Another beginner level lens advice thread - Nikon D5100

[scenario8]

Apologies in advance if threads like this surface all too regularly.

I have the use of a company provided Nikon D5100 SLR, which is nice, and I'd like to make use of it for personal use. My expertise could easily be described as "beginner" but am looking to supplant the kit lens (18-55mm) as its reach is a bit limited and even I achieved far better results when I had a quick borrow of a colleague's identical camera body and replacement lens for a few hours.

Use will be mainly hum drum stuff including the inevitable images of the newly arrived baby but also landscapes and the built environment (city scrapes) with the odd bit of road race cycling action stuff.

Happy to spend "several hundreds but way less than a grand, please" for either a single lens or as a total for two lenses if that is thought of as more appropriate.

Thanks guys.

[scenario8]

noell35 said:

Hi,
What lens did your friend have that gave you better results?

Thanks for the swift replies, chaps!

I knew I'd be asked this. I guess it was the inevitable question and I don't have the specific answer, I'm afraid,

For background, we're both in the surveying game and at a recent meeting he showed me his identical camera body and the two lenses he used in preference to the "junk that came with the camera". He's a bit of a photography buff. In a meeting room the smaller Nikon lens (sorry, I really should have paid more attention but it looked about the same size as the 18-55 I use and had some zoom to it) was so fast and the images of people and the room itself clearly sharper than my ham fists get from my equipment. Then he switched the lens for a larger body (200mm, I think and I genuinely didn't note which manufacturer) and we took a few shots at a property we attended together. Again, so much faster and crisper than my kit lens and with the benefit of what to me felt like a huge zoom. This was all on my camera's body.

Now I admit my expertise is poor and am keen to get better through a bit of experience and education but if I can also get "better" shots with better equipment I'm keen to accept that leg up, too.

He's on annual leave, by the way, but might respond to an email while he's away.

[scenario8]

Thanks for the responses.

wrt the fixed focal length suggestions, while I appreciate those lenses may be very good my worry is I will find too many situations where I would need (as opposed to appreciate) a greater range. For example if I need to photograph a chimney (even one on just an ordinary two storey house) even the 18-55mm lens is inadequate and relying on zooming via software has proven itself to be lacking. While those lens suggestions might in themselves be better than any one focal length option on the kit lens I really do think I need a zoom option.

Is the 35mm lens that good then? Would the fixed 85mm focal length not be too much? Or am I just making a fool of myself and showing myself up as a complete idiot and misunderstanding those suggestions?!

If that 35mm lens really is that good for 'family snaps' but a zoom really is required is a two lens approach sensible? Or with only a maximum budget of, say, £300-500 is the two lens option just plain silly and a single zoom lens as mentioned above more sensible for a beginner and better kit would just be wasted on me?

[scenario8]

steveatesh said:

OP I use a D5100 too and have just upgraded from 18-55 kit to the Nikon 18-140 lens. ..

...Best of luck whatever you choose.

Many thanks.

[scenario8]

Thanks so much everyone for your contributions. While I am slightly intimidated by a big zoom I must admit to being excited by the prospect of two new toys to play with!

I guess in a week or so I'll be scrabbling around for other excuses for my poor results...