Lens Advice

[paulocon]

Hi all,

Bought a Nikon D50 with kit lens some time back.

Coming into the summer here so looking to beef up my kit-bag. Any suggestions on a Lens or two to get - mostly into Landscape Photography but wouldn't mind getting into wildlife (some deer close to my house).

[Bindii]

You want a good lens right?

[paulocon]

bindii,

probably something of a tradeoff between price and quality..

to be honest, I have no idea what the prices are - I've looked around the web but the choices seem unlimited...

[Bindii]

I'm a Canon girl myself so I'm not up with what are the best in Nikons range for the price..

but I have heard good things about their VR lenses...Vibration Reduction I think it stands for...and when choosing a lens you can't go wrong with a 2.8...as they always seem to produce good sharp images...:)

Oh...and your always better off investing more money into one lens than dividing the cash into two or three cheaper lenses...with lenses you really do get what you pay for...

Sorry I couldnt be much help but I'm sure that someone who knows more about Nikon lenses will be along shortly with some ideas for you...

[paulocon]

cheers Bindii,

I was thinking of maybe buying a couple of lenses but what you say is good advice - better off investing in a good Lens and becoming proficient with it.

[tonymidd]

Nikkors are great lenses but as with all OEM lenses you do pay for the name.
Have a look at the Sigma EX range. Assuming you are happy to just cover the APS sensor in the D50 the 10-20mm (15-30 mm 35 equiv) f4/5.6 EX DC will be great for landscapes or the 18-50mm (27-75mm 25mm equiv) f2.8 EX DC will be usefull as a general lens.
Don't quite know how the idea that a f2.8 will always be sharper came from 'cos it just ain't true. Either of these lenses will give you sharp images, the f2.8 has the advantage that it's max aperture does not alter as you zoom whereas the f4 will slowly reduce to f5.6 as you zoom to long focal lengths, this is the limit at which the AF will work accurately on your Nikon. The smaller max aperture will also limit the light levels in which you can comfortably work. The f2.8 will give you a brighter viewfinder image which helps with composing the image other than that the design of the lens, build quality and the quality of the glass used determines how good it is.
Sigma EX are very good lenses, I use three full frame lenses; 15-30mm (22.5 - 45mm equiv) f3.5/4.5, 70-200mm (105-300mm equiv) f2.8 and the 150mm (225mm equiv) f2.8 macro as well as three Nikkors. I use full frame lenses as I have an old FM2n which I occasionally I use.
The standard Sigma range is optically quite good but has a lower build quality than the EX range but they also cost less. This should not be a problem for amature use.

[paulocon]

Tony,

Many thanks for your thorough reply - very informative and lots of food for thought!!

thanks again,
Paul

[Chris Hawkins]

You're so lucky! Bindii and Tony have really gone to town for you - excellent advice!!!

It so depends on your budget. I'll give a simple response. The Nikkor 18-200 VR is an outstanding general purpose lens. Great for everything from landscapes, portraits to wildlife - x11.1 range. It's about £550 but is still in short supply. Sigma have just brought out their own version 18-200 OS. OS=VR=IS. Think it's about £150 less. VR function is exceptional especially in the winter months.

[paulocon]

Cheers Chris,

Wonder how much of a difference is there in the Niikon and Sigma Lens...

[tonymidd]

Cheers Chris,

Wonder how much of a difference is there in the Niikon and Sigma Lens...

Not as much as the price difference would indicate. Check the reviews on the Nikonians site, while very Nikon orientated they do not have their head in the sand like a certain wellknown Ken. There are some very good reviews on both Sigm and Tamron from died in the wool Nikon users. Nikkors, and other OEM lenses, because they have a limited make dedicated market are made in small batches. Sigma can produce much large qualities of the components for a lens as they make to fit several bodies. I've a mate who is so p'd off with his expensive C**on L glass giving mechanical problems he's selling the lot and re-equiping with Sigma. High price does not always equate to high quality but very low prices does usually equate to c**p. Value for money is what you want.