Lenses for D50

King4aDay

King4aDay

King4aDay

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Joined
4 Sep 2003
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Hi all,

Just started a new job and figured that it would be wrong not to blow my first paycheque on something frivolous, so I just ordered a refurbished (12 month warranty) D50 with kit lense for £299 :D .

I can't quite decide what glass to pair it with. This is my first dSLR - I'm upgrading from the Sony H1 and have become kind of addicted to zoom!

So I've been thinking about using the kit lense and getting the Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF ED, which seems to get pretty good reviews, and would give me the kind of reach I'm used to, but is pretty close to the top of my lense budget for some time (its roughly £350).

The alternative would be to get the Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G (£140) and spend the other 200-odd quid on something for landscapes/macros... but I don't know what! And I'm worried I might miss the extra 100mm.

I take a mixture of macro, landscape and wildlife shots...so, what do you reckon?! :p
 
For landscape shots the kit lens will suffice for the mo, I've had my eye on the 70-300 VR for a bit, nice lens and will be great for wildlife. A cheap alternative for macro shots would be a 50mm F1.8 prime for £79 and a cheap set of extention tubes for about £10 off a well known auction site. Hope this is some help :)
 
Well I just bit the bullet and ordered the 70-300 VR, will let you know how I get on. Might also get one of those macro reversal rings off ebay and see how it performs with the kit lense, and go from there.

Much fun ahead!
 
A good choice I feel, what other lenses do you have? the kit lens I assume? Personally I prefere the Nikkor 18-70 IF ED. Lovely lens, and for not much cash really. If you did get the kit lens then one possibility might be to sell the 18-55 and get the 18-70. Its a better lens and will also loose the focal length gap?

Just a thought :)
 
woodsy2k said:
A good choice I feel, what other lenses do you have? the kit lens I assume? Personally I prefere the Nikkor 18-70 IF ED. Lovely lens, and for not much cash really. If you did get the kit lens then one possibility might be to sell the 18-55 and get the 18-70. Its a better lens and will also loose the focal length gap?

Just a thought :)
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Any idea what I might get for the 18-55? Can't seem to find any on ebay, was wondering if there's even a market for them? I like the looks of the 18-70, but even selling the kit lense it'd probably cost me an extra £150ish...

Annoyingly the 70-300 VR is going to take a couple of weeks, couldn't find anywhere with stock at a decent price.
 
How about..... the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro (about 150 squid) and then spend 180 ish on a the Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5DX? Should even get a bit of change from your 350 squid plus you wont have to wait ages for the VR lens to come into stock.

Just an idea.

Dave
 
My 18-70 cost me £149 under the virtual hammer, and is an excellent lens. I would certainly recommend it.

You raised the point about the return on the 18-55? In all honesty, you wont get much for it, perhaps £30-£50? Guess work of course, but someone might want one. If not keep it, and if you ever want to sell the camera, it has the kit lens with it. Although this way of course, you are making glass redundant, yet not parting with it.

I like divuk83's idea. That works with me.... Plus you will also get 1:2 ratio (iirc?) macro capabilities with the sigma telephoto.
 
The 70-300 VR is a cracking lens, I've been loving mine which I got just before Christmas, and along with the kit lens will give you a good range of focal lengths. I'd recommend replacing the kit lens next, its an alright lens and nice and compact in your kit bag but the focusing ring is crap. I replaced mine with the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX DG, I'm mostly shooting motor sport so I don't really miss loosing the 18mm end but if your wanting to shoot landscapes you'd really need something wider.

Don't bother trying to sell the 18-55 though, as woodsy2k said you'll get next to nothing for it and it'll make your camera more attractive to potential buyers if you decide to sell it later.
 
Cheers for all the replies.

Think I might stick with the kit lense for the time being, hang on for the VR 70-300, get something nice for macro work next, then replace the kit lense and get a flashgun a little further down the line. Depending on how I get on with it, I could always swap the order I get the macro and the 18-70.

Now... what do you reckon my grannie is worth? :p
 
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King4aDay said:
Cheers for all the replies.

Think I might stick with the kit lense for the time being, hang on for the VR 70-300, get something nice for macro work next, then replace the kit lense and get a flashgun a little further down the line. Depending on how I get on with it, I could always swap the order I get the macro and the 18-70.
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Not a bad plan tbh.
 
Good question!
I've got a D40, just ordered a 50mm 1.8 prime from a good camera shop for 69 including postage. Look on a shopping comparison site that may or may not rhyme with google.

Anyone got recommendations for a wide angle lens with a nikon mount? I've got the standard kit lens, a 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6, and the 50mm prime on it's way. Any suggestions?
 
thunderbird said:
Good question!
I've got a D40, just ordered a 50mm 1.8 prime from a good camera shop for 69 including postage. Look on a shopping comparison site that may or may not rhyme with google.

Anyone got recommendations for a wide angle lens with a nikon mount? I've got the standard kit lens, a 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6, and the 50mm prime on it's way. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...


Hmm, tricky if you want something that will AF with the D40.

Maybe the Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM? Seems to be about £300-350 and gets pretty good reviews form what I've seen.
 
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thunderbird said:
Good question!
I've got a D40, just ordered a 50mm 1.8 prime from a good camera shop for 69 including postage. Look on a shopping comparison site that may or may not rhyme with google.

Anyone got recommendations for a wide angle lens with a nikon mount? I've got the standard kit lens, a 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6, and the 50mm prime on it's way. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

You do know that the 50mm 1.8 wont Auto-Focus with the D40?
 
I was thinking of buying the Tamron 90mm for Macro, and the Tokina 12-24mm (best after the Nikon equivalent) for wide angle. Check them out because they are supposed to be excellent cheap lenses. Doesn't cover your telephoto requirements though. You'll probably find it difficult to get a decent multi-use lens other than the 18-70, only crap thing I don't like about it is the aperture range available.

I'm currently in Indonesia at the moment and figured I'd maybe be able to get some cheap lenses here but it's not much cheaper than the UK. Going to Hong Kong soon though, then it's party time:). Was thinking of buying the AF-S 300mm F4 prime lens but might try and get a good deal on the AF-S 70-200mm VR 2.8 lens. Also try and get the tokina and tamron lenses cheap too if I can.

I recently bought a SB600 flashgun and it seems like a nice accessory to have, although I am still getting to grips with it.

I would maybe advise you to just get a single lens that is very sharp and then you will be pretty happy with that. If you want something with a wide range for general purpose you could look at the 18-200 VR although it isn't the sharpest supposedly.

The telephoto I use a the moment is the Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm f/4-5.6D which is a decent enough lens and cost me £70 from an auction place. The 80-200 2.8 is in your price range possibly and is among the sharpest telephotos you can get (affordably).

AF surely isn't a priority for a wide angle? If you are predominantly shooting landscapes anyway.
 
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Well, I've focused at 1.8 before with film cameras so I shouldn't think it'll be too different with dSLR? Or am I wrong? Oh oh....

But, that's the advantage of being a teetotaller - steady hands and sharp vision! :D I know a few people who're after 50mm 1.8 so I'm sure I could shift it on if it doesn't work for me... I'm used to manual focussing so I'm not too concerned about the lack of autofocus -people used to cope without it all the time in the olden days :D
 
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