nikon d700 lenses...please help me!

[RGallaway]

Very confused about lenses! Right now, I have a nikon d3000. I am upgrading to a D700 in the next couple of months. I've done a lot of reading and researching and have found that my DX lenses will not do anything for my new camera because of the sensor size; that I should splurge on FX lenses. This makes sense to me..... so here are my questions:

Question 1: Could I use these FX lenses on my d3000 also? I don't want to sell my older camera... I'd like to use it as a back-up. But I could sell my DX lenses to help me pay for the new ones if this would be compatible.

Question 2: What lenses would you recommend for the nikon 700? in the last year I have started a small photography business. I do mostly portrait (couples...families.)..and will be starting with weddings this summer.

Thanks so much for your help!

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by RGallaway

Very confused about lenses! Right now, I have a nikon d3000. I am upgrading to a D700 in the next couple of months. I've done a lot of reading and researching and have found that my DX lenses will not do anything for my new camera because of the sensor size; that I should splurge on FX lenses. This makes sense to me..... so here are my questions:

Question 1: Could I use these FX lenses on my d3000 also? I don't want to sell my older camera... I'd like to use it as a back-up. But I could sell my DX lenses to help me pay for the new ones if this would be compatible.

Question 2: What lenses would you recommend for the nikon 700? in the last year I have started a small photography business. I do mostly portrait (couples...families.)..and will be starting with weddings this summer.

Thanks so much for your help!

You can use FX on DX bodies, they are just cropped (or zoomed) Therefore if you buy a 24-70 lens, it will be 36-105 on your d3000

For weddings and portraits, the go to lenses are the:
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8

Primes if you want to go down that road:
105mm (portrait)
50mm
35mm
85mm
20mm (wide angle)

I hope you have a thick wallet.... The 2 zooms lenses are about $3,500 alone

Also, if the lenses are not AFS they will work on the 3000, but you will have to manually focus.

[jdepould]

What's your budget?

[dakwegmo]

What lenses do you have already? If they don't have DX in the name, then they will work just fine on a full frame camera. Even if they do have DX in the name, you can use the D700 in DX mode and get a cropped image, or use it in FX mode and get a round image.

[kirbinster]

Why do you want to go FX with the D700? What is it going to do for you that a better DX body won't? I ask this because you are going to spend a LOT of money on good FX glass and unless there is a good reason for it you might be better off to stick with a DX body.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

For weddings and portraits, the go to lenses are the:
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8

Primes if you want to go down that road:
105mm (portrait)
50mm
35mm
85mm
20mm (wide angle)

I hope you have a thick wallet.... The 2 zooms lenses are about $3,500 alone

And the 5 primes will run about $2400. If it were me, and money was an issue, I think I'd probably do 70-200 (for reach) + 20mm (for wide) + 50mm f/1.4 (for shallow DoF and super low-light). That trio runs $3100 though, at which point it may just be worth it to get the 24-70mm in place of the two primes. Either way, you'll likely need some lights too.

[renato88]

From what I have been reading so far and also wanting to upgrade from a D80....what about a D7000?

[RGallaway]

I would like to spend the least amount possible but get a good body. I spoke to a friend who is pretty heavy into photography and he told me that I would regret it if I didn't get a full frame camera. It's soooooo expensive. I know that a DX would be cheaper because I already have a couple of lenses for it... I was also looking at the 300 and 7000. I'm just worrying that it won't be a good enough camera... the 700 looks amazing. He told me that with a full frame body, I would be more happy in the long run. opinions?

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

And the 5 primes will run about $2400. If it were me, and money was an issue, I think I'd probably do 70-200 (for reach) + 20mm (for wide) + 50mm f/1.4 (for shallow DoF and super low-light). That trio runs $3100 though, at which point it may just be worth it to get the 24-70mm in place of the two primes. Either way, you'll likely need some lights too.

The 20 is a piece of junk. Especially on FX.

Originally Posted by RGallaway

I would like to spend the least amount possible but get a good body. I spoke to a friend who is pretty heavy into photography and he told me that I would regret it if I didn't get a full frame camera. It's soooooo expensive. I know that a DX would be cheaper because I already have a couple of lenses for it... I was also looking at the 300 and 7000. I'm just worrying that it won't be a good enough camera... the 700 looks amazing. He told me that with a full frame body, I would be more happy in the long run. opinions?

Uh ... yeah, ignore that. If you don't really know why you need/want FX, you're better off getting a D7000 and spending the difference on glass ... or putting it in the bank.

[dakwegmo]

Originally Posted by RGallaway

I would like to spend the least amount possible but get a good body. I spoke to a friend who is pretty heavy into photography and he told me that I would regret it if I didn't get a full frame camera. It's soooooo expensive. I know that a DX would be cheaper because I already have a couple of lenses for it... I was also looking at the 300 and 7000. I'm just worrying that it won't be a good enough camera... the 700 looks amazing. He told me that with a full frame body, I would be more happy in the long run. opinions?

What do you like to shoot, and what do you think you'll want to shoot? Each system has it's strengths and weaknesses, and may be better for certain things than for others. Also, if budget is an issue, then you may regret spending thousands on a new body and lenses, only to find out you could have spent far less to do everything you want.