What Would You Do?? Opinions on Spending Birthday Gift?

[annnewjerz]

So for my birthday this past week, I got a gift card to a local camera store for $100. I'm having an issue, I have no idea what to spend it on! Here is my predicament:

I would like to buy the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, however, the price of the lens at this particular store compared to Amazon.com is almost $100 more expensive , basically nullifying the gift card entirely - so I am not going to purchase it at this particular store.

As far as accessories go, I have purchased a few filters that fit my 18-200mm VR, a gorillapod, a lens cleaning pen, a bag, an extra battery and took advantage of a recent rebate on memory cards and purchased 5 4gb cards - so I'm not really in the market for an accessory.

For the $100, one thing I can buy is the nifty fifty, which everyone loves . The problem lies in the fact that right now I have the D60 and would have to manually focus the lens. I have read a lot of reviews and most people say it is not a problem in sunlight when using the "in-focus" light in the viewfinder. Eventually I would like to upgrade to the D80 (maybe next year - at which point the 50mm 1.8 would autofocus and problem would be solved).

Do I spend the $100 on the 50mm which I may not get much use out of now, do I save it and spend it on a more expensive lens I have been looking to get at a later date (but pay a jacked up price when I could find it cheaper elsewhere) or do I buy something I really don't need/want (like a bigger bag, a special filter) just so it doesn't burn a hole in my purse??

.....who would have ever thought trying to find a way to spend money would be a problem.

 

[Gdad]

I think Nikon is releasing an AF-S 50mm f/1.4G version by the end of the year which will auto focus on the D40/D60 line of cameras. I have no idea of the price though.

 

[annnewjerz]

I think Nikon is releasing an AF-S 50mm f/1.4G version by the end of the year which will auto focus on the D40/D60 line of cameras. I have no idea of the price though.

I heard the same thing, but I can only imagine what the price is going to be! The appeal of the 50mm f/1.8 was that I could buy it now for next to nothing and have some "fun" with it in manual focus (and by fun, I probably meaning play with it, try to get it to focus, pull my hair out because it won't and keep it in my bag until I get the D80 next year ) and then still have a good prime to use once I upgrade my body.

 

[Gdad]

DPR has the price listed as $439. I am hoping it is not all that expensive- there are plenty of inexpensive AF-S lenses out there so that alone should not drive up the price too much. The picture of it looks cheap and plastic but who knows.

 

[My2Girls66]

I think I would hold onto it until I found something I need or want- I know that would be hard. Eventually something will turn up- it always does with this hobby. Maybe you'll get another for X-mas and you'll have more to spend? To be honest- I have an old 50mm f/1.8 that auto focuses on both my D50 and D80 and it still tends to sit in my bag more than anything.
That was THE lens I used as my primary back when I was learning on my dad's Nikon film slr. For everyday shooting I keep the 18-135mm on mostly, its easier than zooming with the ol' feet. I wonder if the 30mm would be better on a dslr because of the crop factor? The 50mm is the equivilent of 75mm on my camera(i would guess the D60 is similar). The 30mm would be closer to the actual 50mm at 45mm?
Maybe someone that has both will comment?
Then again, for $100 if it sits a bit...........

 

[YesDear]

If you want to get the 50mm now, I would almost guarantee you can sell it in a year for very close to what you paid for it. SOOOO if you want to play with it the rent for a year would be minimal.

 

[annnewjerz]

If you want to get the 50mm now, I would almost guarantee you can sell it in a year for very close to what you paid for it. SOOOO if you want to play with it the rent for a year would be minimal.

Well that's reassuring, considering I have (just for fun) gotten prices on what I could re-sell my 18-200mm VR for. I paid $550 about a month and a half ago for a demo and KEH's estimate of what I would get was $250. Ugh. I'd never sell it regardless, I love it.

While I appreciate the gift I got for my birthday, I'm really hoping to not get more gift cards to this particular store because their prices seem to be pretty steep (even compared to the local store I bought my 18-200 VR from). I would prefer to spend the $100 on something I can use (even if it doesn't become a main staple in my bag) for a while, something a little more fun and a little less practical (like a lens v. a battery) because it was my birthday after all, it's not every day I get to spend money on whatever I want without DH being able to give me his looks of disapproval

 

[Quicklabs]

I think even with having to manually focus the 50mm, you'd like this lens.

 

[YEKCIM]

Do you have a decent tripod? Something else I have found very useful is a photojournalist vest.

~Y

 

[annnewjerz]

Do you have a decent tripod? Something else I have found very useful is a photojournalist vest.

~Y

Not sure what a decent tripod would be, but I do have a regular full-sized tripod that my aunt gave me when I bought my D60. She used to use it with her film SLR and since she doesn't shoot anymore...she told me I am more than welcome to it. No idea what brand or any of the specifics (I haven't even used it since she gave it to me, which was just about 3 weeks ago). Since hers is a little old, I'll be in the market for maybe a newer/nicer one eventually...but for now it's serving it's purpose I suppose.