Upgrade From D80....Advice?

ra19

Hi all, am new here. I currently own a Nikon D80 with the kit 18-135, Nikon 50 f/1.8, Nikon 70-300VR and Sigma 10-20. I have had this set up for over 5 years and have considered upgrading for a long time. I wanted to move to full frame and purchased a D600 yesterday (still unopened). I am two minded as whether to keep it or not and wanted to know your advice. The only full frame lenses I have are the 50 and 70-300. The 18-135 I don't use whatsoever and the 10-20 is one I use quite frequently and like the filter option. The only full frame lens with a filter matching the performance of a 10-20 that I could find is the Nikon 16-35VR but is an extremely costly option. My question is, is it worth sacrificing the 10-20 to go full frame? If there were an affordable full frame wide angle lens with a filter thread this would not be an issue. Another question is, would the 50 still be good for portraits on a full frame or would you suggest an 85?

Thanks

GhostRider117

My question is, is it worth sacrificing the 10-20 to go full frame? If there were an affordable full frame wide angle lens with a filter thread this would not be an issue.
Thanks

Well, it depends... Your widest FX lens would be a 50mm, so no wide angle at all. Now, depending on what you want to do, you might consider the 28mm f/1.8G (around EUR 600 here) if you can sacrifice zoom for prime, but that would be almost the long end equivalent of your Sigma.

Another question is, would the 50 still be good for portraits on a full frame or would you suggest an 85?

FX, I would suggest 85mm, I don't really find the perspective of a 50mm lens pleasing for portraits.

sevencrossing

My question is, is it worth sacrificing the 10-20 to go full frame?

I am a big fan of full frame, but If you cant afford the lens(s) to go with it; then I think the answer is no.

Take it back and get a D7000

( No I don't advise waiting for the D7200 )

TaoTeJared

I think long term as it seems you do not upgrade with each new body release, the D600 will last you just as long as your D80 has.

Check Tokina 16-28 f/2.8 as well as the Tokina 17-35 f/4. There is also a Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG IF HSM Aspherical (old version) that sells used for around $400. The new version is quite pricey ($1,400).

I would suggest selling the D80 and the 18-135, take what you can get from it, and then decide what you want to get. If you are doing everything on the cheap, the 24-85vr would be a good option. There is also the 24-120vr (old version) that is going really cheap. Not the sharpest lens and you will want to upgrade it at some point, but for $200-$350 that would be a decent gap fill till you have built up your camera fund.

TaoTeJared

50mm is great for portraits - you will just get more of a 1/2 to 3/4 of a shot rather than just the shoulders and head. 85mm is great too.

shawnino

If you long to go full-frame, go full-frame! Giddy-up. Life is too short.

Your 50 1.8 will do nicely for portraits. In good lighting with good technique, your 70-300 will be fine too. If, later, you want an 85mm, they'll always be there.

As aforementioned, the 28 1.8G gets rave reviews (have not shot it myself). A wider option I've had good luck with myself is the similarly priced 20 2.8 D, but it's likely an inferior lens from what everybody's writing. Sell the Sigma 10-20 ($300?) to finance one of these.

If you can afford to hold the D80/18-135 as a back-up body & do-it-all lens, hold onto it. If not, that should make up the rest of the cost of the 28 or the 20.

ra19

Thanks for the advice guys, I have opened it. I will probably hold onto the 10-20 for now to use on DX mode till I find something else. Will probably sell my D80 with the kit lens.

tc88

I don't know how good the corner sharpness of the sigma 10-20 is, but as a stop gap measure, you may even be able to use it in FX mode towards the 20. You can also crop out the dark edges which should still give you a frame a little bit bigger than DX. However, if you shoot wide with any regularity, you will want to have FX wide lens later. As you have already found out and will find out more, FX lens are expensive. As someone mentioned in another thread, photography is a way to make a small fortune out out of a large fortune. Enjoy.

TaoTeJared

I can use my old Tokina 12-24 (DX) starting at 16mm. I wouldn't use it for work, but for personal stuff it is good enough.

shawnino

Check out what tc88 & TTJ said--I was just inspired to do so with my Sigma 8-16 on FX. Perfectly usable at 16. A bit of black in the corners at 14 but nothing that can't be slightly cropped. By 12mm it's essentially no-go.

Thanks guys: every little bit of bonus functionality might help someday.