Moving up to the D800 which of my DX lenses should I keep

[bakravitz]

I currently own two D300 bodies each with MB-D10 . I am selling them as I am purchasing the D800. I own the following Nikon DX lenses: 18-105 mm, 18-200 mm, 80-400mm, and 10.5 fisheye. I am purchasing the D800 with the MB-D12 and at lease 1 FX lens.

1. Should I keep any of the above mentioned lenses? I have considered keeping one D300 as back up and problabley would keep the 80-400 and the 10.5 fisheye (given to me as a gift)

2. Any recommendations for FX lenses? I shoot wildlife, some sports,

3. anyone interested in a D300 one has 18 k clicks the other has 16 K clicks

Thanks again for all your help.

Bernie

[Black Pearl]

Keep the 80-400mm as its a FX lens then flog the rest to buy a AF-S 24-70mm f2.8 and possibly a 16mm fish if you use the 10.5mm regularly.

[Manfred M]

I quite agree with Robin on what to get rid of. If you shoot the fisheye occasionally, like I do (I have a 8mm Samyang crop frame lens), I do use it on the D800, just because I don't use a fisheye that often and am okay with the cropped output.

The two lenses you should consider getting are the f/2.8 24-70mm and the f/2.8 70-200mm. These tend to be my go to lenses on the D800. I will shoot the f/1.8 50mm when I do street photography, but I drop by handle and Nikon D800 strap when I do this to give me a lower profile. The f/2.8 14-24mm is also quite good, but it does not get used as often as the other glass.

As was mentioned the 80-400mm is a FX lens and it will work fine on your D800 (I shoot it on both my D90 and D800).

[bakravitz]

Good thoughts but my 80-400 is a DX lens not FX

[bakravitz]

oops just checked the spec it is a FX lens.

[inkista]

Just me, but since you didn't want the 17-55/2.8 on crop, and you obviously like superzooms, chances are a 24-70/2.8 could be too pricey or focal length range-limited unless you really wanted to step up on image quality and didn't mind having a different setup from the one you're used to. But if you want to more or less have equivalents to what you've got now, I'd replace the 18-105 and the 18-200 with the 28-300, and the 10.5 with the Nikon 16, or the Sigma 15. You really want FX lenses for an FX camera.

Just do the crop math in the other direction: 18-200 x 1.5 = 27-300 and 10.5 x1.5 = 15.75mm.

[Black Pearl]

Its another solution but the reason I recommended the 24-70mm (I'm guessing Manfred thought the same) is that Bernie has a 80-400mm which is a fantastic bit of glass so the 24-70-80-400 combination go together very nicely without paying for too much overlap. A possible future purchase of the 14-24mm will then compliment the range perfectly.

[bakravitz]

Picking up the D800+MB-D12+24-70 mm this week. I cant wait. Most likely will keep one of my D300 as back up or future gift to one of my nephews.

[Manfred M]

I think that the 80-400mm may be something that gets relegated to the back shelf if you get used to shooting with the 24-70mm. While it is a FX lens (I do own it), it is not particularly fast to focus because it does use the in-camera focus motor and the quality / sharpness are not in the same league as the pro glass, like the f/2.8 24-70mm or the f/2.8 70-200mm.

[inkista]

I think that the 80-400mm may be something that gets relegated to the back shelf if you get used to shooting with the 24-70mm. While it is a FX lens (I do own it), it is not particularly fast to focus because it does use the in-camera focus motor and the quality / sharpness are not in the same league as the pro glass....

OTOH, he could just swap up to the new AF-S 80-400 VR. And a 24-70 not so great for the little birdies.

[NorthernFocus]

I also upgraded from D300 to 800. No need for the wide angle DX lenses because that is exactly when you will want your FX full frame. For wildlife on the other hand you may actually shoot in DX mode particularly with the grip that gives you 6fps. My advise, keep the 80-400 for the time being until you decide what you need for long glass. Sell the others and get either the 24-85 or 24-70 depending on your budget.

As a former 300 user the 800 is going to feel real natural to you. But better!

[bakravitz]

D800+MB-D12 + 24-70 mm lens. And I kept my 80-400mm. Loving the camera. Keeping a journal of my shots and the related specs .

Im glad i made the move up. Thanks for all the input.

[NorthernFocus]

Congrats and enjoy it!

[Letrow]

Sounds good Bernie. By the way, you might consider the Nikkor 70-200mm F/4. The big advantage versus the 70-200mm F/2.8 that Manfred mentioned is its weight, about half of what the F/2.8 is.
The lens is very good and very sharp in my experience in combination with the D600, so it should probably suit the D800 well.

[cliffmccartney]

You will love the D800. I hope you have a lot of disk space - the raw files are enormous.

I agree that you should keep the 80 - 400. Ditch the rest of them.

I use my 70-200 f/2.8 most of the time on my D800. I use my 14-24 f/2.8 a lot for landscapes.

[NorthernFocus]

I hope you have a lot of disk space - the raw files are enormous.

I agree that you should keep the 80 - 400. Ditch the rest of them.

I use my 70-200 f/2.8 most of the time on my D800. I use my 14-24 f/2.8 a lot for landscapes.

I find that the vast majority of the time I'm shooting in DX mode which saves on the file size. But most of what I shoot are fast moving targets so I also enjoy the higher frame rate shooting DX with the grip. Shooting landscapes or in low light I switch to FX.

The 70-200 2.8 has been affixed to my D800 so long I'm not sure it will even come off They are really made for each other.