Deciding on a new lens for nikon d3100

Beckiie-Eileen

Beckiie-Eileen

Suspended / Banned
Messages
10
Name
Rebecca
Edit My Images
No
I Have decided to spend a bit more money on my camera get it some christmas presents , but their is so many to decide out of im a student so i cant afford to much i am thinking a marco + fish eye are maybe a mini marco lens and even adapters to go on mine i need some advice on this haha.
i take a lot of pictures of haunted buildings, my friends, movement and studio shoots im very experimental with my photography
 
Last edited:
Just to get things started, what lenses do you already have and what sort of budget are you looking at?
 
Given the fact that you are on a budget and you have a D3100, I would consider older manual lenses. A fisheye isn't going to be cheap unless you go for a third party make or a front of lens add on, which probably isn't going to be of much use really.
 
Since you have the D3100 and i take it you using the kit lens right now which is the 18-55mm VR?

I would consider two lens to start off with or some manual primes that someone mention.

If you want newer lens i would consider the 55-200mm VR and the 35mm f1.8 prime
 
I would also recommend the 55-200mm VR, as this is a great zoom lens that I use as my 'daily' lens im also a student and I spent £95 on that from ebay ;). I think that it captures movement well, and the auto focus is reasonably quick. The other lens I would suggest is the 50mm f1.8 which go for about £60-80 (i have a manual focus version which I picked up from a boot sale for £10!), this lens is very good for portraits and gives a very nice bokeh in the background. I would suggest these as I find they are reasonably cheap and very sharp lenses and capture alot of detail.

For example this photo of my dog which was done with the 50mm :) :
5929723597_692415c6d3_z.jpg


And another of my cat using the 55-200mm:
5929679331_4a32d6ae47_z.jpg


Thanks
Jack
 
Last edited:
how much does the 35mm f1.8 prime range from ? as i do like the look of that lens i have been looking at them for awhile but they seem to cost like 150 - 200 for one in nikon shop i may just use ebay but i'm very weary of it being sent through post and what life it lived before i got it ?
 
nikon 35mm f1.8 from jessops online 170ukp (new)


If you dont mind manual (fully) then perhaps look at the older ais lenses on ebay.

Alternatively look at the m42 adapter (with infinity) and a few lenses to play with. Some decent ones out there for not too much.
If you find a mm you like, you can always save for a newer af version.
 
Last edited:
Replacing the kit lens with a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 will give you a slightly faster lens which will be better in low light.

It is also a Macro lens, so allows you to get really close.

It is over £150, but it might be better to wait to get a better lens than spending money on filters/adaptors. You can also sell your kit lens to help fund the purchase as it would be a replacement.

As you have the D3100 like me, you will need to get the HSM version.
 
Hi again,
Thank you :). So I guess you have the 18-55mm lens then? I would still recommend the 55-200mm and forgot to mention get the Vibration Reduction (VR) version of that lens, as it reduces camera shake and stuff ;) Also due to the price and great quality optics of it. Heres the review that made me decide if to buy it or not in the first place:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-200mm-vr.htm

Here are some more pictures I have taken with it hopefully to show how it captures movement such as the one of the duck and the detail on the tree :)
dsc0057pp.jpg

dsc0033hu.jpg

dsc0015et.jpg


Also I was a bit cautious at first buying mine second hand but my 55-200mm is second hand and was in mint condition. Just need to make sure to ask the right questions I guess to make sure you get a good one (unless you buy a new one ;) ).

A good priced one seems to be here, this one looks good :):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-AF-...=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item45fed2424f

Thank you
Jack
 
Last edited:
Nice information in here, I also have the d3100 and have been looking at a few lenses. The 55-200 vr was top of my list but now I'm certain. Think I'll keep an eye on eBay and see what there fetching.
 
@Dori Labs
Yeah the 55-200mm VR is very good :P, as I said above I got my one for £95 used and its in perfect condition!. You should be able to get one for around £100-130 used if you look enough ;). Although you can get a new one for not much more money.

Jack
 
Hi again, when I buy a used lens on eBay i just normally ask this:

"Hi please could you tell me if the lens free from scratches, mould, dust and dirt and is the lens fully working?". As that pretty much covers everything ;)

Jack
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top