Need advice on which lens to buy

[Dave C.]

I am looking to purchase a new nikon lens, I currently have a nikon 70-200 2.8 VR, and a nikon 50mm 1.4G. I am feeling very limited by not having a wider than 50mm lens.

I am looking for a fast, pro quality build(not plastic) zoom wider than 50mm, preferably with 77mm filter threads. The 2 I am concidering at the moment are: nikon 17-55DX 2.8 or the nikon 17-35 2.8.

If you could only have 1 of these (cant see needing both, or afford it at the moment) which would it be and why? Or do you have any other suggestions in a fast pro quality zoom?

Thanks in advance I look forward to the advice!

[scootermcq]

Tough one, and both are great lenses. Me I would probably go fx in case of an upgrade in bodies, but if you need wider than close to a 30mm equivalent, than the dx lens.

[Dave C.]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

Tough one, and both are great lenses. Me I would probably go fx in case of an upgrade in bodies, but if you need wider than close to a 30mm equivalent, than the dx lens.

I agree if I was goign to go FX any time soon I would for sure go with the 17-35 but honestly I see my self going with the d400 (or whatever replaces the d300s) I believe my current lenses will all work on FX, possibly some clipping on the edges of the 70-200 from what I have read, not sure if that is true or not.

Assuming I stay DX for a while, would you go with the 17-55?

Also is the 17-55DX a true 17-55 on a DX body? Or is it still an ~ 25-82mm? Meaning all things being equal would the 17-55 @17 on a DX body be equivalent to the 17-35 @17 on the FX body, assuming that they by default have the same field of view? (I know that the fx has an actual larger field of view)

Thanks!

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by Dave C.

Assuming I stay DX for a while, would you go with the 17-55?

Thanks!

I would for landscape & groups etc. My 28-70 leaves me wishing it was just a little wider lots of the time. I have been considering that exact lens, and I think it will probably be my next one. I have tried it out and I was quite impressed with the IQ, and found it good at 2.8 and really sharp from 3.5 and up.