Lens Good All rounder?

By Lilrich
in Digital Camera Lab

 Share

Recommended Posts

Mentor

Lilrich

Posted
Posted

Hello All,

I have been shooting with my 18-55mm Stock Lens for a while now and want something new that will give me a greater range especially when outdoors.

I quite like taking pictures of wildlife, trees & landscapes so would like something that is a good all round bit of kit.

Recommendations are welcome, budget hasn't really been set but from looking around i think ?400 is a good budget to set on this.

The body is a D3100.

Thanks

Richard

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Draconian Guppy

Posted
Posted

Well, it's hard to have a "one to rule them all lens" however, but here are a couple I know (though haven't used, your best bet would be check review sites for each lens)

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-55-300mm-4-5-5-6G-Nikkor-Digital/dp/B003ZSHNCC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369238445&sr=8-2&keywords=nikon+lens

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-55-200mm-4-5-6G-Vibration-Reduction/dp/B000O161X0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1369238445&sr=8-4&keywords=nikon+lens

A wee bit out of your budget, but would cover a lot of range:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-200mm-3-5-5-6G-Telephoto-DX-Format/dp/B002JCSV8A/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1369238445&sr=8-9&keywords=nikon+lens

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-85mm-3-5-5-6G-Wide-Angle-Telephoto/dp/B0013A1XDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369238910&sr=1-1&keywords=nikon+18-85

A cheaper version.

http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-18-200mm-3-5-6-3-Aspherical-Digital/dp/B0015U95SW/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1369238445&sr=8-

14&keywords=nikon+lens

http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-Digital-A17NII/dp/B0012UUP02/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369238559&sr=1-2&keywords=nikon+lens+zoom+lens

this also cover a lot and I think will be your best bet in that budget for zoom lens (non prime):

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-105mm-3-5-5-6-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001EO6W8K/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369238956&sr=1-11&keywords=nikon+dx+lens

You should check your exif data, see what focal length the majority of yours shots are within the kit lens range.

Landscapes are usually wide <35mm

Wildlife would probably be >35mm ( on your dx body)

I would personally buy cheap prime for the "wide"

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-35mm-1-8G-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369238797&sr=1-1&keywords=nikon+35mm

and moderate tele for wildlife

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-85mm-NIKKOR-Digital-Cameras/dp/B006TAP096/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369239032&sr=1-1&keywords=nikon+85mm+1.8g

Please note, your body doesn't have in built focus motor, therefor you need lens "AF-S" not Not "AF", they're usable, just won't autofocus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mentor

Lilrich

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hey Draconian Guppy,

Firstly thanks for the list of links, that is really alot to choose from...i have a look at the EXIF data of my photos and i shoot most of them are shot at 20-50mm i have the odd one that is really wide at 18mm but these are landscapes which i haven't done much of yet.

I have been getting a photography magazine of late which has some projects in for you to follow and some of them are macro related and i don't think that the lens i have is good enough for this at the moment.

I also like taking pictures outside as i said, water, landscapes, anything that catches my eye as i am out and about.

I really like your idea of getting a 35mm prime, possibly the Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G Lens and then shelling out for the zoom lens possibly the Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S i did look at the 85mm but i am not sure if the zoom would be enough, especially if i was going to shell out that much money would it be better to get a lens with more zoom length.

Richard

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Draconian Guppy

Posted
Posted

Remember on dx format you have a 1.5x crop, eg. your 35mm would be roughly 52.5, but it does work nice for a "walk around" lens. Also, 105 would be around 157mm, so that would turn into a moderate telephoto. But remember, for wildlife you should consider 200+ or greater.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mentor

Lilrich

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It is all getting a bit complicated now...i wonder if there is somewhere i could rent one of these (UK) lenses from for a weekend to see if i like it

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Draconian Guppy

Posted
Posted

It is all getting a bit complicated now...i wonder if there is somewhere i could rent one of these (UK) lenses from for a weekend to see if i like it

You could make a separate thread for that, I believe there's a lensrental equivalant for the uk

50mm f1.8 cheap and good lens. I use it more than any of my other lenses. Oh you have a nikon. BOOO lol.

The nifty fiftys are all around on all brands.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mentor

Lilrich

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You could make a separate thread for that, I believe there's a lensrental equivalant for the uk

The nifty fiftys are all around on all brands.

Yeah i did look into a "nifty fifty" and there is nothing wrong with a Nikon, much better than C....

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

KingCracker

Posted
Posted

You could make a separate thread for that, I believe there's a lensrental equivalant for the uk

The nifty fiftys are all around on all brands.

Yeah but I don't know how much a value they are on Nikon because the Canon F1.8 is like 103 dollars on Amazon.

Yeah i did look into a "nifty fifty" and there is nothing wrong with a Nikon, much better than C....

Don't think so, there's a lot more aftermarket lenses for Canon than Nikon. And they are cheaper than Nikon lenses.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mentor

Lilrich

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yeah but I don't know how much a value they are on Nikon because the Canon F1.8 is like 103 dollars on Amazon.

Don't think so, there's a lot more aftermarket lenses for Canon than Nikon. And they are cheaper than Nikon lenses.

They are cheaper for a reason ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

KingCracker

Posted
Posted

They are cheaper for a reason ;)

And what reason would that be because I get some good quality images out of third party lenses.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Draconian Guppy

Posted
Posted

Yeah but I don't know how much a value they are on Nikon because the Canon F1.8 is like 103 dollars on Amazon.

Don't think so, there's a lot more aftermarket lenses for Canon than Nikon. And they are cheaper than Nikon lenses.

Yeah there's a lot for the Canikon duopoly. but im afraid, we'd lose to pentax :/ in sheer bulk of lenses.

Nikon 50mm

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/178-0839618-7860110?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=nikon+50mm

$98 f1.8

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-NIKKOR-Digital-Cameras/dp/B004Y1AYAC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369261626&sr=8-2&keywords=nikon+50mm

$216... f1.8 ( built in focus motor, which the above version lacks).

Then there are the sigma, tamron, samyan alternatives and don't even get me started on ai ai-s lens, which are compatible with most of nikon modern bodies, whereas in the modern canon bodies, only newer "ef" lens are available, else you risk breaking the mirror.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Proficient

Dmitry G

Posted
Posted

I've just got a second hand 18-200mm VRII lens for my D200 and I love it.. it lacks sharpness at around 135mm but all around is pretty good. This was an upgrade to my 18-55 kit lens.. oh and the only other downside is that it has a slight zoom creep but I'd still recommend it for a walk-around lens :)

The next one I would suggest is a 50mm 1.8 like recommended above.. great lens... around ?60 off ebay brand new.

I've attached a photo I've taken with 18-200mm @ 70mm f/5 :)

P.S. AF stands for Auto Focus ;) but Nikon has has a faster motor, so it's really quick at focusing and it's a lot better than the tamron. Look on ebay for second hand lenses.

post-83491-0-01584900-1369565938.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

chrisj1968

Posted
Posted

The human eye sees at about an equivalent to a 50mm lens

Canon or Nikon.. I like both and only own a Canon 5D MarkII and I have a Carl Zeiss 21 mm Distagon for landscapes

sampleshot: https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/599219_10151238538163678_1172091282_n.jpg

Sampleshot #2 ; https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/884485_10151544450788678_1972780175_o.jpg

now with my sigma 150-500mm lens

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/531964_10151548409568678_130832425_n.jpg

you might want something in between say 24-120 or more. 24mm is generally the limit I use for landscape at the maximum.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Draconian Guppy

Posted
Posted

Thanks again

Richard

Pretty nice bokeh... the flower looks superimposed! Now get posting in the digital gallery or else!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

KingCracker

Posted
Posted

The human eye sees at about an equivalent to a 50mm lens

Canon or Nikon.. I like both and only own a Canon 5D MarkII and I have a Carl Zeiss 21 mm Distagon for landscapes

sampleshot: https://sphotos-b.xx...172091282_n.jpg

Sampleshot #2 ; https://fbcdn-sphoto...972780175_o.jpg

now with my sigma 150-500mm lens

https://fbcdn-sphoto...130832425_n.jpg

you might want something in between say 24-120 or more. 24mm is generally the limit I use for landscape at the maximum.

Someones rich lol.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing