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Beginner with a Nikon D3000
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Hi all, I am new to this forum and just recently got a Nikon D3000 with an included 18-55mm VR AF-S lens. The package also included a 2x telephoto lens and a wide angled lens, albeit they are basically add ons to the 18-55 lens. Back tracking a little – the reason I got this was that I was getting frustrated at the point and shoot type cameras where I could never really capture the moment and had little control over shutter speeds etc. But you know all this.
I have been experimenting with the camera, mainly initially with the auto, presets and guide feature and already am well impressed with the ease of use and quality of pics compared to the point and shoot type. I have been trying to take pics at a hurling match and also an Irish Dancing Feis/Competition and have realised there is a limitation with the 18-55mm when it comes to these type due to the fact that it’s difficult to get good pictures from a distance away. Which brings me to my first question. Given the fact that I have just spent about £400 and I can’t yet justify spending around another £300 for an AF-S 300mm lens, are there any basic lens out there at a reasonable price that I could get? OR, would the advice be to get to grips with the camera first before moving to a lens for distance considering the fact that I have just got this and there are more important things to learn and experiment with?
Also, has anyone a cheat sheet to assist with getting my head around shutter speeds, aperature f numbers, ISO etc? It’s getting confusing trying to remember shutter speed for fast/slow objects, high/low light etc etc
long winded but hopefully my questions will get shorter once I get better – thanks for listening!!Welcome to te site mrkoneill :) I would suggest the Sigma 70-300 DG these are readily
available second hand and a real bargain can be got if you look around. It will give you a
bit of length and kind of ties in nicely with the 18-55 that you already have. Not a particularly
fast lense but adequate in good light.Would suggest you stick with Aperture or Shutter mode until you get the feel of the camera,
in Aperture mode dial in the aperture you want and the camera does the rest picking the right
ISO and shutterspeed for the shot. A small f-number ie 3.5 4.0 or 5.6 will give you a nice blurred
background if you want to isolate the subject say in portraits, a large f-number say 22.00 will give
you sharpness throughout the picture say for landscapes.Good luck with the camera, and look forward to seeing some postings soon!
thanks Jenny – Are these Sigma lenses AF as I have heard that I need to buy AF lenses with my D3000 due to the focusing motor needing to actually be in the lens……….
mrkoneill wrote:
thanks Jenny – Are these Sigma lenses AF as I have heard that I need to buy AF lenses with my D3000 due to the focusing motor needing to actually be in the lens……….
Think so, I know you can get Nikon fit so they must work ok on the Nikons! :D
mrkoneill wrote:
thanks Jenny – Are these Sigma lenses AF as I have heard that I need to buy AF lenses with my D3000 due to the focusing motor needing to actually be in the lens……….
For autofocus to work with the D3000 make sure you buy a lenses that has a motor in the lens. Allot of the Sigma 70-300 lenses are AF-D types which means they basically will not autofocus with the D3000. You looking for a lens that is “Motorized” or is “AF-S”
I bought: Sigma lens 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro, For Nikon AF (D) and use it on my D3000. It does auto focus and as said it is slow but gives lovely results in good light. I paid €125 for mine. I also have an AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR, it is as good as the sigma at distance shots but no macro.
Hi, a note on the SIgma 70-300. All Nikon-mount sigma lenses that are labelled “HSM” have the motor that enables AF with those Nikons that haven’t got the motor in the body D3000, D40, etc. But I’d suggest to look seriously at the Nikon 55-200 VR. Amongst some other advantages it’s about a third of the size of the sigma, which also means you’re more likely to be carrying around with you :)
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