I have a 8 day canoe camping trip next month. I’m thinking this is the combo, and it fits perfectly in my budget…
D600 (got it last week for $100)
28-70mm 3.5-4.5 AF-D
Circular polarizer
I need something that covers 35 to 50mm. Don’t need low-light. I need a zoom that can do landscapes and candids that will be stuffed into a dry bag much of the day with a bunch of other random junk. When we’re on dry land, a few portraits. It needs to be compact and reasonably tough, and image quality comes second. And there is a low but real risk of it being crushed.
I’ve been looking all week at maybe getting a AF-S 28-104 f/4 VR or something else, maybe even a 17-35 f/2.8 plus one of the primes I have on hand. But they look huge, and I haven’t been impressed with the construction of the compact zooms I’ve handled. Then I remembered this old thing on the N6006 I used in the 90’s. It isn’t fast or amazing, but it punches above its weight class, and doesn’t have any terrible flaws. It’s compact, light weight, and i think it’s going to be a lot tougher than anything AF-S that could get for under $300. And it is expendable.
Compact and tough are key, and I think this fits the bill. Is there an option ($300-350 or less) approximately 28mm to 50mm that I’m overlooking? Otherwise, I can use the money on fishing lures and whatnot.
Other stuff I have that is in the useful range.
28 f/2.8 AIS
A bunch of 50mm
85 f/1.8 AF-D
D7000 with DX lenses 18-55 kit lens, 17-55 f/2.8, 18-140 VR. Also a D50.