Nikon Lens

Author
Discussion

Fatrat

Original Poster:

682 posts

190 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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I have a Nikon D5100 and am looking at this lens

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-18-125mm-F3-5-5-6-Di...

1) will this fit my camera?
2) I assume if it does the AF will work?

Unfortunately the seller does not know!

Help appreciated. I'm looking for a better kens than the 18-55 kit lens primarily for landscape photography

Thanks

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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It will fit, I doubt it will autofocus?

The_Jackal

4,854 posts

196 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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You want a lens with AF-S if you want it to autofocus on a D5100. The Sigma equivalent is HSM I think.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Sigma did sneak in some basic motors into some of their lenses, I'm not a nikon user so couldnt say with this one

K12beano

20,854 posts

274 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Grays of Westminster have a Nikkor 18-105mm AF-S advertised on their website.

http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/products/secon...

Admittedly £185 - but would probably be better quality, definitely will AF, will probably outlast your camera body and is from one of the most reputable places around.... Worth a thought!?

Overall, though, to get something "better" is going to be a judgement call and the slippery slope to spending ££££s

Edited by K12beano on Friday 19th December 09:23

eltawater

3,107 posts

178 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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That lens will not autofocus on a d5100, it has no built in motor.

Interested to know why you're going for a much longer zoom lens for landscapes whilst sacrificing quality, when you'd be better off going for a wider/shorter range but better image quality?

AndWhyNot

2,356 posts

198 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Beano's advice above is sound and Grays is very highly regarded. MPB is held in similar esteem by many on here and have further options without Grays' premium prices.

This is AF-S so will fit and will AF. Also has VR. Just not quite as wide angle as the original lens you posted (18mm vs 24mm): http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/us...

ManFromDelmonte

2,742 posts

179 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Fatrat said:
I'm looking for a better lens than the 18-55 kit lens primarily for landscape photography
What is it that the 18-55 isn't doing for you that makes you want to upgrade?

Traditionally landscape shots require a wide-angle lens (although this is certainly not true in all cases).

Assuming you are on a budget, one of the best ultra-wide that will AF on the D5100 is the Tokina 11-16 Version II (the version II bit is important) although this is still the best part of £400 (but may be available for less second hand)

http://www.digitalrev.com/product/tokina-at-x-116-...

If you want more zoom range than your 18-55 then the Nikon 18-105 mentioned above is a good shout.

If you are looking for better sharpness and speed then the Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX is way forward (£140ish brand new) although this could be of limited use for landscape work (arguably).



K12beano

20,854 posts

274 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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......and thinking about it, why would you need autofocus for landscape work anyway?

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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K12beano said:
......and thinking about it, why would you need autofocus for landscape work anyway?
Cos we are a lazy bunch wink

Fatrat

Original Poster:

682 posts

190 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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GetCarter said:
K12beano said:
......and thinking about it, why would you need autofocus for landscape work anyway?
Cos we are a lazy bunch wink
Well I certainly am lazy.

Thanks for your comments so I will give that particular lens a miss.

We are spending a lot of time in North Devon ( costal walks, Exmoor, etc) so I find myself taking more landscape shots. If I keep the kit lens and treated myself to a lens for landscape what do you reckon? A prime lens?

ManFromDelmonte

2,742 posts

179 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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ManFromDelmonte said:
What is it that the 18-55 isn't doing for you that makes you want to upgrade?

Gad-Westy

14,520 posts

212 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Fatrat said:
GetCarter said:
K12beano said:
......and thinking about it, why would you need autofocus for landscape work anyway?
Cos we are a lazy bunch wink
Well I certainly am lazy.

Thanks for your comments so I will give that particular lens a miss.

We are spending a lot of time in North Devon ( costal walks, Exmoor, etc) so I find myself taking more landscape shots. If I keep the kit lens and treated myself to a lens for landscape what do you reckon? A prime lens?
As others are getting at. There isn't that much wrong with the kit 18-55 for landscapes so it's a tough question to answer without knowing why you'd like to change it?

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Fatrat said:
We are spending a lot of time in North Devon ( costal walks, Exmoor, etc) so I find myself taking more landscape shots. If I keep the kit lens and treated myself to a lens for landscape what do you reckon? A prime lens?
You have an 18-55mm lens, albeit not a fast one. That covers the focal lengths usually used for landscapes. So you do want a wider lens (eg 10-20mm), or a longer lens (55mm+), or a faster lens (eg f1.8, f2.8) for your landscapes? 'Prime' simply means the focal length is fixed (though usually faster and arguably higher image quality as well).

Think of the angle of view you have in mind, and come back.

james_tigerwoods

16,287 posts

196 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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Fatrat said:
I'm looking for a better kens than the 18-55 kit lens primarily for landscape photography
If you want something better than the 18-55, you could look at the 18-70 as that is what I replaced my kit lens with and haven't looked back. It's pretty versatile, a damned sight quicker and much better - The downside is that it's a bit heavier, but it's a very good quality lens.

I got mine, initially from a PHer which broke after 3 months (and then sold it, broken, to a chinese guy in the UK for what I paid for it), but sourced one from ebay for about £80 which is utterly brilliant.

tonyb1968

1,156 posts

145 months

Friday 26th December 2014
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There are a couple of lenses to look at, I have this one on my D7100, recommended to me by my cousin who is a pro photographer, not the cheapest but it is pretty versatile and i have had no issues with it, if anything it sits on my camera most of the time as it does most of what I want it to do, its also a sigma.
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-sigma-17-70mm-f...
The other lens to look at is one of the Nikon 50mm lenses, the F1.8 can be had for around 140 quid, ensure its the G and not the D though.

Tony

matt5791

381 posts

125 months

Friday 26th December 2014
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Optical quality is of primary concern for conventional landscape photography. This is an excellent website for reviews of Nikon branded lenses:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html

K12beano

20,854 posts

274 months

Saturday 27th December 2014
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^^^ Good to see that site still being updated - gives fantastic information about lenses in the real world. (For example: very interested to read about the Zeiss 50mm)

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Saturday 27th December 2014
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K12beano said:
^^^ Good to see that site still being updated - gives fantastic information about lenses in the real world.
Real lenses are so yesterday. I download virtual lenses directly from the net into my camera by wifi!