Hello all,I am a hobby photographer (D90). Currently, my favorite shots are coming from my 50mm F1.8 D prime lens. I love the sharpness, wide aperature ability and the excellent bokeh it produces. I also own the Nikon 18-105 kit lens, and their 55-200 kit lens.I rarely use the 55-200, and it's a constant battle for me to decide whether to mount the 18-105 or the 50mm prime for "out and about" photo sessions. I am not interested in changing lenses as many of my shots (pets, family, moving objects) do not allow time for that.I can get great images with the 50mm prime, but I do miss opportunities sometimes because of the limited range. I don't get as great of images with my 18-105, but I can at least take the shot and have it for record. I'm currently looking at the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8. I would REALLY love an 18-70 lens, but I haven't been able to find something in my price range. Money is a factor, and $500 (used is fine) is about my limit. Given all of the above, would you recommend the Tamron 28-75 or is there something else I should be looking at? Thanks for reading my somewhat long winded question.

I thought the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 was great on my d90. I had the older version, the one without the focus motor.

TFin04 wrote:Hello all,I am a hobby photographer (D90). Currently, my favorite shots are coming from my 50mm F1.8 D prime lens. I love the sharpness, wide aperature ability and the excellent bokeh it produces. I also own the Nikon 18-105 kit lens, and their 55-200 kit lens.I rarely use the 55-200, and it's a constant battle for me to decide whether to mount the 18-105 or the 50mm prime for "out and about" photo sessions. I am not interested in changing lenses as many of my shots (pets, family, moving objects) do not allow time for that.I can get great images with the 50mm prime, but I do miss opportunities sometimes because of the limited range. I don't get as great of images with my 18-105, but I can at least take the shot and have it for record. I'm currently looking at the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8. I would REALLY love an 18-70 lens, but I haven't been able to find something in my price range. Money is a factor, and $500 (used is fine) is about my limit. Given all of the above, would you recommend the Tamron 28-75 or is there something else I should be looking at? Thanks for reading my somewhat long winded question.The Sigma 17-70 os is in your price range and it is what I got when confronted with the same set of choices.  Now, there is a newer version just released:  Sigma 17-70 os Contemporary.  It is $499 while my older version is currently around $399.  It is an excellent range and a versatile lens.  But, get either version new.  A return window and a warranty can be very useful as there can be quality control issues with Sigma (or any lens).  My os unit broke after two years but Sigma replaced it free under warranty in under two weeks.  The Tamron is not stabilized but might not have the repair issues of a more 'advanced' lens.  The wide end of the Sigma has been especially nice for me and my newfound enjoyment of wider focal lengths led me to get an ultrawide.

TFin04 wrote:Hello all,I am a hobby photographer (D90). Currently, my favorite shots are coming from my 50mm F1.8 D prime lens. I love the sharpness, wide aperature ability and the excellent bokeh it produces. I also own the Nikon 18-105 kit lens, and their 55-200 kit lens.I rarely use the 55-200, and it's a constant battle for me to decide whether to mount the 18-105 or the 50mm prime for "out and about" photo sessions. I am not interested in changing lenses as many of my shots (pets, family, moving objects) do not allow time for that.I can get great images with the 50mm prime, but I do miss opportunities sometimes because of the limited range. I don't get as great of images with my 18-105, but I can at least take the shot and have it for record. I'm currently looking at the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8. I would REALLY love an 18-70 lens, but I haven't been able to find something in my price range. Money is a factor, and $500 (used is fine) is about my limit. Given all of the above, would you recommend the Tamron 28-75 or is there something else I should be looking at? Thanks for reading my somewhat long winded question.If you can find a used Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS HSM, they can be had for about $500.  In fact, I'll be selling one soon since I moved up to full frame (D600) and I'll be looking for somewhere around that figure.  They tend to be sharper than the VC version of that Tamron lens and the OS helps when you're shooting at slower shutter speeds in poorly lit situations.  Try it out at a store; it's a great lens and it's gotten rave reviews.

To the OP:  The 28-75 2.8 Tamron you are considering is for FX.  It will function on DX camera, but WA is only about 42mm, therefore not wide enough.  There are many threads on this lens, basically concluding that it is somewhat unsharp at f2.8 but OK at f5.6.  But if the pix at f2.8 are not very good, why spend on a high speed lens in the first place?There are also many many past threads on your general issue of midrange zoom options. I'd suggest you do a Search.

Brev00 wrote:TFin04 wrote:Hello all,I am a hobby photographer (D90). Currently, my favorite shots are coming from my 50mm F1.8 D prime lens. I love the sharpness, wide aperature ability and the excellent bokeh it produces. I also own the Nikon 18-105 kit lens, and their 55-200 kit lens.I rarely use the 55-200, and it's a constant battle for me to decide whether to mount the 18-105 or the 50mm prime for "out and about" photo sessions. I am not interested in changing lenses as many of my shots (pets, family, moving objects) do not allow time for that.I can get great images with the 50mm prime, but I do miss opportunities sometimes because of the limited range. I don't get as great of images with my 18-105, but I can at least take the shot and have it for record. I'm currently looking at the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8. I would REALLY love an 18-70 lens, but I haven't been able to find something in my price range. Money is a factor, and $500 (used is fine) is about my limit. Given all of the above, would you recommend the Tamron 28-75 or is there something else I should be looking at? Thanks for reading my somewhat long winded question.The Sigma 17-70 os is in your price range and it is what I got when confronted with the same set of choices.  Now, there is a newer version just released:  Sigma 17-70 os Contemporary.  It is $499 while my older version is currently around $399.  It is an excellent range and a versatile lens.  But, get either version new.  A return window and a warranty can be very useful as there can be quality control issues with Sigma (or any lens).  My os unit broke after two years but Sigma replaced it free under warranty in under two weeks.  The Tamron is not stabilized but might not have the repair issues of a more 'advanced' lens.  The wide end of the Sigma has been especially nice for me and my newfound enjoyment of wider focal lengths led me to get an ultrawide.I agree completely, the new version is really nice I could not be happier, with a midrange lens, I will use it at the Indianapolis zoo, tomorrow and used it last week at nashville. I've posted on flickr under palmerb16, some recent photos with the lens I'm very satisfied, sorry Nikon, your 16 85 lost out!Rubicon:

I shoot FX.  The AF-S 18-70mm f2.5-4.5 DX lens stays on the D90 as my walk around set up.  My other walk around set up is the AF-S 24-85mm f3.5-4.5 on the D700 if I don't mind carrying the extra weight.You can find many 18-70mm lens for sale in eBay, worth the roughly $150 price.

wasserball wrote:I shoot FX.  The AF-S 18-70mm f2.5-4.5 DX lens stays on the D90 as my walk around set up.  My other walk around set up is the AF-S 24-85mm f3.5-4.5 on the D700 if I don't mind carrying the extra weight.You can find many 18-70mm lens for sale in eBay, worth the roughly $150 price.Just so the OP doesn't get false hopes, of course the 18-70 is alsof/3.5-4.5. I agree that it is a good, cheap, lightweight (420 grams) but still fairly well built choice. It was the kit lens I got with a D70 in 2004. There must be lots available second-hand.

Hi, Nikkor 24 mm 2.8 D makes a good light weight combo with the D90. You can get it cheap second hand. Light weight and discrete. Sharp enough for a 12 mpx camera.

I would save up a tiny bit more and go for a second-hand 16-85mm Nikkor... it will never leave your D90 again!

It's a little bit more money but the Nikkor 24-85 G VR is a really good lens.  I find it's very sharp and the VR works great.

OP is asking for a "wide aperture" lens. And the only variable aperture lens that´s somewhat fast, is the Sigma 17-70. If he wants constant aperture as well in his price range, it will be the Tamron 17-50. If getting used, the Sigma 17-50 OS is also in his budget.He already has a 18-105, so forget the 16-85....