Bogley

[Richard Barron]

All those parameters lead to the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM AF. Retail about $700, but you might could find one used on Ebay.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/533556-REG/Sigma_579_306_70_200mm_f_2_8_II_EX.html

Beware that Sigma has some quality control issues, so test it early and make sure you got a good one.

[waltny]

Richard Barron wrote: All those parameters lead to the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM AF. Retail about $700, but you might could find one used on Ebay.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/533556-REG/Sigma_579_306_70_200mm_f_2_8_II_EX.html

Beware that Sigma has some quality control issues, so test it early and make sure you got a good one.

Thanks for the response once again.
I think I might have confused you a bit in my last post. The 200-500 that I was talking about was money, not focal lenght, I should have specified. The mid range zooms I was talking about were in the 20ish to 90ish focal length(at 2.8). There are a slew of them and Im also torn by a few primes in this range(the only reason IMHO for primes in this region should be faster AF and Fstops) but would like to get something with macro too. I think the 24 or 28 sigma 1.8 is in my future(over the 35/2 nikon and sigma 30/1.4), along with the 85 1.8(or the tamron 90/2.8 with macro). So I guess if I could get a decent midrange zoom in this range it would make the descion on the 85 1.8 simpler... Once again thanks for you down to earth take on photography, the hair spliting on sample copies is driving me nuts on the cafe.

[Richard Barron]

Okay, let me put it another way. If I were setting up a new news photographer today I would get him this:

-Nikon D300 with MB-D10 x 2
-Nikkor 17-55/2.8
-Nikkor 70-200/2.8
-Nikkor 300/2.8
-Nikon TC-14E
-SB-800

New bag for nature photographer:

-Nikon D3
-Nikkor 14-24mm/2.8
-Nikkor 80-400mm/4.5-5.6
-SB-600

New bag for canyoneer or backpacker:

-Nikon D300
-Nikkor 18-200mm/3.5-5.6

New bag for nature shooter or backpacker on a budget:

-Nikon D60
-Nikkor 18-200mm/3.5-5.6