Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

Looking for some advice.... I own a Nikon D5100 and I plan on buying a D610, "or some full frame" next year. But I want new glass now. I like the 70-200 AF-S 2.8 Nikor. Am I crazy for investing in that expensive lens before I get a full frame camera? I just don't want to get DX lenses and have to start from scratch when I buy the camera for my vacation next year.
Oh.... I am assuming that the full frame lens will work on my cropped sensor camera????? Guess that I should have asked that first. :oops:

Kubie Loc: SE Kansas

[quote=Sprocket]Looking for some advice.... I own a Nikon D5100 and I plan on buying a D610, "or some full frame" next year. But I want new glass now. I like the 70-200 AF-S 2.8 Nikor. Am I crazy for investing in that expensive lens before I get a full frame camera? I just don't want to get DX lenses and have to start from scratch when I buy the camera for my vacation next year.
Oh.... I am assuming that the full frame lens will work on my cropped sensor camera????? Guess that I should have asked that first. :oops:[/quote=Sprocket]

Never a bad idea to get good glass. FF lenses seem to always work on crop sensor bodies, the other way around is a bit more problematic. The review below mentions it works on cropped bodies, I think I got the right lens.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_Nikkor_AF-S_70-200mm_f2-8G_ED_VR_II/

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

You are not crazy at all, you will always have the good glass which will work just as well if not better on a full frame camera.

I am not a Nikon user but I just did a search on Google which shows this lens to be compatible with your camera.

Cheers

Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

Thanks Kubie
That is the correct lens. I looked at that link and it answered a lot. 42nd Street photo just put that lens on sale.I have never seen it less that $2396.00 and they list it for $2100. Makes me suspicious. I am now wondering if their lens is a grey market..... I will not buy Grey market.

Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

Thanks CResQ,
I don't mind spending the money as long as it works on my D5100 and don't come back and bite me in a year when I buy a new full frame.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The absolute BEST way to improve your images is to improve your lens quality. Whether or not you ever jump up to a full frame body, the FX glass is always a good investment.
PS
Forget 42nd Street Camera, all they sell is grey market and counterfeit products.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

As long as you are certain that you want to stick with Nikon. Once you have the expensive lenses you are committed to the brand unless loosing money is not a problem.

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

You are very welcome. In reference to 42nd Street, I have never dealt with them but from what research I have done about them I have gleaned that they have tried to up sell to a lot of customers. Some of the sales staff are extremely pushy. I believe they deal in grey market products.

Now here is something for you to think about and it is quite the turn around (bare with me - you'll understand)

When I purchase online I will always look at vendors in Canada first. If I cannot get my item here (at a reasonable price) I will invariably buy it from B&H Photo in New York. You will likely know that these guys are fantastic, they are my go to vendor in USA. Even with shipping, import fees, taxes, ETC 80% of the time it is cheaper for me to buy in USA than it is here; I have certainly dropped quite a bit of cash on their doorstep.

My go to vendor in Canada is Henrys out of Ontario. Again, these guys are fantastic.

Right now BH is selling your lens for $2396.45. Henrys is selling it for $2149.99

Couple that with the great rate of exchange (for you), you will pick up quite a deal.

They do ship to the states, standard shipping rate is $12.95USD
however all orders over $99.00 get free shipping. (Not sure if that applies to shipping to USA, also not sure what import fees are charged. That is all something you would have to find out if you wanted to go this route.

I can vouch for this company 100%. When I visited their store in downtown Toronto last year (across the country for me) the CEO served me personally.

Would be interested to know what you end up doing. Cheers, Mark

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

You can use FX lenses on a DX body. I have a d7000 and I have almost all FX lenses. Someday I'll want a full frame and then I won't have to buy new glass. The problem comes when you go the other way and want to use DX glass on an FX body.

amehta Loc: Boston

Yes, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 will work perfectly with the D5100. It will perform significantly better than the Nikon 55-200mm DX lenses.

If you were not planning on getting a D610 in the near future, and your total budget was about $2400, then I would say the D7100 + 70-200mm f/4 might make a better combo. But given your plans, getting the 70-200mm f/2.8 now does make sense.

Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

Thanks for the advice MT. I have read many of your comments on UHH and it means a lot from you. 42nd who? LOL

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You are welcome.
Always remember it is the LENS that takes the picture, the camera is merely a recording device.

Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

Point taken Joer, and thanks. I am not one that believes that Nikon is the only "great camera" on the planet. However I realize that this expensive step can end up committing me for a long time.

Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

I have personally been to B&H, but at the time I was not as interested, or quite as knowledgeable or financially stable as I am now.
I have read much on UHH about buying local, if possible, and I am a believer in paying my fair share of taxes. But I also try and do as much research as time allows. This is why your input is extremely valuable to me and greatly appreciated.
Thanks again, Ron

Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

Thanks ebrunner,