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Lenses
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Hi, My first post so be gentle please :)
Ok, basically im just getting into photography, currently doing a course.
I have a Nikon D40 with te standard lens that comes with it 18-55. Im looking to get a better lens and was waiting until im go to new york in a few weeks to purchase one as they are a lot cheaper.
anyhow, i was thinking a AF-S VR 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED but was wondering if anyone can recommend a second one as i might splash out on 2 while im there.I would mainly prefer to do Portraits or landscape so can anyone recommend the best lense for this.
Thanks
SteHi Ste!
I’m a newbie too so I’ll be gentle : )
I found this site quite useful in figuring out what kind of lens I wanted (what I can afford is a different matter!)
http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/best-digital-slr-lens.htmlOnce you know what type you’re looking at check out the lens available and thorough reviews of them here:
http://www.photozone.de/reviewsIf you would prefer to do mainly portraits or landscapes your current choice of zoom seems a little unusual to me. Most portraits you’d want to take at about 55 – 70mm to avoid distortion on the face and for landscapes having a nice wide angle like 24mm really helps.
I’m not too knowledgeable about lens for Nikon and I won’t pretend I am but think one might be worth a gander:
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Nikkor%20/%20Nikon%20Lens%20Tests/46-nikon–nikkor-aps-c/236-nikkor-af-s-24-70mm-f28g-ed-review–test-reportAnyway I hope some of that helps you make up your mind. I’m sure someone on here will be able to recommend a few more specific lens to you.
Pihjin.
And don’t forget the cheap and very capable Nikkor 50mm 1.8mm. Can be had for around €100 and produces some great portraits..especially in natural light.
I’m not sure what the story is with the D40 though as it doesn’t have it’s own focus motor.
Then again..I could be talking through my hat on that one… :wink:
Welcome to the site Ste!. Make sure you bring us back some shots from NY ;)
All depends on budget really but whatever you get it’ll need to be an AF-S lens
which has its own internal motor for focussing. That said perhaps you can manual focus
with a non-AFS lense. Not sure if thats an option you want to follow or not.The Nikon 70-300mm you mention is meant to a very good lense and a vast improvement
on the previous version, so for sport/wildlife to a certain extent it would be a decent lens.
However for portraits its probably a bit too long (but still usable) and definitely not ideal for
landscape unless you intend on zooming in on distant vista etc…You could try the 18-70 lens, which was the kit lens for the D70. Its a great
lens, covering a range which would do for portraits (imho) and is very well priced.The 50mm 1.8 as Exprebro says is a superb lens for little money, everyone should
have one, but you won’t get auto-focus on the D40 as the lens doesnt have a motor.There is also the 18-200 which is a good deal more expensive, will work on the D40
and have VR. It’ll do grand at the 18mm for landscape and all the way up to 200mm for the portraits.As you’re going to the US to purchase, then the place to probably go (meant to be amazing!)
is http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ . Check out their site for Nikon lenses.Lastly, you could of course consider Sigma lenses. I don’t have any great knowledge about
them so won’t offer any advice there :)Enjoy the trip
Thanks for all the info folks. Been a great help.
Had a look at that bhphotovideo website and i am sure to spend a few hours in the superstore (hmmm, might get my credit limit increased :roll: ) I think i will go with the 18 – 200 lense, 600 US dollars is decent price i reckon. I might even treat myself to a second one (if the wife will let me :( )Thanks again and ill be sure to post some pics, Will be there for paddys day so should be some interesting ones. :mrgreen:
Cheers
SteHi all.
First post and an enthusiastic beginner here.
I am heading to new york in a few weeks aswell. I can’t get over the prices there. We really are ripping people off over here.
I will be picking up the canon 24-70 mm in B&H because it is such a great price. Less than half what it is here. Is this a good all-rounder. I have heard great feedback from friends about it.
I was thinking of getting the canon 50mm f/1.8 aswell (nifty fifty) as it was recommended by a few people but have been checking out different review sites and it seems there is a f/1.8 version and a f/1.8 ll version aswell???
Which is the one I should go for.I was looking at a flash too and was thinking about the 580 ex ll.
I will probably get a battery grip too the BG-E3.
Any reccommendations for a good solid tripod.
I am using the 400D with kit lens now but want to upgrade and treat myself in new york.
mack81 wrote:
Thanks for all the info folks. Been a great help.
Had a look at that bhphotovideo website and i am sure to spend a few hours in the superstore (hmmm, might get my credit limit increased :roll: ) I think i will go with the 18 – 200 lense, 600 US dollars is decent price i reckon. I might even treat myself to a second one (if the wife will let me :( )Thanks again and ill be sure to post some pics, Will be there for paddys day so should be some interesting ones. :mrgreen:
Cheers
SteWas in NY in November, get to to BH store early (check site for opening times, recommend being there at opening, by the way as its a Jewish owned store its closed Saturdays!).The staff are very friendly and knowledgable and you can try out any item they have in stock!!
Enjoy NY………….and you will take a lot of photo’s!!
Cheers Steve
I have the xprob Manfrotto and think it’s great. It supports my D80 with various lenses and I’m not afraid to walk away from it,
[ indoors anyway. ]It’s always a trade-off between price, weight and stability but I find the xprob light enough to carry some distance.
hthI don’t have the 24-70, so can’t give an opinion, sounds a good price though.
But I do have the 50mm. Love it!
Regarding the 50mm f/1.8 – there is only one version on the new market, the Mk. II. This is a cheaper version than the original Mk. I which was discontinued. It has all plastic construction (the Mk. I has a metal mounting plate). As far as I’m aware there is no significant optical difference between the two.
Cheers,
PeterGot the same problem! impossible to find cheaper old lens. I got the 55-200 VR for my D40 and im pretty happy with it. picked it up for $300
Ok so i got Myself a 18-200 Nikkor, 50mm, a Flash, remote control, Bag, all for equivilant of 650 euro, BH Photo is amazing. . Havent really got a chance to start using them yet as been busy at work since i came back but with the weather turning good there is a lot of fun to be had.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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