Lens Good All rounder?

By Lilrich
in Digital Camera Lab

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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

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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.

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

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.

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.

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.
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.

Mentor

Lilrich

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I can't figure out if http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-18-200mm-3-5-6-3-Aspherical-Macro/dp/B0007XD4LM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369466195&sr=8-2&keywords=Tamron+AF+18-200mm this has Auto Focus, the one you linked to had a motor in the description but i can't find that anywhere in the UK.

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

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.

Mentor

Lilrich

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks to everyone that has helped. This was my decision

8891995488_51460101f1_n.jpg

Untitled by podshine, on Flickr

8891367771_61b1bf5b1c_n.jpg

Untitled by podshine, on Flickr

8891982458_bb88c1ca10_n.jpg

Untitled by podshine, on Flickr

and here is a picture i took at 200mm with the new lens

8890239868_1a59270f83_z.jpg

Tamron_test_shots (3 of 4) by podshine, on Flickr

Thanks again

Richard

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.
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