Stuck with a 28-80 lens on D70...

[s a m]

Hi guys,

In hindsight, I rather stupidly went for the 28-80 lens when I bought my D70. Due to there being no 18-70s in stock for a good month or two longer, and I wanted the camera for my holiday back in the summer.

Camera works great, but lens is not wide enough. I am forever screwing on a wide angle thing, then taking it off again for close ups.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I could get a 18-70 (and loose the 28-80) lens without spending hundreds...?

(The camera and lens are insured by Dixon’s Mastercare, for accidental damage, theft etc – apparently to be replaced with vouchers…)

[Mad Dave]

I think youve answered your own question there. Ive seen the 18-70 AF-S D Nikkor lens (from the kit) on its own for £279. It should be a far superior lens to the other, not just because of the range but because i've heard that the G lenses really arent that good.

[simpo two]

Mad Dave said:

not just because of the range but because i've heard that the G lenses really arent that good.

I too thought that 'G' meant 'a bit cheap', but no, it just means that there's no separate aperture ring; the camera controls it. It's nothing to do with glass quality, and I think it's the way all Nikkors will go.

[Mad Dave]

Hmmm. You're right about there not being an aperture right, but I was once told in a camera shop (and they werent out to make a sale, so that wasnt it) not to bother buying a 70-300 G lens. It certainly felt a bit plasticcy and cheap. I was pointed towards a Sigma 70-300 APO Macro instead.

[s a m]

do dixons sell 18-70's?

has anyone claimed on coverplan before, and if so... they give you vouchers I believe...

maybe in time it will get dropped... almost managed it a few times, if it happens whats the process?

[simpo two]

Mad Dave said:

I was once told in a camera shop (and they werent out to make a sale, so that wasnt it) not to bother buying a 70-300 G lens. It certainly felt a bit plasticcy and cheap.

Yes. That lens does feel plasticky and cheap (and so does the 28-80 kit lens), but it's because they're made to a low budget, not because it's a 'G' lens per se.
They do represent good value though.

[Mad Dave]

They are very good value, I agree with you there. The 18-70mm Nikkor lens is a very nice lens though, it just feels far superior. Then again, maybe its just the gold lettering

[joust]

Try Jessops and do a "second hand swap" with them. No idea what they'll give you for the lens, but should soften the cost somewhat.

J

[simpo two]

joust said:

Try Jessops and do a "second hand swap" with them. No idea what they'll give you for the lens...

I fear '3/4 of 5/8 of sod all' would be about the mark - you'd probably do better on eBay, both for buying and selling.

[Mad Dave]

Hmmm, I could trade in one of my F70's against the D70. Actually, scratch that - its always good to have backups