Need a first lense for a D7100 body only: I've been a Canon shooter for 16 plus years. I presently own a Canon 60D; but am thinking seriously about purchasing a D7100. No I'm not...

mmike818

I've been a Canon shooter for 16 plus years. I presently own a Canon 60D; but am thinking seriously about purchasing a D7100. No I'm not bailing on Canon; I plan on using both. I've never used Nikon before; and my experience tells me to stay away from kit lens. I shoot some of everything; but love portrait work. If I choose one first Nikon Lens (to get my feet wet); what should it be...?

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

mmike818 wrote:

I've been a Canon shooter for 16 plus years. I presently own a Canon 60D; but am thinking seriously about purchasing a D7100. No I'm not bailing on Canon; I plan on using both. I've never used Nikon before; and my experience tells me to stay away from kit lens. I shoot some of everything; but love portrait work. If I choose one first Nikon Lens (to get my feet wet); what should it be...?

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Ratings

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

24-70mm zoom is what I'd choose for Nikon or Canon. It gives you a little more flexibility.

mmike818

I have the 24-70 for my Canon... Great lens

amehta Loc: Boston

mmike818 wrote:

I've been a Canon shooter for 16 plus years. I presently own a Canon 60D; but am thinking seriously about purchasing a D7100. No I'm not bailing on Canon; I plan on using both. I've never used Nikon before; and my experience tells me to stay away from kit lens. I shoot some of everything; but love portrait work. If I choose one first Nikon Lens (to get my feet wet); what should it be...?

While I appreciate the suggestions traveler90712 made, and I have two of them and the Nikon version of the Sigma, I would not want any prime to be my only lens, I would need at least 3 primes to do the types of shooting I do.

I think the best lens to start with for the D7100 would be the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC which scores just below the 35mm and 85mm primes mentioned, but above the 50mm.

mmike818

I've never owned a third party lense. I hear if you get a good copy; they can be great. Just afraid I guess

amehta Loc: Boston

mmike818 wrote:

I've never owned a third party lense. I hear if you get a good copy; they can be great. Just afraid I guess

If you get it from a place like B&H, they are very good about exchanges/returns if it is a dud. I think it would be obvious in less than an hour of shooting if it was a good copy.

This is a unique lens, the only zoom f/1.8, and the optical quality is rated very, very highly. Nikon and Canon have basically abandoned the APS-C pro lens market, basically the 18-50mm f/2.8 lenses, leaving a gaping hole which Sigma decided to jump into.

amehta Loc: Boston

It seemed like you were more interested in pro market image quality than consumer market versatility, so I suggested the 18-35mm instead of the 18-300mm superzoom. :-)

mmike818

I'll look into the Sigma for sure

amehta Loc: Boston

Now I'm curious if you would consider instead waiting for a few weeks to see what the Canon 7D Mark II is like? The announcement is expected in the first week of September. I would expect it to be competitive with, or slightly better than the D7100. My guess at a price is about $1800, which is about what the D7100 and a good zoom lens would cost you. Just a thought...

mmike818

That would be better for me; considering I already own a few L lense. Thanks

amehta Loc: Boston

mmike818 wrote:

That would be better for me; considering I already own a few L lense. Thanks

Exactly! I think there are times for having multiple systems, like if I decided to add a micro4/3 camera to my full frame Nikon setup. But going from a 60D to a D7100 is a very small lateral step, since the 70D and D7100 are very comparable. A 7D Mark II should be better than all of them without needing any new lenses.

mmike818

That's true. Hopefully the price won't be too high.

amehta Loc: Boston

mmike818 wrote:

That's true. Hopefully the price won't be too high.

True. Some think it will be over $2k, which would surprise me, but it is possible.

mmike818

Then we're in full frame territory (price wise).