Equipment Lens recommendations for beginner?

[wuyanxu]

what lens would you recommend for a new photographer who would like to start shooting using D3100?

currently im looking at:

-Normal: Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G AF-S VR DX lens (got)
-Wide: Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 HSM EX DC lens (£330 eBay)
-Prime: Nikon 35mm f1.8G AF-S DX lens (£160 Amazon)
-Telephoto: Nikon 55-200mm AF-S VR DX lens (£130 Amazon)

im wondering whether it is possible to get a macro lens in place of one of the 3 lenses. perhaps a 55-160 macro lens? (just guessing....). how can i tell whether a lens can shoot macro from its letters?

the wide angle lens is a must for me, i love landscape scenery so most probably going to invest in this first. but Nikon lenses are too expensive so going with a Sigma alternative. is there any downside to this approach?

for the prime lens, i am thinking to go with 35mm instead of 50mm because D3100 is not full frame, so final angle is going to be equivalent to ~50mm anyway. the prime lens has large aperture for low-light shooting, so wider shooting angle is probably more suitable for shooting in enclosed space indoors.





then there's lens filters:
-for ALL: multi-coated UV filter
-Normal+Wide:
coated circular polarized filter
coated natural density grad filter
+52mm/77mm step up ring (Sigma 77mm, all Nikon are 55mm)



as far as the optics are concerned have i missed anything for a beginner photographer?

[Material]

Stick with the 50mm as a portrait lens - it already takes into account the crop for an APS-C sensor as portrait lenses we traditionally around 80mm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EF_Portrait_Lenses

[GeorgeStorm]

While I'm also a beginner, the obvious downside to going with the Sigma lens will most likely be it being slightly less sharp, maybe slower autofocus etc.

People have recommended to me to stop, just start shooting with the lens you have and wait to see how it develops.

[wuyanxu]

Originally Posted by Material

Stick with the 50mm as a portrait lens - it already takes into account the crop for an APS-C sensor as portrait lenses we traditionally around 80mm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EF_Portrait_Lenses

oh, did not know that! nifty-fifty it is

Originally Posted by GeorgeStorm

People have recommended to me to stop, just start shooting with the lens you have and wait to see how it develops.

sound advice here. i guess it's a case of computer enthusiastic looking into a new world of shiny hardware, must get everything......

so if only buying a single extra lens, which one would it be? im leaning towards the wide angle since i love that kind of photography, but most bundles comes with a 55-200mm?

[GregTheRotter]

Please don't get the 50 instead of the 35. Seriously. It may be cheaper to start with but, you'll get a lot more use out of the 35mm.

IMHO the 35mm 1.8G is pretty damn cheap right now at £160.

For macro, maybe consider the Nikon Micro 40mm f2.8 DX lens for £220 odd. Perhaps think of getting a Nikkor 55mm Micro AI-S, which is MF but takes great photos, I sold my last one stupidly for £55. Also, don't bother with a lens that's a zoom that has big fancy MACRO written all over it in place of a proper macro. A dedicated macro lens will fart in that things face. If you don't want to go for a dedicated macro lens, maybe invest in a set of extension tubes that you can pair with the 50mm prime if you get that with the 35mm. At the same time though, if you are going to get the 50mm 1.8G AF-S lens, which is now around £190 you may as well get the 40mm Micro AF-S DX or an Manual focus 55mm Micro ai-s used off ebay.

Personally I'd avoid buying used lenses if the sigma from ebay is used. If you are buying used, be careful and buy from an ebay store that deals in used lenses, that will accept returns. I've bought used lenses four times;
1st lens: 18-70 DX lens, display model lens, was soft as fook.
2nd lens: Nikon 180 F2.8 AF-D; front focused like a mother fooker
3rd lens: Nikon 300mm f2.8 AI-S MF lens: Must have had a loose element as one in every four or so pictures were soft as hell and were neither back nor front focused
4th: Micro Nikkor 105 AI-S MF lens: At close focus the focus ring is tighter than the rest of the range

So yeah, not all lenses bought were complete duds, but the fact that four out of four lenses I've bought, which were all 'supposedly aok', had something wrong, tells you something. With the 18-70, as it was my first lens, I had no idea what to look for and assumed all was AOK. Compared to my 24-70 f2.8 AF-S, it was a dog. Ok you can't really compare the two, but the 18-70 should have at least been as sharp as the f2.8 wide open, stopped down. With the 300mm I wasn't sure there wasn't100% sure there was an issue, but seeing as it only had a problem for one in every four shots or so, I used it, then got rid of it. The only lens I've kept is the macro as the slightly stiffer focus ring isn't a deal breaker for me, and I cba to spend £400+ on a macro with af.

Personally I'd start off with the 18-55 and 55-200. Get the primes and macro a little later on. Get to a point when you've exhausted your shooting ideas with those two, then get the other glass. Maybe spend the money you'd have spent on the extra gear on a nice trip somewhere, £400 quid can take you to rome for four days inc of your stay and easyjet ticket.

[wuyanxu]

i may have got it wrong, but searching for Nikon 55mm macro turned up lenses costing over £600.

the ebay listing is a new lens in fact all his lenses seems to be slightly cheaper than Amazon, just the wide angle im looking at is quite a bit cheaper than Amazon.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1306714750...#ht_1043wt_692

thanks for the warnings on used lens though.

[steveo_mcg]

Jessops do the 35mm for the same price plus you get Quidco.

I've found I'm using the 35mm much more than the kit lens, not because its shaper that I can tell any way, but because I've mostly been shooting in low light recently between the wide aperture and the d3100 good ISO performance I can avoid the flash for that little bit longer.

For me i've had very few times I've thought a tele would be useful here, mostly thinking about compressing architecture type shots.

BUT every one is different and I'm just a DSLR noobie too.

Edit: that sigma looks like a good price, that is probably next on my list rather than a tele... but I'm a little of buying it just yet.

[GregTheRotter]

Originally Posted by wuyanxu

i may have got it wrong, but searching for Nikon 55mm macro turned up lenses costing over £600.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-Micr...item4164f5943e

Nikon calls their macro lenses 'Micro'.

[eddie_dane]

You could consider an extension tube or two to use with your standard lenses. It's a good way to go macro on a budget.

[Nealieboyee]

Originally Posted by eddie_dane

You could consider an extension tube or two to use with your standard lenses. It's a good way to go macro on a budget.

This! I'm waiting for mine from ebay. 3 different sizes for £9.50. I can't wait.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Material

Stick with the 50mm as a portrait lens - it already takes into account the crop for an APS-C sensor as portrait lenses we traditionally around 80mm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EF_Portrait_Lenses

For a starter I wouldn't recommend this, sorry dude an 80mm is just too close for me.

I have the 35mm 1.8 and the 50mm 1.4 (which I got first).

I now leave my 50mm at home (on my desk now is 18-105 and my 35mm). Its just not useful enough for those slightly dark "party" shots.

The 50mm is the better for shooting 1 person by a mile, but how often do you want just one person? The 35mm shoots like a traditional kit lens 50mm of old. And DSLR mag did a really interesting article on how great that piece of kit was.

[wuyanxu]

Originally Posted by GregTheRotter

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-Micr...item4164f5943e

Nikon calls their macro lenses 'Micro'.

these macro lenses are not cheap, yet although they say macro, their magnification are 1:2, while a regular lens like 18-55 kit lens has a reasonable 1:3.2. doesn't seem like worth the investment.

but then, i won't mind something like 100mm or 120mm macro lens, that should mean i would no longer need to buy a Telephoto zoom lens. but can't find any good value ones.

Originally Posted by Nealieboyee

This! I'm waiting for mine from ebay. 3 different sizes for £9.50. I can't wait.

when your tube thingy turns up, post up some shots, with/without. im very interested in its results. it'll go with your 18-55mm f4-5.6 i presume?

Originally Posted by Lance

For a starter I wouldn't recommend this, sorry dude an 80mm is just too close for me.

I have the 35mm 1.8 and the 50mm 1.4 (which I got first).

I now leave my 50mm at home (on my desk now is 18-105 and my 35mm). Its just not useful enough for those slightly dark "party" shots.

The 50mm is the better for shooting 1 person by a mile, but how often do you want just one person? The 35mm shoots like a traditional kit lens 50mm of old. And DSLR mag did a really interesting article on how great that piece of kit was.

so i did some reading up. portrait lens is defined as 50-100. a 35mm would be 52mm in full frame. that is just on the low side for portraits, while it should offer other shooting options.

but im worried that a 35mm f1.8 would mean it will be hard to create DoF effect when i actually do want to shoot portraits.


(my understanding of creating DoF comes from this video)

[Material]

As long as it's got a nice low f number then you should be fine creating DoF when you want it.

[wuyanxu]

okay. shopping done.

bought:
-35mm f1.8 prime (arriving today)
-Hoya UV HMC filters x3 (kit lens, prime and for future 55-200mm in mind). if they affect the pictures, or get flares, i'll just take it off.
-extension tubes with AF electrical contact


polorised filters are quite a bit more expensive, might just buy a 77mm for the Sigma 10-20mm i wanted, then just get a 77-52mm adaptor.

next lens would probably be the Sigma 10-20mm. it's going to be awesomely wide

[Hamfunk]

Let me know how you get on with the 35mm Wuy, i just ordered the 50mm f1.8 this morning for my D5000!

I'm going to test it out on holiday next week, will report back!

Should have done some more reading first!!!

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Hamfunk

Let me know how you get on with the 35mm Wuy, i just ordered the 50mm f1.8 this morning for my D5000!

I'm going to test it out on holiday next week, will report back!

Should have done some more reading first!!!

Did you get it new or second hand?

You realise that won't autofocus? I got the 50mm 1.4 because I wanted the 50mm with inbuilt autofocus (AF-S).

[wuyanxu]

it depends on which one he gets. the f/1.8D won't auto focus but the f/1.8G will auto focus.

here's a very nice shot i got:

Spring by wuyanxu, on Flickr

and comparison shots between kit lens at 55mm f/5.6 and the 35mm at f/1.8.

Canon 300 by wuyanxu, on Flickr

Canon 300 by wuyanxu, on Flickr

[Hamfunk]

Originally Posted by Lance

Did you get it new or second hand?

You realise that won't autofocus? I got the 50mm 1.4 because I wanted the 50mm with inbuilt autofocus (AF-S).

New from Warehouse Express, and its the AF-S version so it will autofocus! The f1.4 version is significantly more expensive.

Nice shots Wuy, out of interest, the comparison you show at the bottom which is which? Kit lense first, then the new 35mm??

[wuyanxu]

sorry, 35mm first, zoom lens second.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Hamfunk

New from Warehouse Express, and its the AF-S version so it will autofocus! The f1.4 version is significantly more expensive.

Nice shots Wuy, out of interest, the comparison you show at the bottom which is which? Kit lense first, then the new 35mm??

Oh snap. Surely thats new because 2 years ago I couldn't get one.... Thats why I got the 1.4.