New Lenses or New Computer?

OK well here's my situation, I'm debating where to spend my $600. I can buy the new lense that I want (The Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 ) which I'd like to get for people photography, landscapes, and wide angle fun. It's a great lense, very sharp, big aperature, and would be my first nicer lense in my collection (my 50 1.8 and and 18-200 are tragically soft and I can't stand it). I'd also be buying a new camera case. That is the first option.

My second option is saving that $$$ and waiting a few months til the next generation of video cards come out, and then I'd be upgrading nearly my whole computer system to pretty high-end stuff, which would be exciting in itself. New video card, new Intel processor, and other goodies.

Basically, I'm wondering what you guys think, I'm currently not very inclined to buy either, but a few weeks ago I was very excited to get the lense, but I've just lost interest with passing time (no reason).

So! Convince me to buy this lense!

you shoudl wait for windows vista come out for a while before you think about a video card since a lto of the older card will not be able to take advantage of it

that said, computer stuff depreciate fast but lens does not.

I personally always buy computer stuff when it is outdated to get best bang for the buck. I got ati x800 xt pl when it was 180$ but it's less than 100 now I think.

go with the lens

Lens

Does your computer work?
Can you take photos in that range at the moment?

Lens then!

get the tammy

Hmmm, let's see. I spent approx 5-grand on photo gear since last March and my PC is over 3-years old, but still going fine. Just upgraded the RAM this year and swapped the floppy drive with a multi-card reader. I'd say go for the lens and have fun!

Get the lens then save up for a Mac.

kain821 wrote in post #2077249
you shoudl wait for windows vista come out for a while before you think about a video card since a lto of the older card will not be able to take advantage of it

that said, computer stuff depreciate fast but lens does not.

I personally always buy computer stuff when it is outdated to get best bang for the buck. I got ati x800 xt pl when it was 180$ but it's less than 100 now I think.

go with the lens

Wise words right there . I nearly forgot I'll need Vista, that will be an extra $100-200 right there...blah.

Also, great thought on the depreciation aspects, I did not consider that!

BTW, excellent grab on the x800XTPE, still a great card. I myself have an older 9800XT, still works pretty well...I recently OCed it and saw a REALLY nice jump in frames (got an extra 15-20 frames in nearly every game I own...most graphical being F.E.A.R.)

Big WIll wrote in post #2077281
Lens

Does your computer work?
Can you take photos in that range at the moment?

Lens then!

Yes the computer works, and well. It's about 2 years old. A64 at 2.4ghz, and an ATI 9800XT.

If you look in my sig, I can take pictures in that range, but I am not satisfied with the Sigma 18-200's aperatures nor it's IQ, it's a bit soft wide open, and zoomed to 100%...may be I'm picky but it annoys me.

glowie wrote in post #2077413
Get the lens then save up for a Mac.

Just so you can look cool of course....

sorry, I forgot to refer what IT I was refering to, I was talking about DX10... guess what? many of the old cards can't run it

kain821 wrote in post #2077497
sorry, I forgot to refer what IT I was refering to, I was talking about DX10... guess what? many of the old cards can't run it

Don't worry, I know that. I mentioned I'd be getting a new video card and a DX10 card it would be. I read up on the new architecture (non-fixed pipes) that some DX10 cards will have and was impressed at that too.

The lenses will do you no good without a computer. If your Pc is still doing its job then go for the lens, if the PC is lacking and causing you headaches when post proceessing then go for the PC.

But make it a Mac.

Wait a year AFTER Vista is out
Before changing computer internals
Take all the extra money now and save it.
Save it some more and more
keep doing that for at least a year.
Then only spend a portion of it.

Why are you guys suggesting Macs? I'm a gamer and without Windows I wouldn't be able to do as much gaming.

cgratti wrote in post #2077560
The lenses will do you no good without a computer. If your Pc is still doing its job then go for the lens, if the PC is lacking and causing you headaches when post proceessing then go for the PC.

But make it a Mac.

The PC is just fine.

Why a mac?

cgratti above is giving you some good advice (apart from the bit about the mac of course ) The lens will effect every shot you take with it and you'll see a better end result, and it will hold it's value pretty well. The computer on the other hand will drop like a stone in value and you'd probably be able to pick the same spec up at half the price in 12 months time.

go for the lens... you know you want to

cheers
Bill

Tyreman wrote in post #2077643
Wait a year AFTER Vista is out
Before changing computer internals
Take all the extra money now and save it.
Save it some more and more
keep doing that for at least a year.
Then only spend a portion of it.

Why? Just curious.