Lens Help...

[howard09]

Hello,

I have an Nikon D3100 and i have a budge of £800 to but 3 new lens. I could do with some help on this. I mainly take pictures of landscapes and wildlife.

Please advise

Shaun

[greenwing]

Why 3 lenses? What do you already have? Can you be more specific about what is lacking in your current lenses?

Stock answer: Tamron 70-300 VC, Sigma 10-20, and either a 100mm-ish Macro (Tamron 90 or Sigma 105) or fast normal prime (30-35mm 1.4 or 1.8).

Chris

[thefonz78]

Presuming you have a 18-55mm kit lens I would go for 2 lenses not 3 and get nikon 70-300mm £370 Sigma 10-20mm £370. You got £60 left over to get a Hoya pro1 77mm polariser filter for the sigma lens. All prices a from amazon you may find them cheaper elsewhere.

[howard09]

Hi

I have the 18-55mm kit lens and i also have 55-200mm. I am after a wide angle lens with auto focus, a longer zoom than the 200mm with autofocus, a macro lens again with autofocus and a low light prime lens with autofocus.

Can some please help on this and where the best place to buy is?

Shaun

[silversnapper1]

Ok Shaun,

Wide Angle - Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 around £400
Telephoto - Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO around £180
Macro - Nikon have just released a 40mm macro at around £250 but I don't know a lot about that. I have the 60mm at around £350 but would prefer a longer focal length of around 105mm for a lot more.
Low light prime - Nikon 35mm f2.8 around £190

As to where to get them cheapest you will have to shop around. Amazon do some good deals. You could also try your local camera store. I use a store in Carmarthen when I am in the area and find their prices are quite keen. http://www.carmarthencameras.co.uk/

Be aware though, there are a few dodgy sites out there and if the price is really low.

[greenwing]

Originally Posted by silversnapper1

Ok Shaun,
Wide Angle - Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 around £400
Telephoto - Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO around £180
Macro - Nikon have just released a 40mm macro at around £250 but I don't know a lot about that. I have the 60mm at around £350 but would prefer a longer focal length of around 105mm for a lot more.
Low light prime - Nikon 35mm f2.8 around £190

These are good recommendations.

Be careful that the Sigma 70-300 is the APO version, and also make sure that it has the built-in motor. It's not designated HSM, which makes identifying it a bit tricky.

The 35mm to look out for is the f1.8 G AF-S DX; I don't think the f2.8 (if there was one?) will AF on the D3000.

You might want to make do with the 1:2 magnification of the Sigma 70-300 rather than get a dedicated Macro lens for the moment.

Hope this helps
Chris

[Jediboy]

The Nikon 50mm f1.8 is a cracking lens at about £100.
Camerapricebuster.co.uk is always worth a look for prices.

[silversnapper1]

Originally Posted by greenwing

These are good recommendations.

Be careful that the Sigma 70-300 is the APO version, and also make sure that it has the built-in motor. It's not designated HSM, which makes identifying it a bit tricky.

The 35mm to look out for is the f1.8 G AF-S DX; I don't think the f2.8 (if there was one?) will AF on the D3000.

You might want to make do with the 1:2 magnification of the Sigma 70-300 rather than get a dedicated Macro lens for the moment.

Hope this helps
Chris

Oops, sorry, typo, it is the 35mm f1,8 that I meant to type. My son has it and it is really sharp. Thanks for correcting me Chris.

Also, the reason that I chose this over the 50mm f1.8 that Jediboy refers to at £100 is that that lens will not autofocus on the D3100 as it has no internal motor.

[thefonz78]

Nikon has just released a 50mm f1.8 lens this month for £200 amateur photographer mag give it a good review. This is for full frame but will give you a 75mm equivalent on my camera great for a portrait lens. If you want more of a street photography lens go with the 35mm f1.8 which is around £170. The beauty with the 50mm lens is i you do go full frame in the future this will work on the camera the 35mm will not.

[greenwing]

Originally Posted by silversnapper1

Oops, sorry, typo, it is the 35mm f1,8 that I meant to type. My son has it and it is really sharp. Thanks for correcting me Chris.

Also, the reason that I chose this over the 50mm f1.8 that Jediboy refers to at £100 is that that lens will not autofocus on the D3100 as it has no internal motor.

Yes, I presumed a typo.

I also presumed a D3000; I really wonder whether a Sigma 70-300 APO will be good enough for the D3100 - or would the 55-200 (which is a cracking lens really) do just as well when cropped?

Chris