read that on this forum actually but I can't seem to find the thread. The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 has gotten good reviews.

Wouldn't your 50 f/1.8 be better at low light than the 17-55? I think your 18-200VR would be better as well with it's VR, if not as good?

_________________
Graham
Flickr

Well, yes and no. If he's planning on taking pictures of family/friends in low light situations then VR won't help very much. The 50mm f1.8 is better in low light but it probably won't be wide enough for a lot of indoor situations.

_________________
My Flickr

PS - I took the Gallery for the D200 with the 17-55mm f2.8 if you're interested in some samples...

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/NikonD200/page5.shtml

So... worth it or not? You seem uniquely qualified to help answer his question, seeing as you've used the lens.

_________________
My Flickr

I'm afraid I only used it for those samples - I didn't run it through our whole suite of tests so can't really comment. It's a shame there's no VR on it, like Canon's EF-S 17-55mm f2.8... I guess it depends how much you want f2.8 in this range...

You're all correct the 50 f 1.8 is extremely great... but you're all correct it's not wide enough...and unable to zoom.

What would you guys recommend then? Situation: Regular party indoor/garden party at night with kids running around, guys having some drinks, girls chit-chatting, teen-agers dancing etc.... light situation I would say varies. Indoor lighting is bright, outdoor light i would is moderate to subtle to dim lighting.

.
This isn't a lens I have any personal knowledge of but, for useful wide-angle capability and a relatively fast aperture, the Tamron AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF received a pretty favourable reviews here and here and is relatively ( ) affordable.

Then there are the lenses mentioned in Gordon's Nikkor kit lens group test.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hello lowranking. You should look after a wider large aperture prime, like the Sigma 30mm/f1.4 or even better Sigma 28/f1.8 or Sigma 24mm/f1.8.
For parties: the wider, the better - plus high ISO, not flash!

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

The tamron 17-50 2.8 lens seems to have some poor QC. Some people get a great one and others get a really bad one.

_________________
rv65
C-5050Z | SD700IS (IXUS800 IS) | JamCam | Quantaray RZ 800 w/ 50mm prime lens (just found but broken) (aka Cosina CT-7, Various other brands) | EOS 50D

I have used the 17-55mm but never owned it, it handles real well, but as for the price, it's pro caliber lens so if your doing it for a living it's worth it. Otherwise condiser a cheaper tamron 17-50 f/2.8.

Keep me posted!

_________________
Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
Support Cameralabs!