Camera Labs

Ok, so I've decided I'm going to aim for FX lenses for the new D7100 and get rid of all/most of my lenses (remaining is Sigma 10-20mm, Nikkor 18-200mm, Nikkor 50mm 1.8D) with my old D300. May keep the 10-20mm for now.

The reason for going for FX is to futureproof the camera after the D7100 as I would have gone the D600 however the 39 point AF system wasn't for me as I do focus out towards the edge quite frequently and don't have time to focus/lock/move while an artist jumps around on-stage.

My main 2 purposes for the camera are concert photography and landscape inc night exposures and general holiday snaps.

The only 100% known lens so far is the Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8 ED VRII - I've rented this so many times I could have bought 2 by now.

So in the WIDE zooms it's:
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens - no filters, flares.
Tokina 16-28mm F/2.8 ATX Pro FX Zoom Lens - Equal or even better sharpness than above, yet under 1/2 the price. No filters, no weather protection.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED Lens - Seems to be the all-rounder. No dust protection. Older model.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR - Sharper than the old fav 14-24mm. Great reviews (mostly) VR (great) f/4 (not so great for action)

Strangely enough many reviews seem to consider the 16-35mm VR f/4 kicks butt over the 14-24mm king, yet see people selling their 16-35mm for the 14-24mm - so tad confused?

Mind you can almost get the 16-35 f/4 & the Tokina for the price of the 14-24.

MID:
Probably just the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G (was considering 1.4G, but many seem to prefer the 1.8 over the 1.4)

TELEZOOM:
Naturally the Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8 ED VRII, though I don't really want to drag this along everywhere during the day, so some options -
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens - Seems to either get above average or poor reviews. But replacement for the 18-200 DX (that I'd class as average, but oh so very handy)
Nikon AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens - Means replacing lenses with 1 of the wides above if 1 body.

90%+ of concert photos are with the 70-200mm VRII f/2.8, though occasionally it's nice to take a photo from side/back of stage to include the crowd, so that's the only thing putting me off the 16-35mm F/4 as the VR is useless here compared to the better f-stop.

I could be tempted to buy the Tokina and the 16-35, but that's just more to lug around then.

So any help with decisions would be appreciated

I think this is just the same in other FX cameras (at this moment in time) what I heard so far. They cover the whole of the DX-area, but do leave some space out to the borders of the frame.

_________________
- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

The D800 has the 51-point AF system, but don't really want to be processing such large files, it'll fill up the SSD drive too quickly LOL. I also meant more the edge of the 51 points not the image.

Plus I'd rather spend the money on the lenses than the body. Need to replace the bodies too quickly these days - the downside to technology advances.

I agree on the lenses first, body later, smart move

_________________
- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

Oh well if it helps anyone else in a similar decision, this is what I ordered:

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR Lens - for it's sharpness and ability to put filters on it given this will mostly be used for landscape.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR II Lens
Opted for DX here as the 'travel' lens, otherwise 28-300mm wouldn't have been wide enough on the DX body. Plus if/when I go to sell the body I can include this lens on it.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G Lens
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens

May still add the Tokina if I find the 16-35mm f/4G to slow.