Need Help: Lens Recommendations

[olliewilliams]

I need your help! My problem is this; I currently have a D90 with a tokina 11-16, 35 f/1.8, and the 70-300VR f/4.5-5.6 but I plan on backpacking for 5-6 months in South East Asia and want to pack as light and as small as possible without sacrificing optical quality (i.e. Im looking for high quality lenses - on a budget - if thats possible, I don't know). I want 2 lenses max, to cover as many useful focal lengths as possible. I've been looking at the nikon 17-55 f/2.8 as a 'replacement' to my tokina and 35 f/1.8, ultimately losing out on the wide end - thats ok. And as for replacing my 70-300, I'm not sure... I'll be shooting a wide range of subjects, and thats my problem. I dont want to be handicapped by my glass, and the easy answer would be get the 18-200VR or some other junky lens but they're slow, and the quality im looking for is just not there... I'm open to older, used lenses, but the quality has to be there.

If I sold all my lenses Im estimating id get about $1200-1400 CDN. What do you guys think!? What two lenses would you get with that much money? Anyone had the same predicament? What glass would you guys take with you on a long trip???

Thanks alot for the input!!

[metallion58]

It might put you a little over budget but there's the Nikon AF 80-200mm f/2,8D ED.Cost about 1000$ CAD new but you might be able to find it used for less than that. Like here
That being said, you seem well equipped on the lower range and the Tokina and 35mm don't take too much space nor add too much weight. Perhaps just switching those long glasses might be just the ticket.

[sk66]

I took the 18-200 on my trip to China..most of my pictures were taken with that lens. China - a set on Flickr

Depending on what you are going to focus on, I honestly think a good quality P&S (I use a Canon G-10) or some kind of "super zoom" bridge camera is the better answer for a long backpacking trip.....especially if you "just don't know".

[olliewilliams]

Thanks guys, P&S is not an option, as for the 80-200 I could probably work that into my budget but the only problem with that is id be gaining weight and losing space, which is exactly what i don't want to do. Any other suggestions? Anyone ever used the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 on a DX??

Thanks!

[inkista]

Have you considered a micro four-thirds set up?

[Zdaman]

You could go with a Tamron 17-50 2.8, which would cost around 650 dollars new. And then get the Tamron 70-200 2.8, which would cost around 750 dollars new. Those two would cover just about every focal length you could ask for, and are fast and sharp lens's for the price.

[OsmosisStudios]

24 and 85mm primes. Done deal.

I spent two days on my last trip with just a 50mm lens. THose are some of my best pictures.

[AbramG]

I'm inclined to agree with the primes route. Though I am biased because it's all I have.

The challenge is there because you have to adjust your framing by physically moving yourself, but I find just slapping one focal length on my camera and sticking with it for any period of time really opens my eyes creatively speaking. I had three zooms previously, a 16-35, a 24-70, and a 70-200, all f/2.8, these were incredible lenses and enabled me to shoot in practically any scenario but I had to deal with physically large and heavy lenses. I now only have 24, 35, 50 and 135mm lenses. An interesting set of challenges but it really forces me to focus on my composition as I will typically only have one or two lenses on me.

I can't ignore the convenience of zooms, but I prefer having f/2 or faster available

[sk66]

Originally Posted by olliewilliams

Thanks guys, P&S is not an option,

Honestly I think this is a mistake..a G10-12 can do 85% of whatever DSLR kit you bring for 15% of the hassles/weight....

If *I* were buying "new" for something like this I *might* consider a Sony Nex-5n with a couple lenses over my G-10. That is unless you are actually backpacking/camping....then you will definitely get soaked at some point.
In that case I'd probably also bring a weather sealed P&S and a dry bag. Or buy a used K10 and sealed lenses...

You may think I'm stupid, but I carried a full kit with me thru China..I could have just used the G10 90% of the time, maybe more.....
I also tend to carry a DSLR and 2-3 lenses on most hikes and 90% of the time the G-10 would get the job done.....

There's a reason the Fuji x100 is $1200 and has a large following....

Unless you are getting paid to take pics, I say go light/easy and enjoy the trip.

I don't imagine you are going to listen to me, so please report back AFTER the trip.

[olliewilliams]

Originally Posted by sk66

You may think I'm stupid, but I carried a full kit with me thru China..I could have just used the G10 90% of the time, maybe more.....
I also tend to carry a DSLR and 2-3 lenses on most hikes and 90% of the time the G-10 would get the job done.....

Unless you are getting paid to take pics, I say go light/easy and enjoy the trip.

I don't imagine you are going to listen to me, so please report back AFTER the trip.

No, no, well said. However i've heard theres a shutter lag on the x100, which is insane considering the price tag. And Im not looking to simply put my pictures up on facebook or something, I dont know how you can sit there after reading my original post and then tell me the solution to my problem is to get a G10 or 12, the first problem with that is I use nikon haha, second if I was interested in a P&S I wouldn't have spent thousands of dollars of my own money on all this stuff. My camera feels like a camera, and for reasons that are my own, i dont want anything that feels like a P&S.. It would obviously cut serious weight but im not interested.

With that being said, thanks everyone for the advice!! I'd like to have one prime for my trip, and i have been looking at the 85 f/1.8 but I want to keep the changing of my lenses down to a minimum. So obviously having more than 2 primes wouldnt be a good idea for me, and i think having one zoom lens and a prime would be nice, as the separation of 24mm and 85mm is pretty big. Maybe the 17-55 f/2.8 + 85mm 1.8, comes out to be about 2.5lbs.. What do you think?