lens advise
Author
Discussion

t2007p

Original Poster:

82 posts

153 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
Hi,
hoping someone can help me out I got my girlfriend a Nikon for Christmas it came with the standard 18-55 lens have noticed recently through her use that she could do with a bit more range so as its her birthday soon have been looking. But have got stuck as to what sort or range to look at so hoping for some help with suggestions. Ive been looking at 55-300 is this too long? or 55-200? or am i over looking something else. Any help much appreciated.

Berz

406 posts

216 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
It's going to depend on what she wants to take photos of and what your budget is. Can you provide any extra information?

illmonkey

19,636 posts

222 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
I'd avoid lenses with a wide range of zoom, say a 55-300. Try to find out what she likes shooting, and get a lens fit for that.

t2007p

Original Poster:

82 posts

153 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
in regards of what she likes to shoot its everything and anything almost no real set items could be landscape to close up so cant really help on that front looking at around the £200 mark which i know doesn't get you an amazing lens but was thinking used would help. also understand that the wide range zooms have the disadvantages in quality at full strain but shes no professional so I guess I'm after a bit of all round amateur lens which is why I guess I looked at the wide range zooms and another reason why I've come here to see if I'm on the right lines. Hope this gives you some sort of insight in to helping me.

ManFromDelmonte

2,744 posts

204 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
For an amateur, the 55-200 VR is probably the best for that price. Lugging around anything bigger might mean it doesn't get much use.

I'm going to say what I always say in beginner threads though which is that she'd probably end up getting better results with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G instead of the zoom. It really is a great lens that will open up possibilities of low light shooting, shallow depth of field etc. It's also smaller and lighter and teaches better framing as there is no option to zoom.

Obviously won't give her more reach though.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

195 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
ManFromDelmonte said:
I'm going to say what I always say in beginner threads though which is that she'd probably end up getting better results with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G instead of the zoom. It really is a great lens that will open up possibilities of low light shooting, shallow depth of field etc. It's also smaller and lighter and teaches better framing as there is no option to zoom.

Obviously won't give her more reach though.
Good choice, provides more creative opportunities by moving your position.

t2007p

Original Poster:

82 posts

153 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
Thank you for you comments. Interesting you say about the 35mm lens i spoke to a guy recently and he said very much the same thing but about a 50mm lens something i will defiantly bare in mind.

Simpo Two

91,519 posts

289 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
Need more range than 18-55, recommend 35. Love forums.

ManFromDelmonte

2,744 posts

204 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
t2007p said:
Thank you for you comments. Interesting you say about the 35mm lens i spoke to a guy recently and he said very much the same thing but about a 50mm lens something i will defiantly bare in mind.
Without getting too complicated, assuming it is a crop sensored camera (e.g. Nikon D3300, D5300, D7200 or similar), a 35mm lens will be the equivalent of a 50mm lens on a Full Frame camera so it might be that we were talking about exactly the same thing.

t2007p

Original Poster:

82 posts

153 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
It's a Nikon d5300 so in that case perhaps you are talking the same thing my camera knowledge is pretty nonexistent.
The 55-200 lens suggested appears to be two both vf which one the cheaper or more expensive?

Monty Python

4,813 posts

221 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
Roughly speaking, 50mm of lens focal length = x1 in magnification, so a 300mm lens will give you the equivalent of 6x. So decide what you want to photograph with it and how close you can get - that'll give you an idea of the maximum focal length you'll need.

K12beano

20,854 posts

299 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Need more range than 18-55, recommend 35. Love forums.
Had I known this thread was going I'd have also only read half the question, too!

biggrin

My Nikkor recommendations usually start with a 200-400mm AFS f/4 VR (possibly with one, two or three different TCs).

Somewhere along the line I'll mention the 45mm f/2.8 Ai-P, too. At least you don't have to worry about autofocus method of your favoured Nikon body....... wink

ManFromDelmonte

2,744 posts

204 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Need more range than 18-55, recommend 35. Love forums.
Haha, to be fair I did recommend the 55-200 first but in my experience all beginners buy one of these (or something similar) and then most leave them at home for most of the time. Contrast that to the 35mm that most people I know and rarely if ever take off.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

228 months

malks222

2,224 posts

163 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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I got one of these for my birthday:

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/66332...

I'm a relative beginner and using it on a canon 700d and as a failry cheap intro into a telephoto i'm pretty happy so far. the autofocus isnt the fastest, but depends what she wants to shoot really. I used it to photograph friends at a canoe slalom race and the lens performed well. I also felt at the price, if i found i didnt use it too often i wouldnt feel it was a waste. but if i did use it, i could prob sell on (even loosing £50 isnt the end of the world) and get a better lens if required.

K12beano

20,854 posts

299 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
andy-xr said:
Sensible hat on for one moment!

Watch carefully that there are three different lenses with very similar designations (but different price points!) that all start "70-300mm ..... "

andy-xr

13,204 posts

228 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
Yes, the one posted should be the expensive one. Or the better one smile

alxce

417 posts

245 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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I upgraded to a Nikon 5300 recently and passed my previous set up including a 55-200 Nikon zoom along to my son. To replace it I bought this to give me greater distance capability.
http://www.valuebasket.com/en_GB/Nikon-AF-S-DX-Nik...

Seems to be doing the job and is not really any bigger or more cumbersome than the one it replaced.

Simpo Two

91,519 posts

289 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
K12beano said:
Watch carefully that there are three different lenses with very similar designations (but different price points!) that all start "70-300mm ..... "
This is the 21st century bud, the ED (screw-drive non-VR) version is extinct wink