Nikon 17-55 or 24-70 for Nikon D300

[diver46]

I am trying to decide which len to purchase. I currently use a Nikon 70-200vr 2.8 and love it. However, I need another len to fill the gap as a walk around len. I shoot a lot of nature and outdoors photography. I am aware of the crop factor with the 24-70, but the reviews are great with this lens.

Any thoughts or suggestions.

[cyclohexane]

Both lenses are real nice. It's hard to go wrong with either choice.

The 24-70mm appears to control flare better, but I haven't had a chance to compare mine to a 17-55mm yet, as I've only had it for an hour.

[Slugo]

Both are absolutely excellent lenses, but I think I prefer the 24-70. Great for portraits and weddings...

[INSOMNIAC269]

I have the 28-70mm 2.8, I believe the 24-70 replaced. They are both highly rated lens, the 24-70 is suppose to be lighter and more compact, my 28-70 is a tank, very heavy. I like the zoom range of these, leaves no gap up to the 70-200mm 2.8.

My vote would be to go with the 24-70mm.

[sambr]

17-55 - this an awesome lens, it started getting a bad wrap since the 24-70 came out, all of a sudden the 17-55 is crap. Not so if you want the best for your D300 go 17-55.

[korman]

What do you need more, the range 17-24 or 55-70?

Korman

[Dirk]

So i moved it from the other slr to the nikon series since this is where it belongs..

ontopic..

Both lenses are good , each has is own points
@ diver46

May be lighten us up what other glass you have for the D300? So that we can advice better , to prevent possible overlap on the glass (lenses) section.

[ronjon]

I have the 18-70 kit lens from my old D70 and have been considering upgrading to one of these two lenses for my D300s. I normally shoot with my 50mm 1.4D prime and I love the quality I get from it over the 18-70. I've been feeling hampered by the focal length, and have been looking to upgrade to get similar quality while adding a little more flexibility.

I have to say, this has been a pretty tough choice for me. Here's my thought process. Maybe it'll help or not...

- I ran my images from the 18-70 through some software that gave me a breakdown of the focal lengths I use with that lens. Wouldn't you know it, it was split evenly below 24, above 55 and between 35 - 50. Argh.

- I rented the 17-55. My thoughts in brief. As for quality of images. I'd say it surpasses my rarely used 35mm 1.8 and equals my 50mm 1.4D. I did notice a little chromatic aberration, but only when I zoomed for pixel peeping. It wasn't enough that I cared about it at all. Basically, A+ in image quality. On the downside. It's a heavy lens. I'm not used to shooting with a heavy lens and I had a lot of camera shake issues. I've heard that the battery pack helps as it balances the camera more. I assume this will be reduced if I had more time and practice with the lens.

- I thought a lot about it and decided that this lens is the way to go for me over the 24-70. When I was shooting wide, I appreciated the extra width. As for zooming in, I'm used to the 50mm anyway, so I never really felt the need for the extra zoom. Plus I can crop after anyway. When I got the shot right, I could zoom into full 1:1 magnification and the image was perfectly sharp so no worries there.

- In the end, I actually decided to hold off to see if they might release a version with VR this year. The lens is pretty dated, and the direct Canon competitor has VR and sells for less. I don't have an immediate need for this lens. If I did, I wouldn't have any issue pulling the trigger on it.

[FedererPhoto]

If you don't plan to go to FX, for weddings, I prefer the focal length options the 17-55 gives me on a DX sensor.

[trapman]

Originally Posted by FedererPhoto

I prefer the focal length options the 17-55 gives me on a DX sensor.

+1

[badpickev]

here i would say the 24-70 will work fine. most of my landscape shots are taken about 28-35mm. so on a crop camera you will get a fov of 36-105.

[MDPhoto]

Of the two that you are considering I prefer the 24-70. Depending on your desired use besides those mentioned this may fill the gap a bit more.

[Dirk]

@ ronjon in that case i'll advise the 24-70 above the 17-55 , boith are f2.9 constant aperture but the 24-70 comes more to the reavh you used the 18-70 for.

Well i still like my 18-70 a lot (do not use that often now i have the 18-105 dx ed ver if aspherical bit it remains a very good lense worthy of the name "lens" instead off kit lens.

hope to have helped in the right direction..

[Songman45]

Originally Posted by Dirk

So i moved it from the other slr to the nikon series since this is where it belongs..

ontopic..

Both lenses are good , each has is own points
@ diver46

May be lighten us up what other glass you have for the D300? So that we can advice better , to prevent possible overlap on the glass (lenses) section.

Its also 21 months old. I image his purchasing decision has been made already.

[Dirk]

thanks steve .. will remember it ..

[maxharvard]

Why not just get the 14-24 and 24-70?

[DavidGregg]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Why not just get the 14-24 and 24-70?

That's actually what I am wanting to do. I currently have the 17-55 and it is a great lens. I would still recommend folks use it if the range fit their needs.

My motivation however, is to replace my 17-55 (dx) with the 14-24 and 24-70 (both fx) thus completing my pro fx lens inventory. Then I will continue to use my DX bodies until I am ready to go FX. I don' t want to go FX unless all of my lenses are able to be used on it.

Somebody mentioned their concern for age of the 17-55. really, age of a quality pro lens is not an issue. I plan to keep and use my pro lenses for quite some time - no doubt a handful of bodies will churned through before any of the lenses will need replacing

[erik jensen]

I love the 17-55 myself but I am no expert.. This page might be helpful to you for Nikon lens comparisons/reviews.. it's run by a nikon ambassador..
Equipment for professional photography!

Their photo school is quite useful too.. but don't know if you need it

[nubz]

If it were my choice, I'd go with the 24-70 or the older 28-70 for the simple fact that if you ever go to FX sensor, you can use the lenses you already own. I just bought a 10-24mm DX and I already own an 18-70. I won't buy any more DX beyond those because I don't want expensive paper weights down the road.

[alanbreck]

Hands down the 17-55mm for the DX sensor camera. This is the best walk-around lens for the DX, IMO. If you decide to go FX in the future you will be able to sell it for what you paid if you get a used one now (around $900) and put that towards the 24-70mm. 17-55mm is a fantastic lens, can't say enough about it.