Advice on a new lens

Hey folks...I have about 300 dollars in Christmas money that I have considered using on a new lens. Right now I have the Nikon 50mm f1.8/D and the cheaper Nikon 28-100 AF lens.

I'm interested in pretty much everything. I'd have just as much funwitha close-up lens as I would a telephoto. My main goal is to get the most value for my money. My camera is a Nikon N80.

Any advice on some good-value lenses would be very much appreciated :)

Really it depends on what you want to photograph. The focal length range you have now is 28-100. 28mm is decent on the wide angle side, but if you're often using 28 and wishing it was wider you might want to look at the 24 f2.8 or the 20 f2.8. 28mm vs. 24mm is actually a big difference even though it's only 4mm. Going from 28mm to 20mm will be a huge difference - but once you get used to it, that perspective can be very dramatic.

On the other hand, if you're often using the 100mm end of the zoom and wish you had a longer lens, then you might want to look for a used 180 f2.8 AF. I've never had that lens personally but it's supposed to be one of the sharpest made - even a little sharper than the 80-200 f2.8 that I've got. A used 180 should be pretty close to your budget.

Thanks for the response...

Any specific models that you would recommend on either end of the spectrum?

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Originally Posted by skyline315

Any specific models that you would recommend on either end of the spectrum?

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Yeah, the three I mentioned above! :D

Nikon 20mm f2.8 AF-D (probably have to find a good used one for the budget)
Nikon 24mm f2.8 AF-D (rebate good thru 12/31)
Nikon 180mm f2.8 AF-D (used one, again)

These are all good solid versatile choices. Any of them would be good for a lot of different subjects and situations.

Have you considered teleconverters and extension tubes? They can deliver a good bang for the buck if you can live within their limitations.

I have considered them! I'm kind of fuzzy on the details of what I'd need, though. I was wondering if there were any tolerable macro lenses within my budget (although I highly doubt it).

I haven't been able to find any 180mms in my price range...where are some good used places to look? B&H is really all I've looked at.

I've never personally bought anything at KEH but always heard good things about them. Looks like they have the 20 and 180 pretty close to your budget too. They've generally been noted for being conservative on their ratings - something in excellent condition to them is probably a safer bet than excellent condition from other places.

For a macro lens, you might find a used Nikon 105 f2.8 but it's probably a little out of your range. You could get a 60 but the working distance is so short on it (how close you have to focus to get 1:1) that you'll block your own light with a lot of subjects. Or scare away insects if that's what you're photographing. The 105 keeps you a foot or so away but the 60 is just inches. Tokina/Tamron/Sigma make macro lenses too but I've never used them - check the ratings on this site.

Unless you plan to do a lot of macro work, you might be better off with extension tubes and/or close-up lenses like Chunk recommended. Nikon's (not trying to sound like an ad here...) close-up lenses are better than most out there - they have two glass elements in them.

Ok, so what about extension tubes with my current lenses? What kind of money would we be talking about, and what all would be involved in that?

Thanks again for all your help...

Extension tubes with Nikon get kind of wierd... As I remember only their shortest (11mm?) allows any kind of automation because it can pass electronic info from the lens to the body (the longer ones don't have contacts). I think Tokina/Hoya has a set that will do this though - that might be the one to get. A set of theirs will be about half of your budget.

I've only used tubes with a Bronica MF system, and that's been awhile - anyone else?

Something like this perhaps?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...u=82881&is=REG

Found this on KEH:

http://www.keh.com/shop/SHOWPRODUCT....urpic=0&dpsp=0

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Originally Posted by skyline315

Something like this perhaps?

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Yup. Well, at least the B&H link. With the one at KEH you're not sure exactly what you're getting and the price isn't much lower.

Cool...I may go this route, but I'd still like to know a little more. I'm curious about how close I'll be able to get to a 1:1 perspective with these tubes...also, which of my lenses would be better suited for this kind of photography?

Kenko an ok brand? Idon't know a lot about them...

I own these in NIKON. they worked great for me last time I used them!

Just understand the limitations of extension tubes. Your range of focus DECREASES more and more with each MM of extension. Moving your tripod is sometimes needed to get FOCUSED .

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Originally Posted by skyline315

Cool...I may go this route, but I'd still like to know a little more. I'm curious about how close I'll be able to get to a 1:1 perspective with these tubes...also, which of my lenses would be better suited for this kind of photography?

Kenko an ok brand? Idon't know a lot about them...

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There are reviews in the teleconverter section of the review site.They are just hollow tubes that pass along the AF controls so there isn't an issue of glass quality. Here's a site with some comparison shots of different combinations.
http://www.toledo-bend.com/gallery/i...equest=ExtTube

I went ahead and ordered the set from b&h. Now, the wait begins :)