Sigma 24-70 with a D80?

[Viktorrr]

Ok, i've pretty much made up my mind about which camera im going to buy, the D80. Will also buy a flash, though im not sure should i buy the SB600 or SB800?

But my real dilema is with my lens choice. Ofcourse im on a budget, so i have about 500 dollars to spend on a lens.
I got my eye on a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 , does anyone have any experience with this lens? I read some reviews about it. All of them say its pretty heavy (which doesnt bother me, nor those the AF noise), but i need a reasonably fast one.
Also, one review stated that it has severe problems with flare?!

Help? lol

[tcadwall]

I can't offer anything about that lens that you can't research yourself. But, Unless you really know why you need of the SB-800 over the SB-600, I would consider taking that price difference and adding it to your lens budget. The SB600 is quite a capable flash. There is a little bit of benefit with the SB800 but most of the time, you wouldn't really notice the difference.

[coldrain]

The Sigma 24-70 f2.8 is quite a good lens. George Riehm who posts on here from time to time likes it a lot. If you do not zoom tin to 100% pixel size all the time, it is quite a capable lens.
It does produce some CA, but most Nikon lenses do that too. You will have to go quite a bit more expensive for a better lens (the Nikon 28-70 f2.8).

So... if you are looking for a portrait zoom lens, this Sigma offers a lot for its money.

What reason would you have to go for an SB800 over an SB600?

[Viktorrr]

I've done some more research, and still i havent found a lens that would fit my needs, and fit into my budget too! So i guess i'll stick with this one.

About the flash, a friend of mine has the SB600 (with the D80), and says he has some exposure issues with it. Or maybe his is just faulty...

[D70FAN]

The Sigma 24-70 is a good quality lens, but I still rent the Nikkor 28-70 when I want the very best. I have found that the Nikkor 35 f/2 and 50 f/1.8 can do a very competent job in that range as well.

Most of the time I use the Sigma 18-125. Nikon NX and DXO take care of the warts. My latest favorite lens is the Nikkor 55-200 VR... Nikon needs to design more lenses like it.

So there you have it. 2 relatively cheap fixed focus Nikkors... a couple of medium range Sigma zooms, and a really cheap, but suprisingly good, Nikkor long tele VR.

Photography on a budget. It can be done.

[tcadwall]

About the flash, a friend of mine has the SB600 (with the D80), and says he has some exposure issues with it. Or maybe his is just faulty...
I don't recall any complaints around here about the SB-600. I wouldn't take anything away from the Sb800 because it is a great flash, and of course it is better than the Sb600, but REALLY, it isn't necessary for everyone. I have used my SB600 to do things that it couldn't be expected to do, and it has done a great job. Other than slightly more power, most of the features it adds, are not something you are going to need right away. The two units work as a team for you in the future, so if you want to get one later, they can both be used as remote flashes from your new D80.

[Rooz]

if he has exposure issues with the 600, the 800 won't really change anything.

[Viktorrr]

Thank you for your replies, if everything goes to plan, i'll be getting my d80 soon. :)