Some lens advice please

[alxce]

I have a Nikon Camera D5300 and two lenses.
AF-S Nikkor 18-55
AF-S Nikkor 55-300

While out and about round Farnham this morning I caught glimpses of a number of good shots I could have taken of places, people and people in places had the camera been with me.

Problem I am having is that I am not conivinced I have the right lens in either of these for this kind of work. When I see others doing the same shots they generally seem to be toting something quite wide on the camera. I was wondering if the collective on here could offer up some advice on what I should be looking for in terms of an additional lens?

Thanks in advance, Alan

UPDATE: Having had some time to do a little research I may have answered my own question. Seems like either the Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.8G or Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8G would be appropriate? Which of the two would be best I wouldn't really know.

Edited by alxce on Wednesday 7th September 15:31

[Nigel_O]

The kit lens for the crop-sensor Nikons is pretty well regarded (VR as well, if I remember correctly)

For general walkabout shots in decent light, its absolutely fine (and the D5300 should be able to cope OK with sub-optimal lighting)

A prime 50mm or 35mm f1.8 will give you lots more options with respect to lighting conditions, but you'll lose the ability to zoom (and the normal suggestion to "zoom with your feet" is not always an option)

To be honest, the way I read your post is that the problem lies with the fact that you didn't have your camera, not that you don't have the right lens.

If you're intent on buying a faster lens (ie with a wider aperture) for a variety of tasks, I'd recommend a mid-range zoom - 24-70 or similar. IIRC, there's also an 18-105 for the DX bodies. The former will cost more than your camera....

Personally, I'd keep the camera handy with the kit lens fitted and the 55-300 in a bag for long shots - can't really see a need for anything else at the moment.

[alxce]

Very astute, in hindsight I think you are right on the money. The 18-55 is VR and should be good enough to cope with any demand I make of it.
May have been a case of I think I need something new for my camera, not sure what.
The higher range options you mention are interesting and cause for further research.
Thanks for your considered response.

[Simpo Two]

alxce said:

When I see others doing the same shots they generally seem to be toting something quite wide on the camera.

Seems like either the Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.8G or Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8G would be appropriate?

By 'wide' do you mean angle of view or a large aperture? The lenses you cite have the latter ('faster') but offer a narrower field of view than the 18mm you can already achieve.

[alxce]

Simpo Two said:

alxce said:

When I see others doing the same shots they generally seem to be toting something quite wide on the camera.

Seems like either the Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.8G or Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8G would be appropriate?

By 'wide' do you mean angle of view or a large aperture? The lenses you cite have the latter ('faster') but offer a narrower field of view than the 18mm you can already achieve.

I meant large aperture and it's fast become clear that I should be making better use of the lenses already at my disposal. The 18-105 suggestion looks promising as you can pick them up both used and new at a reasonable price. I think I can smuggle one in under the CFO radar.
Thanks for the advice and guidance.

[Simpo Two]

That's fair enough, the relatively small max aperture of your lenses can be a stumbling block, eg for low light, to get an adequate shutter speed or for shallow depth of field.

The 18-105 is f3.5-5.6, not really any faster than what you have. That's because it has a massive zoom ratio. You can't have that and 'fast' in the same lens so you need to choose whether you want speed or zoom ratio.

The cheapest way to get speed, if you can live with a fixed 50mm field of view, is the 50mm f1.8 for <£100, or for a bit more the 35mm you originally mentioned.

[Nigel_O]

alxce said:

May have been a case of I think I need something new for my camera, not sure what.

I'm speaking from experience - I spent money on lots of very nice kit and now I'm learning how to use it. In hindsight, I should have really spent the time (and maybe a bit of money on tuition) and got to grips with my D5200, 18-55 and 55-200 before I shelled out on the pricey kit.

For example, I bought a 50mm f1.4 prime, because I read somewhere that "everyone should have one". I've hardly ever used it.

For what its worth, the only lens that I *think* I still need is something like the 24-70 I mentioned. I already have a 16-35 (amazing) and a 70-200 (even more amazing, but at a price). However, I've resisted so far, because to date, I've never found myself in the situation where either the 16-35 or the 70-200 couldn't be used (and I guess if I needed something to fit in the 'gap', I could always use the 50mm prime...)

Its a slippery slope...

[Super Slo Mo]

My view? Get out there with what you have and use it. When your skill level and composition start to become hampered by the camera and lens, then it's time to look at new kit.

Mind you, if I practised what I preach I wouldn't be traipsing around Canada right now with 3 heavy lenses and a 50mm prime .

We all suffer from upgradeitis, so don't feel too bad.

[alxce]

I am so pleased I posted this question as your responses have given me cause for many a wry smile. Last one had me chuckling out loud. I get the feeling you guys have seen me on here before, or many just like me :-)
Yup, get the camera out of the house and at least into the car permanently so it's available. Still tempted by the 18-105mm just to satisfy my inner demons but if I can hold out a day I will be ordering an Apple Watch 2 (I know, call me crazy) which should settle me down a bit.

Thank You

[steveatesh]

alxce said:

I am so pleased I posted this question as your responses have given me cause for many a wry smile. Last one had me chuckling out loud. I get the feeling you guys have seen me on here before, or many just like me :-)
Yup, get the camera out of the house and at least into the car permanently so it's available. Still tempted by the 18-105mm just to satisfy my inner demons but if I can hold out a day I will be ordering an Apple Watch 2 (I know, call me crazy) which should settle me down a bit.

Thank You

I'm a little unsure what you are looking to take pictures of but I have the D5100 and I wanted a general purpose "walk around" lens that i could leave on the camera as the kit 18-55 and the 55-200 I bought were not sharp enough.

After reading reviews i bought the nikon 18-140 from HDEW cameras for £205 (its a fiver more I believe now). The lens is super sharp and I use it for landscapes, "things", street photography and even portraits - great detail in eyes and eyelashes for example. I have the 50mm 1.8 too and so far have managed well with just those two lens (once i got used to the 50mm being a prime and narrow depth of field anyway).

I'm not saying these will last me forever, I eventually want to move to full frame and the Nikon 70-200 and a general lens too, but thats for another day. Best of luck.

[alxce]

steveatesh said:

alxce said:

I am so pleased I posted this question as your responses have given me cause for many a wry smile. Last one had me chuckling out loud. I get the feeling you guys have seen me on here before, or many just like me :-)
Yup, get the camera out of the house and at least into the car permanently so it's available. Still tempted by the 18-105mm just to satisfy my inner demons but if I can hold out a day I will be ordering an Apple Watch 2 (I know, call me crazy) which should settle me down a bit.

Thank You

I'm a little unsure what you are looking to take pictures of but I have the D5100 and I wanted a general purpose "walk around" lens that i could leave on the camera as the kit 18-55 and the 55-200 I bought were not sharp enough.

After reading reviews i bought the nikon 18-140 from HDEW cameras for £205 (its a fiver more I believe now). The lens is super sharp and I use it for landscapes, "things", street photography and even portraits - great detail in eyes and eyelashes for example. I have the 50mm 1.8 too and so far have managed well with just those two lens (once i got used to the 50mm being a prime and narrow depth of field anyway).

I'm not saying these will last me forever, I eventually want to move to full frame and the Nikon 70-200 and a general lens too, but thats for another day. Best of luck.

Thanks for that as you captured it well describing it as the "walkabout" lens. They are xactly the scenarios I have in mind.
I checked out HDEW and they are still doing that white box deal which seems very reasonable for what you get.

[Richjam]

I have theNikon AF-S 35mm f1.8G on a D3300 and find it a cracking little lens it works well on landscapes and close work and in my opinion gives better IQ than the kit lens. I still use the kit lens if I need the vesatililty of the zoom but where possible the 35mm is my choice lens.

[alxce]

Apologies for thread resurrection but I clearly can't let this go without spending some money. Have spent many a sleepless hour comparing Nikon 18-105mm against the 18-140mm and mainly because of white box availability of the latter I can't help but think it's the way to go.

Followed a few 18-105s on eBay and in used camera shops and they consistently come out around £100-120. I would prefer new but that pushes it up to £180+ and that's only £20 or so short of a new white box 105-140mm.

Is there any flaw in my logic here other than I will be £220 or so lighter?

[Simpo Two]

Someone has moved the goalposts.

You have the following lenses:
18-55mm f3.5-5.6
55-300mm f4.5-5.6

You say you want a larger aperture.

The two lenses from which you propose to choose one are:
18-105mm f3.5-5.6
18-140mm f3.5-5.6.

In terms of aperture you're not much further forward...

[alxce]

Thank you, I knew my logic would get flawed along the way. &#129300;

[Simpo Two]

Heh, if the logic trail implodes it means you have Gear Fetish and just want to buy something shiny Ask Beano, he's a flippin' magpie...

[jaik]

The good thing with buying used lenses is you can sell them on without losing much money if you don't end up using them. Unlike bodies, they tend to hold their value very well after the initial new/used hit.

[Andynbr]

If you want wide field of view, and wide aperture, the best on the market for APS-C cameras is the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8.

[Mr Will]

alxce said:

Apologies for thread resurrection but I clearly can't let this go without spending some money. Have spent many a sleepless hour comparing Nikon 18-105mm against the 18-140mm and mainly because of white box availability of the latter I can't help but think it's the way to go.

Followed a few 18-105s on eBay and in used camera shops and they consistently come out around £100-120. I would prefer new but that pushes it up to £180+ and that's only £20 or so short of a new white box 105-140mm.

Is there any flaw in my logic here other than I will be £220 or so lighter?

Neither of those lenses will do anything that you cannot already do with your existing lenses. The only possible benefit is that you won't have to switch lenses as often.

If you are dead set on buying one then you might as well sell the 18-55 to help fund it.

[steveatesh]

Mr Will said:

Neither of those lenses will do anything that you cannot already do with your existing lenses. The only possible benefit is that you won't have to switch lenses as often.

If you are dead set on buying one then you might as well sell the 18-55 to help fund it.

From experience the 18-140 is much sharper than the kit lens and focuses quicker too.

Personally I never looked back but I appreciate its horses for courses.