What lens for NY

[Chucklehead]

I've got a Nikon D3300 with an 18-55 lens. I'm a complete novice, but so far enjoying the new features and better quality photos.

The OH and I are off to NY, and I feel like the 18-55 lens will be somewhat limiting. I was looking for a 70-300 to take out. I'm hoping for something I can pick up second hand for around £50, as I have no desire to spend a fortune on something that will get limited use by a complete beginner.

What should I be looking for?

[GetCarter]

Not taking photos of NYPD I saw today. Unless you want to get arrested.

I would think your existing lens would be fine, but 70-300 is a good lens, VR better. (Not for £50 mind)

[Simpo Two]

Plenty of 70-300s to choose from - eBay is your friend. But make sure it will autofocus with your camera so look for the designation AF-S (Nikon) or HSM (Sigma) if you want AF.

[Crafty_]

70-300 is a useful focal range to have, it all depends what you want to shoot, if you want to do cityscapes you probably want to go wider, I took a 10-22, 24-105 and a 55-250 just in case and ended up using all of them.

Have a look here, https://www.flickr.com/photos/hotrods/albums/72157... and here https://www.flickr.com/photos/hotrods/albums/72157... exif data is intact so you can see the focal length used.

[Chucklehead]

Simpo Two said:

Plenty of 70-300s to choose from - eBay is your friend. But make sure it will autofocus with your camera so look for the designation AF-S (Nikon) or HSM (Sigma) if you want AF.

Thanks! I would not gave known that!

Appreciate the advice so far. I'll have a look and see what's out there and may come back for opinions.

Cheers

[damianmkv]

I doubt you'll use a 70-300. Wifey took these with a rx100m2 - she's not used a camera apart from her phone

bright lights of the big city by damianmkv, on Flickr

man made jungle by damianmkv, on Flickr

one world trade center ( explored ) by damianmkv, on Flickr

new york city at dusk by damianmkv, on Flickr

Edited by damianmkv on Tuesday 19th July 20:18

[Chucklehead]

They're fantastic.. If you like I can send you mine once I'm back for editing?

[Turn7]

Id get the Nikkor 16-85 and not worry about the longer length...

Couple of hundred quid used,but the perfect walkabout lens IMVHO.

[tight fart]

Go wide, 10-20.

[Simpo Two]

It's easy to think 'lots of skyscrapers, go wide' - but you don't know what shots the OP has in mind.

[Chucklehead]

Don't worry, neither does the OP..

To be fair, I'm going to spend max 1 hour over the whole week on top of a skyscraper getting panoramas, so my reasoning for the longer lens was being able to pick out detail without having to get too close as we walk around the city. It'd also be more useful for the typical wedding/holiday use it normally gets.

[Turn7]

Hence the 16-85....

[Simpo Two]

Chucklehead said:

Don't worry, neither does the OP..

Haha! Well, it will give you all angles of view from 18-300mm so that's almost everything covered (albeit not at fast apertures but that's a bridge you can cross later). Longer lenses are good for chopping out small sectons of the vista before you, and can give an interesting foreshortening/shallow depth of field effect. You can also get those moody b/w gang warfare shots without being killed.

[RobDickinson]

I cant imagine using a 70-300 much in NYC, perhaps for city skyline panos from a distance or moon/building shots.

I'd be full on wide angle.

[Chucklehead]

Turn7 said:

Hence the 16-85....

Pardon my ignorance, but in the real world what is that giving me over my 18-55?

[ukaskew]

Chucklehead said:

Pardon my ignorance, but in the real world what is that giving me over my 18-55?

16mm is a fair bit wider than 18mm, more than you'd think.

Anyhow, I'd be tempted by something like the 50mm 1.8 AF-S to compliment your zoom, will give you good low light capability and will be useful long term, not just for NYC.

[Simpo Two]

ukaskew said:

Anyhow, I'd be tempted by something like the 50mm 1.8 AF-S to compliment your zoom, will give you good low light capability and will be useful long term, not just for NYC.

It will be faster, if that's what the OP wants, but too long for general purpose on a DX sensor and duplicates focal lengths. I have a 50mm f1.4; can't remember the last time I used it. This is why it's no good just recommending your own choices.

[ukaskew]

Simpo Two said:

It will be faster, if that's what the OP wants, but too long for general purpose on a DX sensor and duplicates focal lengths. I have a 50mm f1.4; can't remember the last time I used it. This is why it's no good just recommending your own choices.

We can only recommend based on personal experience. In 10 trips to NYC I've rarely felt the need for a telephoto, but having a fast lens is a lot of fun and will blow the zoom away in terms of quality and allow you to experiment with a whole other side of photography (shallow DoF)

[Lynchie999]

why would you need a telephoto in NY ?? (Unless you want to take shots of pigeons or look through windows !?)

i'd go for a short zoom and / or a fast prime around 35mm for street shots...

Chucklehead said:

The OH and I are off to NY, and I feel like the 18-55 lens will be somewhat limiting.

this, why is it limiting ?? i'd take this and a 35mm prime....

Edited by Lynchie999 on Wednesday 20th July 10:58

[damianmkv]

what about the 18-105 ? OK, its not the quickest but its pretty sharp. My 12 year old uses one on his d3100 with annoyingly good results