Help Me Spend My Money- loaded question

[hipmom]

I currently have a Nikon d40x

For lens, I have the
Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S Auto Focus Nikkor Lens (Which I love and hardly take off)

AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

and the kit Lens 18-55 that came with it.
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I am shooting a lot of natural lightening portraits of families and children. I would like to continue to build that business doing portraits inside and out. My 50 has been great for that- but it is all I know.

I have kids- I would like to shoot youth sports indoor, like basketball as well.

I was considering getting the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF Telephoto for Indoor because everyone says that rocks for portraits and indoor sports. Does that meet both of my needs?


Eventually I want to shoot football and will purchase the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II (2.9x) Zoom for Sports.



Here are my questions:

1. Should I buy the 70-200 or the 85? or-

2. Should I invest in a Nikon 300s or a 700 and forget the lens for now. Is a new camera what I need if I want to get more serious, or will my d40x do the trick for awhile?

3. Which lens would you suggest?

Struggling to spend money-
Thanks in Advance


Lens Wish List

AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Wide Angle

$799.95



AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II (2.9x) Zoom for Sports

$1929.25



AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF Telephoto for Indoor

$1229.95



Flash Wish List

Speedlight SB-900

$469.95



Camera Wish List

Nikon D700 $2699.00

Nikon D300s $1931.45

[MTO4Life]

I wish I was in your boat... 'needing' help to spend your money!!!

I'm by no means a pro, or an expert or anything.. I just take pictures.

Here's my take though. If you find a lens is lacking in speed, the d300s or the d700 have great high ISO capabilities (especially the 700) so you can get some speed there, albeit with possibly a touch more noise than at low ISO. However, you can't really go wrong with quality glass.

I don't know if the 85mm is AF-S, so it won't autofocus on your d40. I'm looking at possibly picking it (or the f1.8 version up as a rental to try them out) for a potential next lens.

For action sports, the 70-200 is an awesome lens. I've used it at field trials for dogs and you can really get some great pictures.

It's a tough decision... camera or lens. That being said, quality glass is always quality glass, while cameras are always evolving... JMO.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

if the 50 f/1.4 never leaves your body (and you enjoy primes as much as you should be), i'd say go for the 85. You already have all the range of the 70-200; granted, the one you're looking at is faster, but the 85 is probably going to be more useful all around. And it's much faster than the zoom.

for camera bodies: your D40x gives you easy long lenses (the crop factor). If you do a lot of wider-angled work, then by all means, go for the 700. It's FX and from what I hear, absolutely brilliant.

also, for flashes, do you do a lot of work requiring fill lighting? The D40x won't be able to do off-camera flash unless you have a second hot shoe flash or a commander unit. (unless you get a cable, but even those only have a range of so much)