which lens to buy???


Exhaust

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Dec 11, 2010
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hey guys I am using the D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens. I need some advice on the lens I want to buy.. should I..

1) buy a 18-200mm lens
or
2) buy a 50mm f/1.8 + 18-105mm
or
3) buy a 38mm f/1.8 + 55-300mm (which can compliment my kit lens)


thx!
 

HNorman said:
3 option will be fine unless you want to see your current len 18-55

I was wondering is there any point in having a 18-55 and a 55-300 as compared to just having one zoom lens 18-200..
 

2) buy a 50mm f/1.8 + 18-105mm

AF-D 50mm f/1.8? it wun be able to do AF on ur d3100 unless u r planning to do manual focus all the way.


Exhaust said:
I was wondering is there any point in having a 18-55 and a 55-300 as compared to just having one zoom lens 18-200..

wad the 18-200 offers u is versatility. the 18-55 and 55-300 combi offers better IQ than 18-200 alone, plus longer reach. but 18-200 reduces the hassle of changing lenses, which is a plus point for traveling.

my advice to u:

ask urself, wad do u really need? versatility or low light + longer reach? or do u even need these at all? only u can ans this urself.

my 2 cents.
 

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Exhaust said:
hey guys I am using the D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens. I need some advice on the lens I want to buy.. should I..

1) buy a 18-200mm lens
or
2) buy a 50mm f/1.8 + 18-105mm
or
3) buy a 38mm f/1.8 + 55-300mm (which can compliment my kit lens)

thx!

Buy 35/1.8DX and 55-200VR.
It's cheaper than 55-300. Should be enough reach, I think :)
 

hey guys I am using the D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens. I need some advice on the lens I want to buy.. should I..

1) buy a 18-200mm lens
or
2) buy a 50mm f/1.8 + 18-105mm
or
3) buy a 38mm f/1.8 + 55-300mm (which can compliment my kit lens)


thx!

It really depends on what you are shooting. Still-life? landscape? Or just everyday photography?

Here's a combination list of what i can think of.

Still-life/portraits/product:
DX 35mm f/1.8 + 18-105mm (2nd hand more worth)


Landscape/Architecture:
DX 16-85mm + AF-S 70-300mm VR (FX lens)

Everyday photography:
18-200mm VR OR 28-300mm VR

If your budget is tight i don't recommend option 2. Hope this gives you more options.
Cheers
 

if u want convenience, choose 18-200.

if u don't mind changing lens, get the 55-200 or 55-300, or buy the 35 f1.8 (great for low light) and 55-200 or 55-300 if u have more budget.
 

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Sgdevilzz said:
It really depends on what you are shooting. Still-life? landscape? Or just everyday photography?

Here's a combination list of what i can think of.

Still-life/portraits/product:
DX 35mm f/1.8 + 18-105mm (2nd hand more worth)

Landscape/Architecture:
DX 16-85mm + AF-S 70-300mm VR (FX lens)

Everyday photography:
18-200mm VR OR 28-300mm VR

If your budget is tight i don't recommend option 2. Hope this gives you more options.
Cheers

if I'm doing portraits/weddings/outdoor events.. shld I get a 18-200 + 35mm 1.8?

are 35mm lens for wide angle landscape shots only? or can i use them for portraits to obtain a bokeh effect?
 

Get a 35mm f1.8 or a 50mm f1.8 first..... and see whether you can survive with variable aperture or a fixed focal length....

And just any lens could be used for landscape photog... it's just how you use it...
 

Get a 35mm f1.8 or a 50mm f1.8 first..... and see whether you can survive with variable aperture or a fixed focal length....

And just any lens could be used for landscape photog... it's just how you use it...

But TS may not like the 35 or 50 for landscapes. Some people (like me) just prefer the wide angle for the kind of perspective distortion it offers.
 

But TS may not like the 35 or 50 for landscapes. Some people (like me) just prefer the wide angle for the kind of perspective distortion it offers.

he has a kit lens right? so he doesn't need to use the 35/50 for landscapes if he actually buys one right? I don't see him considering anything wider than 18mm either.
 

i word of advice from me....

don't don't don't don't don't don't don't don't don't don't buy the 50 1.8 simply because if you are not used to manual focusing it is super hard to use and u'll mis-focus very often without the AF (d3100 has no internal focusing motor)

my 50 1.8 slept in the dry cabi for very long till i upgraded my cam body

18-200 and 35 1.8 should be a good choice imo for what you are doing
 

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he has a kit lens right? so he doesn't need to use the 35/50 for landscapes if he actually buys one right? I don't see him considering anything wider than 18mm either.

Haha chill man :)

@TS
you might want to look at the photos you take, if most of them are at 18mm, then a wider lens might do you good. If most of them are at 55mm, then get a 55-200 to complement your kit lens. If you want more subject isolation from background blur then get the 35/1.8, not the 50/1.8 since it won't AF on your camera body.

HTH.
 

thx guys. I guess I shall get a 35mm f1.8 first since currently I'm still survivable with my kit lens.

must slowly upgrade if not I will go broke haha
 

thx guys. I guess I shall get a 35mm f1.8 first since currently I'm still survivable with my kit lens.

must slowly upgrade if not I will go broke haha

35mm will be good. Mount the lens, forget about the zooming and focus on the composition. :thumbsup:
 

You need to consider the type of photography you are into. With that, you will choose the suitable lens for the purpose.
If you are into wedding/ event, prime lens will be good but at times, you might need the zooms. However, you do not need zooms that goes beyond 105mm; in view that IQ will be affected in certain ways. Read more on portraits, or wedding photography, so that you will understand more of the type of equipments required. Many of the replies will only general share their views but not making you understand.

With D3100 (without in-camera AF motor), choose those lenses that come with AF motor; otherwise you will be doing manual focusing all the times (unless you are good at it, though manual focus is essential to master). So find out which lens has AF motor, & compare which lens will help in your shooting; then make the decision to buy.
Do not buy it, just becoz someone tell you how good or fantastic the lens is. Don't get contract the 'buying' virus & then regret with it where you might decide to sell them in the next few days or month. It's not worth as the price will be depreciated which means you will suffer a loss.
So instead of making a loss, why not make good use of your kit lens till it's fullest before you venture to the next better lens. By then, you would have master the basic shooting skills.
If you have a better budget, get a relatively good flashgun (SB-600 & below) with either a prime like 35 f1.8, or 18-105 (at 105, sharpness for portraiture will be good). Since one of your options is for 18-200 (which cost about $1,100+), why not get something which gives you IQ instead. Read up more on the Nikkor lenses.

Keep your 18-55VR, you won't regret doing so (trust me...been there, done that).
The above recommendation is more suitable to use with D3100 due to it's small body & the need to use when shooting wedding/ event.

Well, I will share this much for now. Hope the above will help you better understand what you really need.

Happy snapping.
 

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16-85mm IQ is good.
Also love the additional 2mm :thumbsup::thumbsup: