Beginner D5500 + 18-55mm VRii + 55-300mm VR

Orangecroc said:
The odd bit of wildlife/birds, portraits (posed and candid) and car shows. Nothing too strenuous on the AF but also want some versatility in the range..
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If this is your first DSLR, it'll certainly get you started. The 18-55mm lens isn't necessarily ideal for portraits, because a faster aperture will produce nicer background blur, but it's a very useful focal length range. The 300mm lens isn't necessarily ideal for birds, because it's not really long enough, but then however long your lens it's never really long enough for bird photography. Nevertheless this is a useful package that will give you plenty of scope, and if in time you find yourself pushing against the limits of what it enables you to do, the that will point you in the appropriate upgrade direction.

However, the price you mentioned is suspiciously cheap. Is that from a dodgy importer?
 
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StewartR said:
If this is your first DSLT, it'll certainly get you started. The 18-55mm lens isn't necessarily ideal for portraits, because a faster aperture will produce nicer background blur, but it's a very useful focal length range. The 300mm lens isn't necessarily ideal for birds, because it's not really long enough, but then however long your lens it's never really long enough for bird photography. Nevertheless this is a useful package that will give you plenty of scope, and if in time you find yourself pushing against the limits of what it enables you to do, the that will point you in the appropriate upgrade direction.

However, the price you mentioned is suspiciously cheap. Is that from a dodgy importer?
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Thank you. I am planning to grab a zenit with a hellos 44-2 as well.
The site is eglobalcentraluk. I think I can use PayPal, so if I have any disputes I can go through them if there are any problems.
 
Orangecroc said:
The site is eglobalcentraluk. I think I can use PayPal, so if I have any disputes I can go through them if there are any problems.
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Depends what sort of dispute. The most likely problem is that the goods get stuck in customs because eglobalcentral are trying to smuggle them in without paying import duty and VAT (and let's be honest, that's the only way they can offer prices like that). I don't know what PayPal would do then....
 
You could get stung for customs and VAT - be very wary.
 
StewartR said:
Depends what sort of dispute. The most likely problem is that the goods get stuck in customs because eglobalcentral are trying to smuggle them in without paying import duty and VAT (and let's be honest, that's the only way they can offer prices like that). I don't know what PayPal would do then....
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Al1944 said:
You could get stung for customs and VAT - be very wary.
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I read through their T&C, and it says the price includes import tax, and they only waive responsibility upto months for any charges so I'll have to make sure I keep checking. PayPal will provide a refund if the goods don't arrive within the stated delivery time.
Thank you for your comments, it has made me consider paying a little more through non import vendors.
 
Be careful--your screenshot says 55-300 which is a very different beast from the 70-300.
 
Orangecroc said:
That's me not reading properly when I posted. Are the optics not as good in the 55-300?
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From what I've read people say the optics are similar but the autofocus is no good for birds in flight etc. I've not used the 55-300 so I can't comment personally.

I have used the Tamron 70-300, which is in the same ball park as the Nikon 70-300, and the Nikon 55-200. The 55-200 is a slow focusing blurry toy in comparison to the Tamron 70-300.

The new Nikon 70-300 AF-P is getting great reviews, particularly the AF, so I'd be looking at that with a new 5x00 camera (it only works with recent bodies).

If I was after a 300mm that is, which as has been said is a bit short for birds so it's not for me. Your uses seem much more varied though so any of the 70-300s might well be OK for you.
 
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