Lens Help

[Pokie]

I came across some unexpected money! I won the 'design a safety logo' contest for our company and intend to use this money wisely by investing in glass before I do something silly like spend it on groceries

Before I decide what I want, I'm trying to make sure I understand what I have.
Can someone confirm the following:

My D80 has a crop factor of 1.5.
Therefore my 28-80 really works like a 42-120 in 35mm-speak,
And my 70-300 really works like a 84-450.

Because I don't have a wide angle lens, I've sometimes thrown a Canon Wide Converter WC-DC58N on the end of my 28-80 just to get a wide view.
I originally bought this for my Canon G-3 and was adequate for those purposes, but optics are horrible when stacked on another lens, and it's really way to heavy to hang on the end of a lens like this.
But anyway, it has a magnification factor of 0.7x
So when used on my D80 with the 28mm zoom, the effect is 28mm x 1.5crop factor x 0.7magnification = 29.4mm (did I do this right?)

Example of what I get with this at full extension - including vignetting


What I think I'm trying to figure out is how wide I need to go on a new lens to get this type of coverage.
Can I divide the 29.4 by the 1.5 crop factor and get the result = 19.3?
Meaning an 18mm will give me a similar coverage?

My preferences are landscape, sports (but rarely find I need the full 300mm on my longer lens), candids, rarely anything highly technical.
I'm interested in macro, but I'm not sure this is the next step for me.

Do you think I would be happy with an 18-200 f2.8 zoom?
Thought about 18-300, but have seen very mixed reviews.
I'm interested in the Tokina 11-18, but I'm not sure it's useful enough to warrant the purchase.
My 28-80 is the Nikon kit lens that came with my N70 years ago.
I'm thinking I might be happiest with a lens to replace the 28-80, add the wide angle, and allow for the use of 1 lens for most of the sports shots I do.

I wouldn't mind a Nikon, but I didn't win that much money, and one condition of my hobby is that it has to stay close to revenue-neutral
(and I still need to (ok...I want to) replace my tripod before next flight, upgrade speedlite, upgrade Photoshop, replace printer...)
Experience with the Sigma or Tamrons in this lens?
Any help appreciated.

Thanks!
Pokie

[bob_r]

Pokie,

I don't shoot Nikon, but have you considered the Nikon 16-85 VR lens?

Here's a link to a review: http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/46-niko ... 685_3556vr

B & H has it listed for $529 with free shipping.

[CG415]

Pokie,

I have a D80 also and I am shooting a Quantaray 18 -200 mm f/3.5-6.3, I am told that it is made by Tamron for Ritz Camera. I find that this lens hardly ever comes off of my camera right now. I know that sigma and tamron are both making this same type of zoom with Optical Stabilization and they are right at the $350 mark.

Pretty much any photos that you see that I have posted have been taken with this comination. If you want I will pull a sample the photos that I have posted so you can see what they look like.

I hope this helps,

Chris

[hw771230]

Pokie,

I have heard great things about that 16-85 as well, but have not tried it yet. The reviews of the 18-200 zooms are not very good for the most part.

Another option to consider is the new 18-105 Nikon zoom. It runs about $280 and the reviews are pretty good. This is a VR lens as well.

I personally use a Sigma 18-50/2.8. Its a nice lens, and brings in a lot of light when I want, but I do a lot of night shooting.

Hope I didn't confuse you more.

Caleb