Recommended Lens?

• TFM87

  Member

  June 10, 2010 at 9:43 pm

  Hi,
  I’m new to photography and recently I was given a Nikkon D40x body, no lens. I’m now looking to buy a lens, is it possible to get a lens that is reasonably suited to both landscape and sports photography (close range (within 10 metres) outdoor). My price range is maxing at 250€, new or 2nd hand. I’d appreciate any advice.

  Thanks
  T
  miki g

  Participant

  June 11, 2010 at 11:59 pm

  Sigma do an 18-200mm zoom with a nikon fit reasonably priced. It wouldn’t be great for sport, but would be ok for someone starting out.
  MMX

  Participant

  June 14, 2010 at 8:53 pm

  Don´t buy an “ultrazoom”, they are not good neither for sports nor for landscape, it´s simply too big compromise.
  You can shoot landscape with everything from fisheye to telephoto so it depends what sport you want to shoot, but I would suggest a short telephoto (85 or 100 mm) – I think it should be possible to find something for €250. If not, rather save some more money, it doesn´t make sense to pay €250 for something you wouldn´t be satisfied with.
  Moreover if you want to shoot landscapes, you need a tripod and at least a basic set of filters
  TFM87

  Member

  June 14, 2010 at 9:19 pm

  Thanks both of you for the advice.

  Miki g, I’ve been recommended an 18-200 mm by a couple of people now so I’m definitely looking into that.

  Mmx, is an 18-200 mm lens an ultrazoom?? I’ll be shooting tennis, outdoor. I’m only starting out so I don’t think I want to spend any more then €250, and I’m not looking for the perfect lens for either situation. I’m really just looking for something that would allow me to play around with and experience both kinds of photography. I’ll look into a tripod and filters, any advice on the filters?

  Thanks

  T
  Willem

  Member

  June 14, 2010 at 10:40 pm

  A polariser is great for landscapes, it can bring out the colour in the sky in the right circumstances. ND grads are also great for this, and you can get one set with adapters for subsequent lenses with different diameters…

  a UV filter is a good idea to keep your expensive optics protected from scratches.
  MMX

  Participant

  June 15, 2010 at 1:42 pm

  1. Ultrazooms are lenses with 10× or bigger zoom (wide end is 20mm or wider, long end is 200mm or longer). EVF cameras with such lenses are called ultrazooms too. If you want some quality, look for lenses with 5× or smaller zoom.
  2. Your are only starting – so what? Starting with poor equipment will only discourage you from further progress. Yes, sometimes it is possible to take a perfect photo even with cheap equipment, but it´s the professionals who can do that, not the beginners. When I compare it to car racing; Sebastian Vettel finished the last GP with broken car. You would be happy if you finished it with fully operational car.
  So what I recommend all people who are sure they want to do something: buy the best equipment you can afford, even if you should wait a few months or take a loan from bank. And if you can´t afford something that is perfect for both sports and landscapes, rather buy one lens that is perfect for one kind of photography and the second one a few months later than something that is not suitable neither for sports nor for landscapes. If you take perfect sports photos and no landscapes, you can win a prize. If you take average sports photos and average landscapes, you can´t win anything.
  3. Tennis? Within 10 meters? :o No way. It may be the minimum distance once in a few minutes, but most of the time they will be far away.
  Just have a look what pros use for tennis:
  

  4. Advice on the tripod and filters: Buy at least a circular polarizer, graduated ND filter and classic ND filter. Look for the best brands, filter is just glass in a metal ring so if you buy a good filter, you will be able to use it till the end of your life. I recommend B+W, Lee, Singh Ray, if you want something cheaper then Hoya and Cokin.
  When buying a tripod, it´s the same – good tripod can be sued forever so it pays off to spend some extra money, so don´t buy some €50 Chinese plastic piece of junk from supermarket but look at Gitzo, Manfrotto, Slik and Benro.
  TFM87

  Member

  June 15, 2010 at 2:11 pm

  Hi Mmx,

  Thanks for the info, unfortunately I can’t afford the best equipment and even if I could I wouldn’t buy it at the moment. I’m planning on taking my camera with me on tour (I play tennis professionally) and I am interested in making a hobby out of photography, not a living. And personally, I think it would be best to experience low-end equipment and work my way up, I actually considered starting with an old film slr we have here but it doesn’t work anymore. I might however take your advice and buy a lens within my budget that is better suited for either sports or landscape, it makes sense to focus on doing one or the other for now. Thanks also for the advice on filters, I will buy a set of filters as you recommend.

  T

  P.s. Thanks for the pic from the Aus open highlighting cameras and lenses used for tennis, as much as I wish all my tournaments were similar they aren’t. I’ll be playing the lower end of the tour, and the distance from the side of the court to the players tends to be much shorter because the matches aren’t played in large stadiums like you find at the bigger tournaments. I will find it very easy to get between 8-12 metres of the players most of the time.
  MMX

  Participant

  June 15, 2010 at 3:37 pm

  I didn´t tell you to afford the best equipment, I told you to buy the best equipment you can afford :) (even if it should be Nikon 55-200 it will be better than an ultrazoom)

  PS: In case you want to focus on tennis, you won´t need neither the filters nor the tripod, these are needed for landscapes only.