Rate my recent purchase...

The only thing I'd say is that waiting for the Nikon 35mm AFS might have been better than getting the Sigma. Also, getting the Nikon 18-55 and the 30mm AND the Tamron 17-50 at the same time must cause some kind of overdose.

Since you got the Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens, I don't see why you also got the 18-55 kit lens. Waste of 100 bucks in my opinion.

hi andrea, i use the sigma 30 and tamron 17-50 on a d300. i think you made the right choice in getting lenses far better than the kit glass (nish is right--you have no use for the 18-55 now other than as a backup). lack of VR doesnt bother me at all since i get a nice fast aperture and excellent IQ from this set up and can shoot in low light with no flash. VR helps when shooting static subjects handheld in dim conditions but isnt any good for shooting moving subjects, which require faster shutter speeds.

one thing about the 1.4: the DoF is extremely narrow so the focus area can be quite small. a lot of reported "problems" with this lens are user error due to this. if you're doing a close portrait witht he 1.4, dial it down to 2.8 or thereabouts to get more of the face in focus.

i'd at least get an sb-400 and probably an sb-600 for fill and bounce flash. a tripod is what you want for long exposures and landscape stuff. you can probably go with a basic $100 pod for now.

here's a pic from last weekend with the 17-50

"The only thing I'd say is that waiting for the Nikon 35mm AFS might have been better than getting the Sigma."

any logical reason why you'd say this other than speculation, andrew? the nikon 35/1.4 isnt even out yet. it's cheaper, but almost certainly of a lower build quality, than the sigma 30.

The Tamron 17-50 and Nikon 18-55 seem to be redundant.

My biggest concern is that nothing is VR so I am scared this will have an impact on my picture quality.

VR is not a magic bullet. Somehow or another photographers managed to get by without it and take amazing high quality photographs for decades.

Andrea,

On the surface, used correctly, you will be able to shoot all of your stated subject matter very well with the purchases you have made.

However, you have doubled up on a general purpose lens by purchasing both the Tamron and the Nikon 17-55/5mm lenses. If you can return one I'd return the Nikon 18-55mm lens or sell it if you can.

A good solid tri-pod is also going to be your best freind irrespective of which gear you use and what subject matter you photograph. Don't skimp on a tri-pod, by well, buy once.

>> "Since you got the Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens, I don't see why you also got the 18-55 kit lens."

If the purchase was made in the US, then it probably "has to happen that way"; as the D40 is only sold with the kit lens.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get the D40 without the kit lens and I have read mixed reviews on the kit lens. That, basically, is why I went with the Tamron. I know it was almost a total waste but I figure I can see which one I thought was better. Like I said I have heard mixed reviews and I have heard better reviews on the Tamron than the kit lens. I hope I made the right decision and if I can sell the kit lens then I will. If not, I'll just keep it as a backup.