R8R: Thanks for catching my typo. I went back and changed it in the original posting so no one gets confused. I bought my 28-70 2.8 and my 80-200 2.8 used like you did. They both are great. I wasn't going to put them in this thread because I chose $500 as my cut of point for inexpensive lenses which work with the D600. But a second category could be lenses which you can buy for between $500 and $1,000. That will let you get into some really great high end glass like the two lenses you mentioned; sort of "pro on a budget" or "lite-pro" outfit which is fully adequate for anything a pro was photographing a few years ago with what was then "the latest and greatest" equipment. In fact, I think the D600 sensor is far superior to the sensor in the D3, D700 or even the D3x so that with used lenses costing between $500 and $1,000 a D600 shooter would be producing better images than a D3, D700 or D3x shooter could with the same lenses just a few years ago.
$1,000 is sort of my cut-off point for lenses. I try to wait until the type of lens I would like to have can be found used for less than $1,000 rather then buy it new for almost $2,000. If I was a full time photographer making my living with my equipment I would go buy "the latest and greatest" lenses but I am not. On the other hand I do buy "the latest and greatest" bodies (but not the $6,000 D4 or $8,000 D3x) because they do contain significant technological improvements; especially things like increased dynamic range and clean higher ISO which I use. Visible improvements in sensor technology are made every 2 to 4 years. However, good glass remains good glass for decades since it is just passing light and focusing it on the film or sensor. So I spend my "body money" on current generation bodies but my "lens money" often on one or two generation old lenses. Sometimes, I pick up an old body (like the D70) or a new body (like a reconditioned D3100) just to play with, sometimes I pick up a new lens (like the 28-300 3.5-5.6 G) if it is under $1,000 but mostly I keep from spending the big bucks on this hobby.
I hope you get a D600 and extend this thread by posting photos using the lenses you have, especially the 28-70 2.8 and the 80-200 2.8. I started the thread with very inexpensive (under $500) lenses for the D600. I would like to see someone else expand it to lenses in the $500 to $1,000 category. Here are some questions to answer: With a D600 body (or two), a 50mm 1.8D lens, a 85mm 1.8 D lens, a 24-70 2.8 lens and a 80-200 2.8 lens could you effectively shoot weddings, events and portraits as a pro would? Could such a kit serve as a "lite-pro" kit? Since the prior "landscape king" was a 24mp D3x do you even need a 36mp D800 for landscapes or will a 24mp D600 with the lenses listed above (perhaps add more at the wide angle end if that is your style) be fully sufficient for landscapes? What about sports? If you can live with 5 fps does the above listed lenses let you shoot sports? The issue is just how versatile can you make that D600 body by matching it with some good used lenses.
