Beginner Lenses

Newer members often state that they think their question is too basic, or stupid, or whatever, to be posted. Nothing could be further further from the truth in any section at DSLRUsers.com, but especially here. Don't feel intimidated. The only stupid question is the one that remains unasked. We were all beginners at one stage, and even the most experienced amongst us will admit to learning new stuff on a daily basis. Ask away! Please also refer to the forum rules and the portal page

Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators

Forum rules
Please ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is. Please also check the portal page for more information on this.

Beginner Lenses

Postby Big Monkey on Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:55 pm

G'day,

I just purchased at D200 body and I am wanting some advice on what glass you think I need. I am a beginner with DSLR only having used a old MZ50 before. Basicaly I am wanting to know what you think would suit me.

I am wanting to do a bit of everything, closer work and a bit of long range stuff, especially Drag Racing.

Are the kit lenses any good to start off with, or would it be worth investing in a better lens? Is there a major quality difference? At this stage I am looking at maybe a 18-70 and a 70-300g or would I be better off just buying one lens? Budget is about $1000

Cheers
Ryan
User avatar
Big Monkey
Newbie
 
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:59 pm
Location: Everton Hills - Brisbane

Postby losfp on Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:12 pm

I think it'd be a shame to stick a substandard lens on a D200!!!

The 18-70 is generally very highly regarded for a kit lens - I have one from when I bought my original D70s, and I think it's great.

The 70-300G? Much less so.

IMO there's not much sense buying cheap only to buy the good stuff later on anyway.

If you can stretch a little bit over the $1000 mark, I would suggest the 18-200VR. It'll let you get a sense of what focal lengths you really like, and the quality is pretty good. And even if you "upgrade" a little later, the 18-200 is a good lens to have around as a "do-everything" travel lens for example.
User avatar
losfp
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1572
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:45 pm
Location: Quakers Hill, Sydney

Postby MCWB on Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:18 pm

The 18-70 is a pretty decent starting point. You could also look at the 18-200VR, pretty good by all accounts. Or in the middle price-wise, the 24-120VR. There are heaps of other ways you could go though (wider, nice primes etc).

If you want a longer lens for the drags, I would recommend looking at something in the 70/80-200 f/2.8 lineups. The Sigma 70-200 f/2.8, the Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 are around that sort of $$$, and cheaper second hand. IMO you could do a lot worse than a used ~$600 push-pull Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8. The 70-300G is a lot cheaper (and it shows); in low light it will be particularly painful I'm afraid.
User avatar
MCWB
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2121
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:55 pm
Location: Epping/CBD, Sydney-D200, D70

Postby christiand on Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:19 pm

Hi Ryan,

I agree with LOSFP.
I have a few lenses such as 12-14 mm, 28-70 mm and 70-200 mm.
Most of the times I use 28-70 mm and 12-24 mm.
I do use the 70-200 mm also with TC17e occasionally.
I think the 18-70mm ist probably the most versatile and it is not expensive.
I'd suggest you start with the 18-70 mm.

HTH,
CD
User avatar
christiand
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:36 pm
Location: Tuggeranong, ACT - Canberra

Postby Marvin on Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:52 pm

I also think the 18-200vr is the one. It is as sharp as the 18-70 and much more versatile.
Nikon D7000
User avatar
Marvin
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1486
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:33 pm
Location: Back in the hot Riverland, SA.

Postby robw25 on Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:58 pm

losfp wrote:IMO there's not much sense buying cheap only to buy the good stuff later on anyway


thats it in a nutshell .. pay the bit extra for quality before you kick yourself later when you had a chance to have a fantastic pic only to find it's soft or out of focus because "you" bought the cheaper lens, i know cause thats what i did

cheers rob
User avatar
robw25
Senior Member
 
Posts: 886
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:31 pm
Location: whyalla south australia

Postby MATT on Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:12 am

I guess it comes down to price..

My ideas are the same as most. I have the 18-70 Kit lens and a push pull 80-200 2.8 all be it a little bit rough. I also like the idea of the 18-200VR and as a all ya can do lens this seems great.


If you like the idea of a 2 lenses go the 18-70 and a second hand 80-200 2.8 .

regards
MATT
User avatar
MATT
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1748
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:24 pm
Location: Biloela, QLD-----nikon--D700-----

Postby padey on Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:50 am

The way i look at lenses is that if photography is a hobby, then you get the best lens you can afford. So if that means the kit lenses is what you can afford at the moment, then get them and start enjoying your D200.

But if you can squeeze a bit more coin for a better lens, you'll get a lot more out of it.
Andrew


Canon make photocopiers and stick lenses on them....
padey
Member
 
Posts: 464
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:23 pm
Location: Sydney, Hills Area

Postby Ivanerrol on Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:50 am

If you are coming from the MZ50 then you probably had the Kit Stigmas that came with that camera. All the lenses mentioned above are many times better than those Stigmas.

losfp and Matt have very good advice - i.m.h.o.
User avatar
Ivanerrol
Member
 
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:40 pm
Location: Ivanhoe Melbourne Australia

Postby gstark on Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:27 am

It's difficult to add to what's been said, except to say that the 70-300G is too light to use as a paperweight, which makes it totally useless in every possible respect. It's certainly of little value as a lens.

One point that has been overlooked is that the D200 has the ability to accept many of the older, non-AF lenses. This means that a wander around some of the second hand stores or flea markets may yield some high quality but relatively inexpensive glass.

An elderly but serviceable 300 f/4 AI will be far more satisfactory than a 70-300G, and should be well within your budget.

And yes, non-AF glass means that it's going to be you that has to do the focusing. :)
g.
Gary Stark
Nikon, Canon, Bronica .... stuff
The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it - US Pres. Bartlet
User avatar
gstark
Site Admin
 
Posts: 22916
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:41 pm
Location: Bondi, NSW

Postby olrac on Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:36 am

I picked up a second hand 18-200 for 800 or there abouts so that is well within your price range.

I would then add a 50 1.8 for the extra 200 or if you can stretch it the 1.4.

IMHO these two lenses are part of almost the perfect kit for me.

18 - 200 for travel do everything
50 1.8 for low light

Then when you have some more money and have started to go beyond the limits of those lenses move into the 2.8 zoom territory.
User avatar
olrac
Member
 
Posts: 427
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:16 pm
Location: Richmond - VIC

Postby MattC on Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:27 pm

Ryan,

As mentioned, the 18-70 is a fairly decent lens to start with. If you already have one then stick with it. Get to know it well and it will deliver fine results.

Other alternatives if you do not already have any lenses include the Sigma 18-50/2.8 EX HSM which from all accounts is quite a nice lens ($750 from Vanbar). It may not be quite in the class of the Pro Nikkor lenses, but at less than half of the price of the Nikkors (Nikkor 17-55/2.8 retails at $2200 from Vanbar) it would be hard to go wrong.
If you are looking for a tele, forget the likes of the 70-300. They will disappoint. I also suggest the Sigma 70-200/2.8. BTW, I fail to understand the stigma attached to Sigma lenses. They do make some good gear which can represent excellent value for money and offer a viable alternative to Nikkor lenses. Have a look at their EX (Pro) lenses.

Cheers
MattC
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1061
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:59 pm
Location: Pilbara WA

Postby chrisk on Sat Sep 08, 2007 2:02 pm

an alternative is the sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro. i bought this lens after alot of testing of different lens' including the 18-200VR and 18-135 kit lens. it's sharper, has better contrast and is a constant 2.8 throughout its range.

it doesn;t have the VR or flexibility of the 18-200VR but its a heck of alot sharper. the main issue is that its noisier and not quite as quick on the AF. i suspect the new version which has HSM will eleiminate these two issues.
EM1 l 7.5 l 12-40 l 14 l 17 l 25 l 45 l 60 l 75 l AW1 l V3
User avatar
chrisk
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3317
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:50 pm
Location: Oyster Bay, Sydney

Postby PiroStitch on Sat Sep 08, 2007 2:53 pm

Out of all the entry level lenses, the 18-70 AF-S is great. Well built and decent quality glass for an entry level model.

Use that and coupled with a Sigma 70-200 f2.8, you'll be sweet for most jobs if you're on a shoestring budget.
Hassy, Leica, Nikon, iPhone
Come follow the rabbit hole...
User avatar
PiroStitch
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4669
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:08 am
Location: Hong Kong

Postby Kyle on Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:03 pm

24-120vr was excellent on my D200 :)

18-200 would be ideal though!
User avatar
Kyle
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1148
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 10:28 pm
Location: Penrith, nsw

Postby Big Monkey on Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:30 pm

Thanks for the responses guys, didn't think I would get so many!

Now it's time to put the thinking cap on, and decide on the product. The 18-200 VR is looking pretty good at this stage. The ultimate decision will lay with the Minister of War and Finance.....hehehe

Once again, thanks for the help.

If any of you see or have good second hand lenses that would suit, make sure you give me a yell!

Cheers
Ryan
User avatar
Big Monkey
Newbie
 
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:59 pm
Location: Everton Hills - Brisbane


Return to Absolute Beginners Questions