Cheap Nikon Mount Starter Zoom Lens For My 12 y/o Son

THIRTYFIVEMILL

THIRTYFIVEMILL

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Folks, my son has been stuck home schooling for goodness knows how long and I want to start getting him out in the fresh air doing something fun as the restrictions start to ease, so I've decided it's time for me to teach him photography and hopefully in his future it will give him as much pleasure as it has me. I've managed to pick him up a low shutter count D50 but I need a cheap zoom lens for him to start with. Keep in mind he's 12 and prone to bashing and killing tech items with amazing frequency so to begin with I'd like to get him something that won't matter too much. I'm after a half decent AF zoom and looking to spend £20-40ish max. What lenses spring to mind that might suit the remit? I'm thinking the better zoom range the better for this one. I have a WTB ad posted if anyone actually has a lens they think would be suitable but really looking for suggestions that I can maybe track down on eBay or the likes. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
I'd look for the older Nikon AF 28-80 or 28-100 plastic fantastics - both had a good rep and both used to be in that price range. Also consider one of the older Sigma 28-200 zooms, since some were much better than Nikon's own 28-200.
 
If 18-70 is a wide enough range, I'd go for one of those (if you can find one in budget). It was a kit lens but up among the better ones (way better than the 18-55 that came after.)
 
The D50 has an AF motor, so you can use older AF and AF-D lenses as well as AF-S. You can't use the latest AF-P or electronic aperture 'E' lenses. With a DX sensor I would try to find something that zooms out a bit wider than 28, like one of the 18-x lenses. The 18-70 and 18-105 may be a bit out of your price range, but various versions of the 18-55 AF-S G turn up for under £40, though I can't see any quite that cheap at the moment. Any of these versions will work:

en.wikipedia.org

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Again, avoid the similarly named AF-P version, which won't work on the D50.
 
Retune said:
The D50 has an AF motor, so you can use older AF and AF-D lenses as well as AF-S. You can't use the latest AF-P or electronic aperture 'E' lenses. With a DX sensor I would try to find something that zooms out a bit wider than 28, like one of the 18-x lenses. The 18-70 and 18-105 may be a bit out of your price range, but various versions of the 18-55 AF-S G turn up for under £40, though I can't see any quite that cheap at the moment. Any of these versions will work:

en.wikipedia.org

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Again, avoid the similarly named AF-P version, which won't work on the D50.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, will have a good look!
 
I notice you live here on the Isle of Wight ! I have a Nikon 55-200 f4-5.6 DX lens with some mildew but otherwise functions well, Your son is welcome to have it for free, PM me if your interested. Just taken a quick test shot !
Test Shot.jpg
 
Compuwight said:
I notice you live here on the Isle of Wight ! I have a Nikon 55-200 f4-5.6 DX lens with some mildew but otherwise functions well, Your son is welcome to have it for free, PM me if your interested. Just taken a quick test shot !
Click to expand...

Steve, that is SO kind of you, thank you! Will PM you now!! Have just told my son and he asked me to thank you very much!!
 
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Just to say a HUGE thanks to everyone and particularly Steve who today very kindly gave my son a lovely little Nikon 55-200m kit lens that we picked up an hour ago. Thank you, Steve! My son is thrilled! I also had a cheeky £35 bid accepted on eBay for an 18-55 DX which compliments Steve's lens perfectly. I snagged a lovely condition, low shutter count D50 for £28 last night so he's now all set and it's hardly broken the bank in the process. This afternoon's homeschooling consisted of understanding light and how it's influenced by apertures, ISO and shutter speed. Reece now says his head hurts. Thanks again folks!! (y)
 
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