I'm stuck. Tax rebates are coming in, and the wife has allowed me to get another lens. So far I've narrowed it down to one of 2 lenses, serving different purposes. With any luck *haha* I could talk her into letting me get one.

Here is my current lens selection:
Tokina 12-24 F4
Sigma 28-70 F2.8
Nikon 70-200 F2.8 VR
Nikon 1.4 TC
Sigma 150 Macro
Nikon 50 F1.8

First lens I am thinking of getting is something to replace my current 28-70. I am looking at the Nikon 17-55 F2.8 lens as the replacement, but I am open to other suggestions. I want to get a nice wide angle somewhere between the 24-70 lengths, possibly a little wider. I am hopefully going to start assisting in shooting weddings, and this lens would be of great use.

The other one I am looking at is the Nikon 300 F4. I do a lot of sports, and this would be a great addition until I can afford to get its big brother (the 2.8). For cycling it would be great, and it would get used shooting baseball & soccer as well in combo with the 1.4.

I'd like to stick to lenses that can be used on a full frame (Thinking down the line), and preferable AF-S. I'm open to any other lens choices if ya got 'em

I'm not going to spend your money but if I was you since you already have the range the 17-55 would give you I'd go for the 300 and then once you get some change trade it in for the 300 f2.8 but that is just my 2 cents.

I didn't find the 28-70 range that useful for a cropped frame DSLR, so a 17-55 might be a good choice. If you find that you're often switching between 28-70 and 12-24, then it would be a great choice. I had an old 300mm manual focus and I think it was about the sharpest lens I've ever had (yes, including 85 f1.4, 50 f1.4, 80-200 f2.8). I shouldn't have sold it but manual focus lenses didn't work with DSLR's at the time so I basically gave it away. Now with the D200 I think about buying another one and have heard that the newer 300's are just as good.

However - since you already have a good selection of lenses I'd hold off until you know what you really need. It costs a lot of money to buy something and then sell it later if it's not right for you. Actually some of the better lenses (especially like the 300 and the 85 f1.4) have a really high resale value, and when I sold my 85 it only cost me about $75 to have it for almost two years. The 17-55 might not fare so well with the release of the full frame D3 and possibly others in the future.

You are requested to use...


Lenses by COMFORT EYE WEARS


COMFORT 12-24 F4 3 shade
COMFORT 28-70 F2.8 1 shade
COMFORT 70-200 F2.8 VR 3 shade
COMFORT 1.4 TC 2 shade
COMFORT 150 Macro Multi Colored


thanks:)

I just pulled the trigger yesterday on a Nikon 300mm f4. I have close to the same setup you do and the extra length for sports especially soccer and baseball was what I was looking for. I have the Nikon 28-70 f2.8 and if I were you I would not replace it. It really comes in handy around the house for pictures of the grandsons. I know you have a lot of kid pics in your future and my 28-70 has been a workhorse for that.