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Lens opinions?


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8 replies to this topic

#1
Stevie1967

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Hi all i am new to photograpghy so joined this group for guidence, i have a D5300 with the afs 18-55 vr kit lens but would like help and practical easy to understand advice on either a telephoto zoom lens to accompany it for wildlife/birding etc like the 70-300, or, because i take my camera in my rucksack on my bike an opinion on the afs 18-300 as an all in one lens. I am also considering the 50mm 1.8g, and also a macro lens so opinions on those aswell would be good, like i said i'm just starting out so i am a little green when it comes to numbers and technical words! Thanks in advance.

#2
TBonz

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You have a wide range of lenses you are looking at.  Any of the Nikon lenses you have listed can give you wonderful images.  Many of the 3rd party lenses (Tamron, Sigma) can give you wonderful images as well.  That said, most lenses are a trade-off...Speaking just Nikon lenses below based on the lenses you mentioned above...

 

The 18-300 is a great lens for a wide range zoom lens.  It won't be as good as your 18-55 at the wide end and it won't be as good as the 70-300 at the tele end but it pretty much does what those two lenses do in a single package.  That's handy when you want to just have one lens.  The combined lenses should give you higher quality images which will be most evident when you are pushing the limits of the lenses.  The reality is that only you can decide what is best for you.  If it were me, trying to stay mostly with the lenses / ranges you threw out, I would go the 70-300 route.  I would probably also replace the 18-55 with the 18-105 or 18-140 and use that when I only wanted to carry a single lens.  I also would probably choose the 55mm or 60mm Macro lens - at 2.8 you shouldn't need it and the 50 1.8.  Or, go with the 50 1.8 and a 105 macro...



#3
Merco_61

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The basic kit for beginning enthusiasts our local dealer put together some years ago is still a very versatile set.

16-85 VR

70-300 VR

60 AF-S MicroNikkor

Slik lightweight tripod, later replaced with a Sirui when the Slik prices started rising.

 

The 2 mm gained at the wide end compared to the 18-xxx class of lenses is much more than it looks on paper as you end up with 83° instead of 76° diagonal, which is significant. If you can't get a bundle price, hanging on to the 18-55 and looking for a used 16-85 is worthwhile as the 18-55 is quite good optically.



#4
Cjtamu

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Just getting back to SLR photography after a long hiatus, and just starting with DSLR so don't take any of this as gospel. If you said which 70-300 lens you were looking at I missed it. I have the 18-55 VR that you have and the AF-P DX 70-300 ED. Both came with my D5500 kit, and I like both. If I were purchasing 70-300 new I'd get the VR version. Have to keep the shutter speed up on non-VR when shooting handlheld and really pulled in. I filled in the gap in focal length with the AF-S DX 55-200 EG VR II, which can be had for a ridiculously low price at present. Retractable, so it's very compact, and has the VR and AF buttons on the side, which I prefer.

 

BTW, there are a number of good camera-specifc backpacks available that are awesome for riding your bike. We decided quickly that a "normal" backpack wouldn't do, particularly when riding off road, and bought dedicated backpacks. If you get to the point where you're lookign for one would be happy to tell you what we found when researching. Good luck.



#5
Stevie1967

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Thanks for that advice, i actually borrowed the 18-105 for a couple of weeks from a friend and never used the 18-55 while i had it so i have actually considered changing, i also think i'm a little closer to comitting to the 70-300, i like the idea of the 18-300 as an all in one lens but i also like the idea of a bag with different options, i plan on doing a trip to my local camera shop soon to have a "hands on" look at whats on offer, thanks again the advice is much appreciated. 



#6
nikdood17

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Can you rent one or more of the lenses on your bucket list and try them out in the field? I had a wonderful 400mm lens years ago and it seemed to me the hawks I tried to photograph knew I had a 400mm and not a 500mm lens and stayed just far enough away from me so I couldn't get a great shot. Only you know how close you need to get for what you want to do. Good luck.



#7
TBonz

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Renting is an excellent way to be sure the lens performs well for your intended uses.  If you are shooting lots of birds / wildlife, you will find that your longest lens is never quite long enough to get what you really want to get...


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#8
Stevie1967

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I didn't realise you could rent equipment so thanks for that, i am away for the weekend on the Yorkshire Coast and intend visiting the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs, i've managed to pursuade my cousin to lend me his 70-300 Tamron lens for the weekend so we'll see how that goes, it feels heavy though and looks a little out of proportion on my 5300, but i can cope with that. i will let you know how i go on. Thanks. 



#9
Steve M

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I didn't realise you could rent equipment so thanks for that, i am away for the weekend on the Yorkshire Coast and intend visiting the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs, i've managed to pursuade my cousin to lend me his 70-300 Tamron lens for the weekend so we'll see how that goes, it feels heavy though and looks a little out of proportion on my 5300, but i can cope with that. i will let you know how i go on. Thanks. 

 

 

I have rented from Lensrentals twice and had great service and support from them.  I eventually ended up buying the second lense I borrowed from them.  

 

www.lensrentals.com