A quick hello and a few questions...

DanJenks

DanJenks

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Daniel
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I'll try and keep this as short as possible so that I do not bore you all!

Firstly, just a quick hello to introduce myself...

I'm Dan, 18 from Bourne in lincolnshire. I have always had some form of interest in photography and about 6 months ago I finally purchased my very first DSLR - a Nikon D3000. Ever since my purchase I have been hooked and use any excuse to take a few shots. I thought it was about time I signed up to get some advise from the professionals

Anyway:

What lens would you recommend as an upgrade?
I've been looking around and tbh there are loads to choose from! Some that are fairly cheap and some that are jus far too expensive! My budget isn't exactly massive but I'd stretch to a couple of hundred for now. I have however came across this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-50Mm-...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229099629&sr=8-2


Where is best to buy accessories for you camera from?
I get worried that I am buying fake/rubbish when looking online on some sites

I want to really get to know my camera and how to use it - Photogrphy courses?
Are they worth the money or how else can you advise I learn a little better?

FINALLY:
Any tips?

Oh and here is a link to my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danjenks/
Thanks in advance!
 
Hi and welcome to TP!

I'm presuming you have the kit lens on your camera right now? 18-55mm? If so, the lens you've looked at does not give you any sort of zoom, it's a fixed focal length at the longer end of what you currently have. The upside is that with a 50mm 1.8, the aperture can open up much further to give you greater low light capabilities and will allow you to use a much shallower depth of field. Prime lenses are also generally alot sharper than their zoom counterparts. It all depends what you're looking for in a lens.

It would cost more than your budget, but a highly recommended mid range zoom for nikon is the 16-85mm, I think prices are hovering around the £350 mark second hand. Or you could look at getting a longer zoom to compliment your current kit lens, such as the 55-200mm which is a very capable lens and great for situations where you want to be able to zoom in further. I think the 55-200 can be had second hand for just over £100. I'd recommend trying to get the vr version to help eliminate any camera shake which will be more noticeable at longer focal lengths.

I tend to use amazon direct (not the market place sellers) for accessories, or WEX and in occasion calumet for genuine accessories. Just tread carefully if you use eBay or the amazon marketplace, there are fake goods out there.

As for learning, you could try your local college for evening courses. Or you could get a couple of books explaining the fundamentals, understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson is well recommended. Finally, of course, this forum is a great source of information, you can learn a lot from just actively taking part of the forum.

Be your own worst critic, look at your photos and work out how you could improve on it in the future. Forcing yourself out of the automatic modes and into the semi automatic or manual mode is also a great way to learn about exposure and give you more control over what you photograph.
 
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Hi Dan, welcome to the forum

when you say upgrade, what are you currently using?
best place for accessories - I like buying from LCE, here, and friends. Otherwise, from the maker direct if I can.
Courses - local college perhaps? or join a local camera club, join in the topics on here, and definitely go to any TP meets!
Tips - just get out & about and never pass up an opportunity :)
 
Thanks for the quick response guys!

Sorry I completely forgot to mention the lens I currently have. Faddius is correct I currently have the 18-55mm kit that came with my camera . I'm not still not completely sure what I want from a new lens - I like to photograph cars, people and objects as opposed to landscapes etc. if that makes a difference to the lenses I should be looking at?
 
If you want to start going to race tracks, a longer zoom would be best. For people and objects a mid range zoom will probably be best.

The 50mm you linked is a nice lens for portraits as its sharp and being able to control the depth of field is great for isolating your subject from the background. It will be equivalent to 75mm in a full frame camera, as you're using a camera with a crop sensor (nikon crop is 1.5x focal length) which gives you a nice amount of room to work in without having to be too close to your subject.

The great thing about camera lenses, is that if you buy second hand and don't damage the lens in anyway, it should hold its value so you'll be able to sell it in for pretty much what you bought it for.
 
faddius said:
If you want to start going to race tracks, a longer zoom would be best. For people and objects a mid range zoom will probably be best.

The 50mm you linked is a nice lens for portraits as its sharp and being able to control the depth of field is great for isolating your subject from the background. It will be equivalent to 75mm in a full frame camera, as you're using a camera with a crop sensor (nikon crop is 1.5x focal length) which gives you a nice amount of room to work in without having to be too close to your subject.

The great thing about camera lenses, is that if you buy second hand and don't damage the lens in anyway, it should hold its value so you'll be able to sell it in for pretty much what you bought it for.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will keep all of the above in mind when looking around. Thanks for your help :thumbs:
 
welcome to the wonderful yet expensive world of Photogaphy and the forum of course :lol:

Les :wave:
 
Welcome aboard Dan :clap:

Plenty of help and advice on hand around here.
You have a Flickr account, so you're already half way there to getting some feedback and advice on your photos too.
Most people won't click on a link and it will probably get lost in here afer a while, so pick a couple that you'd like feedback on and set up a new thread for them in the appropriate sharing area.
 
Hi Daniel,

Welcome and I hope you become involved so much that you spend the next 60 years in photography.

My advice is do not even think about upgrades yet, use your very good Nikon kit and go and take photographs.

Accessories, what do you need, wait until you have taken at least a few shots and see what you think.

You want Knowledge, so do we all young and old, the best way is to read literature, it costs nothing on the internet and you will be able to find everything you need, no cost to you.

Final tip, ENJOY, READ and LOVE what you do, then the photographic world is your oyster.
 
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