Recomend me a lense

[mat13]

I've just ordered my first camera, a nikon d40x, problem is it's only a body so I need a lense, it's my first so it's got to be simple to use. I mainly take photos of cars and off road driving. Any ideas guys, ideally I would like something under 100 quid so I don't mind second hand.

[andy-xr]

Ah, you need a lens! <before everyone else jumps in>

The D40 came with an 18-55mm that despite being a kit lens wasnt all that bad. And they'll be dirt cheap on ebay I bet. There's also an 18-70 although not sure you'll get one in that price range

[mat13]

18-55s seem to be going for around 60 quid, would this be suitable for a beginner or is it going go leave me wanting more, would I be better just getting the 18-70 to start with?

[andy-xr]

Absolutely, I used to use mine on the D300 with decent results

Your issue will probably be one of reach against what you're working with on price. Depending on what sort of car shots you're after you might need to be upwards of 150mm some of the time. There is a cheap 70-300 but it's not particularly good quality even against the kit 18-55

[NDA]

My first lens was a 50mm which is pretty close to what we see. I have an entirely manual digital Leica and find that if I want a close up, I simply crop the large DNG files to suit.

50mm (for me at least) is a great all round lens and the one I now use 95% of the time.

Other lenses are a 28mm wide angle and a 90mm. I hardly use them though.

Most of my photography is cars and family.

[bradders]

NDA, may I ask a question, slightly off topic. You say the 50mm is roughly what we see, but is that based on a 35mm/FX format camera, or on a DX as per the OP.

Cheers Bradders.

[NDA]

bradders said:

NDA, may I ask a question, slightly off topic. You say the 50mm is roughly what we see, but is that based on a 35mm/FX format camera, or on a DX as per the OP.

Cheers Bradders.

Whoosh over my head that Bradders!

I was told that because of the particular arrangements of the Leica, that a 50mm was pretty close to how we see the world. Therefore you might be right to suspect that on some cameras a 35mm might be closer. I'm really not sure as I have only ever shot with Leicas (well for the past 20 years or so).

[SamHH]

bradders said:

NDA, may I ask a question, slightly off topic. You say the 50mm is roughly what we see, but is that based on a 35mm/FX format camera, or on a DX as per the OP.

Cheers Bradders.

It's on a 35mm camera and I understand that it's actually more like 40-45mm.

The question of what focal length gives a picture like 'what we see' is complicated though. Our eyes provide a very wide angle image, much wider than 40 or 50mm, but we only concentrate on a narrow portion of that image.

[Lucas CAV]

Get an 18-55 or 18-70 from ebay -

A 50mm prime is usually sharper but often inconvenient due to the length on a crop body.

[vtecstu]

Worth remembering that the D40x doesn't have autofocus motors in the body - so you'll need a lens that does this itself. Can't remember the NIKON term for this, but sure you'll be able to find it easily enough. Imagine you'll find it a pain if you have to focus everything manually.

[Flip Martian]

The 18-70mm used t come as standard with the old D70 when that first came out - later models came with the cheaper and inferior 18-55mm. Having had both (my new D5000 came with the 18-55), I would recommend a second hand 18-70.

[Simpo Two]

Flip Martian said:

The 18-70mm used t come as standard with the old D70 when that first came out - later models came with the cheaper and inferior 18-55mm. Having had both (my new D5000 came with the 18-55), I would recommend a second hand 18-70.

Spot on.

But whether you'll get one for under £100 I'm not sure.

[Nero601]

NDA said:

bradders said:

NDA, may I ask a question, slightly off topic. You say the 50mm is roughly what we see, but is that based on a 35mm/FX format camera, or on a DX as per the OP.

Cheers Bradders.

Whoosh over my head that Bradders!

I was told that because of the particular arrangements of the Leica, that a 50mm was pretty close to how we see the world. Therefore you might be right to suspect that on some cameras a 35mm might be closer. I'm really not sure as I have only ever shot with Leicas (well for the past 20 years or so).

If you close one eye , then the field of view is roughly that of a 50mm lens , ie how you would see things through a viewfinder

[Simpo Two]

Nero601 said:

If you close one eye , then the field of view is roughly that of a 50mm lens , ie how you would see things through a viewfinder

Or about 35mm on a crop sensor.

So in the case of the OP's D40 which has a cropped (DX) sensor, he needs a lens that covers 35mm. Which both of his suggestions do. So it's a non-issue I think.

But this is nothing to do with his post!

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 7th November 13:32

[Flip Martian]

Simpo Two said:

Flip Martian said:

The 18-70mm used t come as standard with the old D70 when that first came out - later models came with the cheaper and inferior 18-55mm. Having had both (my new D5000 came with the 18-55), I would recommend a second hand 18-70.

Spot on.

But whether you'll get one for under £100 I'm not sure.

Must admit I've only had a brief look on ebay as I'm going to sell my D70+lens, and only seen the lens on its own at over a hundred. It IS worth getting if poss though, an excellent lens.

[NDA]

Nero601 said:

NDA said:

bradders said:

NDA, may I ask a question, slightly off topic. You say the 50mm is roughly what we see, but is that based on a 35mm/FX format camera, or on a DX as per the OP.

Cheers Bradders.

Whoosh over my head that Bradders!

I was told that because of the particular arrangements of the Leica, that a 50mm was pretty close to how we see the world. Therefore you might be right to suspect that on some cameras a 35mm might be closer. I'm really not sure as I have only ever shot with Leicas (well for the past 20 years or so).

If you close one eye , then the field of view is roughly that of a 50mm lens , ie how you would see things through a viewfinder

Ah, OK, thanks for the explanation.

I find a 50mm is fine for me in most applications and the Leica, despite not having any automated features (such as focussing), takes pin sharp pictures that can be zoomed in on/cropped as needed. A good all purpose lens.