to rent or to buy, zoom question

[jmyus]

i am going on an Alaskan cruise mid july. i have a Nikon D60 and have the 55-200 kit zoom. i have thought about renting a larger zoom for the trip at about $25 a day. then, thought, should i just buy one? if i go the buy route, which one to choose? i guess im looking for zoom suggestions the would cost me not much more than $300, as it will cost me about that to rent the zoom for the trip.

thanks,
megan

[OsmosisStudios]

Definitely rent. The only problem is that the lens I'd suggest won't AF on a D60 (the 80-400 VR). It's still an AF-D.

LensRentals offer a 50-500 Sigma that has HSM, so it'll work. Pricing is good too. http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/niko...m-os-for-nikon

[jmyus]

Thank you for that link!! thats a great price for rental, and way more lens than i was even thinking of!

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by jmyus

Thank you for that link!! thats a great price for rental, and way more lens than i was even thinking of!

I was in Alaska a few years ago and felt I was short with 300mm. I would have appreciated 400 if not 500. There were several people there with the 80-400, and they were doing okay but some felt it was still lacking.

That being said, there was one guy cruising with a 400/2.8 and 600/4. On D700/D300 combo. With teleconverters. Yeah, he's nuts.

[jmyus]

osmosis,
i took your advice and rented that lens! it came today, holy humongous!! i knoew its demensions, but its seems bigger in real life! i cant wait to use it next week on the ship! i will report back with some pics too!
thanks again!
-megan

[OsmosisStudios]

Which did you end up getting?

[jmyus]

the one you linked me to, the 50-500...holy huge! im so excited to get shooting!

[kirbinster]

I would like to offer a different suggestion for others that may find themselves in a similar situation. If you are in a major market where there is a fair amount of activity on Craigslist or other similar sites it might be better to buy a used lens. Glass holds its value very well. So, you can buy the lens and if you don't want to keep it then just resell it when you are done with your trip or shoot or whatever. You will probably be able to sell it for plus or minus $50 to $100 of what you bought it for. Just another idea.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

I would like to offer a different suggestion for others that may find themselves in a similar situation. If you are in a major market where there is a fair amount of activity on Craigslist or other similar sites it might be better to buy a used lens. Glass holds its value very well. So, you can buy the lens and if you don't want to keep it then just resell it when you are done with your trip or shoot or whatever. You will probably be able to sell it for plus or minus $50 to $100 of what you bought it for. Just another idea.

Problem here is straight-up outlay: Sure you're getting your money almost entirely back, but you're still (in this case) out a HUGE chunk of change temporarily that you may not have. I know if I were in this situation and it was a case of $150 to rent it for a week or $1500 to resell for the same price a week later, I wouldnt be able to do the latter: I dont just have $1500 to throw at something temporarily, especially with no GUARANTEE of it coming back.

[jmyus]

we had a great trip! i got some great shots too! my issue was that, even with a tripod, i had some shake b/c the ship was constantly moving. the majority of the pictures turned out amazing! I loved the lens, and loved being the one envied, rather than having camera/lens envy myself! I would love to own that lens, it sure makes my little 55-200 seem pathetic. anyhow, i think i will post a few of my pictures on the SYS section. i recommend alaska to anyone who is thinking about it, its absolutely beautiful!
-megan