Nikkor lenses for the D200

[rebekahwestover]

I am looking into purchasing the Nikon d200. I shoot weddings, families, kids, that sort thing. I've been using medium format, but I am ready to make the transition to digital. I need to purchase some professional grade lenses for the d200 that won't break the bank. Any suggestions?

p.s. I've seen some Nikon d200 kits on Ebay that sell for MUCH cheaper than my local camera store. Would it be a bad idea to buy a d200 from these Ebay stores?

[erichlund]

I am looking into purchasing the Nikon d200. I shoot weddings, families, kids, that sort thing. I've been using medium format, but I am ready to make the transition to digital. I need to purchase some professional grade lenses for the d200 that won't break the bank. Any suggestions?
How big is the bank? :) The question is more serious than it seems. Just as important a question is what are you expecting in lens performance? I.E. what focal lengths do you want to cover and what f-stops do you need for your work? Don't forget, the field of view on a D200 means that you have to multiply the focal length by 1.5 to get the same field of view on a 35mm camera. Generally speaking, Nikon makes two grades of lenses, consumer and pro. Consumer lenses can get very nice photos, so long as you stay within their sweet spot, which means making compromises. Even then, color and contrast will not be as good as you get with pro glass.

Some popular consumer lenses are:
50mm f/1.8 - $100 - Should be in the bag of everone that does not have the 50mm f/1.4
35mm f/2 - $300?? - This is the normal lens for an APS-C sensor as on the Nikon series cameras. Better color than the 50mm f1.8
85mm f1.8 - This is the consumer portrait lens, though it starts to get a little long with the 1.5x crop factor that I mentioned above.
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 DX- kinda slow, cheap build, fairly good IQ
18-70mm f3.5-4.5 DX- faster, better built, fairly good IQ
18-200mm f3.5-5.6 DX VR - same as the 18-70 but extends to 200mm and has latest version of VR, which improves your ability to hand hold a static shot.

None of these should break even the moderately well funded financial institution. OTOH there's pro glass:

50mm f/1.4 - Only a little faster than the f1.8, but performs better over a wider range, has better bokeh, and puts you in the short telephoto area ideal for a portrait lens. IIRC, About $350??
12-24mm f4 DX - For really wide work. Some like the Tokina better. I don't know, I've never used either.
85mm f1.4 - Best portrait lens in Nikkor lineup. Best bokeh in Nikkor lineup. Very sharp, Very fast, about $1000 for one focal length.
17-55mm f/2.8 DX - Digital only lens that has excellent glass. This one's used by lot's of Pro's doing weddings. Over $1000
70-200mm f/2.8 VR - About $1500. One reviewer said this is the best lens Nikon has ever made. That's debateable, but it is top notch. f/2.8 across all focal lengths, sharp as a tack, VR works very well, bokeh similar to the 85mm f1.4, which is unusual for a zoom of this length.

There are many others to consider, but these are some of the most often mentioned on DPReview when asked about Wedding lenses for Nikon.

p.s. I've seen some Nikon d200 kits on Ebay that sell for MUCH cheaper than my local camera store. Would it be a bad idea to buy a d200 from these Ebay stores?
Personally, it's too high a risk factor for me. There's usually a reason for the low price, and SCAM usually fits in there somewhere.

[Cricketer]

[QUOTE=rebekahwestover]I am looking into purchasing the Nikon d200.

Erichlund has done a great job in providing you with a list of potential lenses.

Here's a very personal view. My recommendation is the Tokina 12-24 mm wide angle....an excellent well made lens for wide angle wedding interiors and groups etc, (I use it for architecture too) and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR zoom lens. A superb and versatile lens for your applications (I evaluated one this week and will purchase it). It is sharp, with fast and quiet autofocus and vibration reduction, has good contrast and the lens barrel does not extend as you zoom so balance remains constant These two lenses are not cheap, but well worth the initial expense. The 50mm f1.4, or 50mm 1.8 also recommended if budget can stretch this far. If I had to choose between these quality lenses and the D200 camera body, I would buy the lenses and the Nikon D70s body and upgrade the body at some future date. Good luck!
cricketer

[pixelsorcery]

18-200 vr lens carry all, can't go wrong, back-ordered most vendors though.

if you decide to buy on ebay, cameta camera, berger brothers, are a safe bet