Camera reccomendation

[rodi]

if you're using an all-purpose 18-300mm lens on your entry-level DSLR, you might as well get a Canon PowerShot S95 or something similar.

[panicos81]

wow thread ressurected. i now have the 35mm f1.8 and the tokina 11-16mm and they cover my needs. maybe a zoom in the future but i dont like them. for longer range imay get the 105 or 135mm.

[mr_milo]

Originally Posted by panicos81

I eventually went with the Nikon D5100. need opinions for a first lens. it would be either:
Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR!!! or
Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.4G or f1.8G (half price)
that being said i love prime lenses but the 18-105 could be a good first lens..

so let me hear some opinions..

I am using the Nikon D90 and have the following lenses:

Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G ED VRII
Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G ED VRII
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX

I got the 18-105 as the kit lens but wanted a bit more reach so I got the 18-200. Next was the 11-16 Tokina. This is a specialty lens but it has some amazing possibilities! That lens being a f2.8 also opened my eyes to aperture's of a lens. So the 35mm f1.8 was next. The low light & DOF possibilities with this lens are amazing!

I'd go with the 35mm but an good "all around" lens would be the 18-200. If you want a lightly used 18-105 I would probably be willing to let mine go. Haven't used it since I got the 18-200.

Hope this helps!

P.S. The Tokina won't focus on the 5100.

[DnA Diesel]

Originally Posted by panicos81

wow thread ressurected. i now have the 35mm f1.8 and the tokina 11-16mm and they cover my needs. maybe a zoom in the future but i dont like them. for longer range imay get the 105 or 135mm.

Two zooms to consider IMO, 70-300 VR or (for four times more) 70-200 VRII. Both are solid, well built lenses. While they are both full-frame lenses, that's not why you'd get them...even if you have a 5100. It's the quality of the lenses. The 70-200 is very fast, so the premium you pay is really only required for indoor sports shots..the 70-300 is great outdoors.

While you might be tempted to look at the 55-200 DX or the 55-300 DX, the money you invest in glass is not wasted. With what you've described, I think you'd love the 70-300 VR. I have a D5000 and bought the 70-300 both on the recommendation of a professional photographer friend (who has a 70-200 VRII I borrowed before my purchase), and from my own comparison of the 70-300 relative to the two 55-200/300 DX zooms.

Firstly, the 55-200's plastic mount didn't sit easy with me. Don't get me wrong, it's a relatively sharp and light lens, but...well, I didn't like the non-internal focus and the feel of the lens...a fair bit of zoom creep. The 55-300 had a metal mount, but I didn't like the feel of the two-piece zoom tube (in addition to the main barrel) and the zoom creep was even worse on this lens than the 55-200. Again, lack of internal focus was irritating and rotates the end of the lens, which would be a problem with polarizing filters (which I like to use at times, in place of my standard neutral density filter).

Without having to pay the ~$2000-ish for the 70-200 VRII, the 70-300 gives a fairly reasonable "semi-pro" build and feel to a telezoom, and for $400-ish, it's a pretty good value. FWIW, I think the VR performance of the 70-300 is much better than either of the 55mm DX zooms.

Mein zwei pfenning,
D.

[wdautrem]

I've got the kit 18-55 on my Canon and usually end up wishing I had something wider for landscapes.

[DnA Diesel]

Originally Posted by wdautrem

I've got the kit 18-55 on my Canon and usually end up wishing I had something wider for landscapes.

He also got a 35/1.8 prime and 11-16 ultrawide zoom.

He's only missing the telezoom now.


Cheers
D.

[hipnotic]

go with the 35mm that lens is amazing.

[Aries326]

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

I have the Tamron 18-270mm non-Pzd lens and it's sharp. Great general purpose lens. I decided to get that after going on vacation in Utah - having to switch between the 18-55 and 55-300 did it for me.

I also might pick up the Nikon 18-200mm this weekend.

Gary

Let us know what you think of the Nikon 18-200 vs the Tamron 18-270

@Panicos81
How's that D5100 coming along? I'm still trying to decide whether or not to upgrade to the D5100 or D7000. Got any sample pics?

[panicos81]

Originally Posted by Aries326

Let us know what you think of the Nikon 18-200 vs the Tamron 18-270

@Panicos81
How's that D5100 coming along? I'm still trying to decide whether or not to upgrade to the D5100 or D7000. Got any sample pics?

Its ok, its easy to use but supposedly the d7000 its easier to use with lots of buttons. havent used the d7000 to make a comparison. The flip out screen comes in handy many times, i took pictures from the ground were i couldnt lie down but also when i wanted to take pics from above my head.
Video havent used much the seems very good.

I went with the d5100 firstly for the cost and because i plan on upgrading to a full frame in the future so i didnt want to get the expensive crop.

bottom line, if you afford it or planning to stay with a crop sensor then get the d7000.

pictures when i get home, i´m at work now and dont have access..