Nikon 17-35 2.8 vs. Nikon 17-55 2.8

[KPRussell]

With the intrduction of the Nikon 17-55 2.8 that will be out shortly, I'm just not sure about which one to invest long term in. We all know Pro Digital is here and is growing, but can we be sure Nikon and Fuji aren't going to hop to full frame as Canon and Kodak did and leave all the DX lens owners out there in the cold on upcoming replacement bodies we'll grow into. Any thoughts?

[KPRussell]

By DX owner I'm refering to the folks who have purchased the 12-24mm and the new 10.5mm.

My thoughts are there is so much glass aimed for the full frame market that Nikon might just be catering for a short period to the APS size sensor market. This might be just a few lenses they are coming out with and the next body would end up not being able to use this specialized lens.

However, maybe they are going to continue the line and take advantage of the size and weight savings such as the Olympus 4/3 system is aimed at.

I appreciate any of your thoughts on the matter!

[KeithM]

With Fuji being a partner in the 4/3 system, my worry is that they jump that way.

The 4th generation SuperCDD HR sensor seems ideally placed to be the technology for a smaller sensor equiped, higher resolution 4/3 system S3 !! :(

I think they've shown their hand a little already - the S7000 is a 6mp ( records 12mp ) camera and you can't have a prosumer model equalling your top-flight model for resolution ( albeit with an integral lens ).

I would have like to have seen an S3 based on the full frame SR sensor (?) - more dynamic range/exposure latitude would be nice.

I wouldn't have thought that the manufacturers would take camera size to be a dominant consideration for pro use ( unlike the consumer market ) - what's needed is high res/low noise/large dynamic range - and that means bigger sensors or rather bigger sensor cells.

But I am aware of the different lens requirements for CDDs where ideally the light rays need to strike the CCD surface orthogonally so a new design maybe in order !

But then ( heresy of heresies here ) - I wonder what the next Foveon sensor is going to be like !!

So many thoughts, so little time :)

Keith.

[KeithM]

I wonder if Fuji might be planning 2 replacements !!

Doing some quick rough sums, based on other fujis with HR and SR sensors, 2 possible cameras are:

SR based full 35mm frame which could yield 6192x4128 pixels ( 25mp ! ) - imagine all that resolution with the extra exposure latitude...

HR based 4/3 system which would give 4176x3144 pixels ( 13mp )

The 4/3 system HR does seem more likely..

Keith

[KPRussell]

Hi Keith,

I've had mixed thoughts on this too!

I was very objective about getting into digital and jumped from Canon after extensive research of the Canon D60 and Nikon D100 offerings. I'm sold that the Nikon glass path is a good long term investment in equipment, just a bit perplexed as the path I've chosen now has a "Y" in the road that wasn't there before.

I'm itching and ready to jump at the 17-35 right now, however, I'll probably wait for as long as possible to see if the long term direction becomes more apparent as the extra 20mm would make the new 17-55 more flexible alternative.

Pricing will probably be similar for the two. The pricing I saw on a German Nikon site refers to 1699 DM that equates to roughly $1000 US. Probably end up being more here and right under the $1400 US street price the 17-35 is at I'd bet.

[KPRussell]

... with a local buyer for Showcase here in Atlanta, the word he has is the APS sensor will be around for a while. From Nikon and tests Showcase did, the output from a Nikon D1x compared to a Canon 1ds are very interesting. The full frame sensor is great and provides superior output to the Nikon if you are using their "L" series glass. Standard Canon glass has lots of softness and issues though. The smaller 5.47 sensor D1x was much better when like standard lenses were used because it uses the sweetspot of the lens. He also said Nikon stopped shipping them the 17-35 for now becausse of their gearing up for the 17-55. Made me feel a lot better about choosing the 17-55 and not being left in the cold next year.

[X-Sync]

I to have been looking at the 17-55mm, it would provide me with the ideal level of quality and flexability I need for situations when my feet can't zoom in or out fast enough with my primes. As long as the lens is as good as Nikon claim it will be I don't see to many problems. Even if most of the F-mount DSLRs produced in the future are full frame, the image quality from the S2 RAW will still be good for many applications, I for one don't see the need to jump onto the next generation of digital. I hope that the DSLR field is leveling out, we must be near a stage where image quality is good enough for most people, only price and features need improving.

Regards

Simon

[KPRussell]

Has anyone seen or have any knowledge when this will be out on the streets? :confused:


I've been in a holding pattern for 6 weeks shutter finger is getting itchy have needed a quality wide for 2 shoots that it or the 17 - 35 2.8 ( with a little more walking) would have been perfect for.

Thanks for help!