Different lens for different purpose?

[oswin]

I bought a Nikkor 55-200mm VR lens while on a recent trip to Hong Kong, mainly because its cheap and KenRockwell.com praises the heck out of it for being value for $$.

When I came back, I couldn't get used to the tighter framing compared to my Kit 18-55mm lens and also the further focusing distance.

Does anyone know the "purpose" of this lens? What kind of photography does it suit best? (i.e. portrait, architecture etc.). Other than the fact that it has better zoom than my kit lens, I don't seem to be able to make good use of it.

Is there a general way to see, what kinds of lenses are suited more for which photography?

I know some basics. For example, bigger apertures are better under lowlight conditions but I'm still abit lost.

Any information or material will be greatly appreciated!

 

[ortega]

anything that is further away and you cannot get closer

eg sports, birds, shooting your neighbour ... ...

also note the AOV and compressed perspective of the lens

 

[JoshSiao]

Well, for your kit lens, since it is a wide angle to normal lens, you can use it generally for landscapes, group shots, and half-body portraiture. For your 55-200mm, you can use it to shoot things that are far away, as well as tighter cropped portraits that give a very nice flat perspective. You've got VR on it, so it will help reduce hand shake.

How about telling us what type of shots that you like to take? Then maybe we can tell you if you will have real uses for your 55-200mm since you have said that you are not used to the tight crop and further clostest focusing distance.

 

[oswin]

Thanks for the tips!

At the moment, I don't have a single aspect that I'm focused in. As you can probably tell, I'm very much a newbie.

For now, I take a lot of Food and day-to-day (Events, Gatherings, Pets etc.). Mostly indoors.

If I do travel, landscape photography will come into the mix.

 

[lsisaxon]

I bought a Nikkor 55-200mm VR lens while on a recent trip to Hong Kong, mainly because its cheap and KenRockwell.com praises the heck out of it for being value for $$.

When I came back, I couldn't get used to the tighter framing compared to my Kit 18-55mm lens and also the further focusing distance.

Does anyone know the "purpose" of this lens? What kind of photography does it suit best? (i.e. portrait, architecture etc.). Other than the fact that it has better zoom than my kit lens, I don't seem to be able to make good use of it.

Is there a general way to see, what kinds of lenses are suited more for which photography?

I know some basics. For example, bigger apertures are better under lowlight conditions but I'm still abit lost.

Any information or material will be greatly appreciated!

Some material.
http://jamesmskipper.tripod.com/jamesmskipper/perspective.html
http://jamesmskipper.tripod.com/jamesmskipper/photo_perspective.html
http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/EFLenses101/focal_length.html

 

[Kit]

I bought a Nikkor 55-200mm VR lens while on a recent trip to Hong Kong, mainly because its cheap and KenRockwell.com praises the heck out of it for being value for $$.

When I came back, I couldn't get used to the tighter framing compared to my Kit 18-55mm lens and also the further focusing distance.

Does anyone know the "purpose" of this lens? What kind of photography does it suit best? (i.e. portrait, architecture etc.). Other than the fact that it has better zoom than my kit lens, I don't seem to be able to make good use of it.

Is there a general way to see, what kinds of lenses are suited more for which photography?

I know some basics. For example, bigger apertures are better under lowlight conditions but I'm still abit lost.

Any information or material will be greatly appreciated!

I can't understand why would someone buy a lens without know what its used for and can't make good use of it.

In general, there are no rules stipulating the usage of lenses. The advise you usually get are based on a general concept that "this lens is usually for this purpose" e.g. wide angles are for landscapes.

 

[oswin]

I can't understand why would someone buy a lens without know what its used for and can't make good use of it.

Hehe, yup. At that time, I was heading to Hong Kong. I don't know about anyone else, but for me this is quite rare that I get to travel. Photography gear is slightly cheaper in HK, so after reading up, 55-200mm VR was affordable in my price range and compliments my kit lens nicely. That's why I bought it. For the wrong reasons perhaps.

I realise that I don't use it as much, hence the reason for this post. To learn more about lenses, before my next lens purchase.

 

[oswin]

Some material.
http://jamesmskipper.tripod.com/jamesmskipper/perspective.html
http://jamesmskipper.tripod.com/jamesmskipper/photo_perspective.html
http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/EFLenses101/focal_length.html

Thanks! The interactive canon website is mighty useful to play around with!