distances?

[barbaricacidman]

am i right in thinking that to shoot further distances you need a lens with a higher number on it ( i know i sound stupid now!) so the lens i have is a 18-55, if i get a 70-300 will i be able to zoom in closer and see further distances?

oh and is this any good for a newb that doesn't have much money but needs something for a little further away? oh and the camera i have is a nikon D40, im assuming it is a direct fit!

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s26776...aspx?&IsSearch=y&pageindex=1&CatId=143&comp=n

 

[Cedarapple]

That lens won't autofocus on the D40 (but you could use it by focussing manually).

For autofocus with the D40 you need a Nikon AFS lens or a Sigma HSM lens.

 

[barbaricacidman]

right cheers! think ill have to look into that then, it would take me 10 minutes to focus anything!

 

[moomike]

You are correct about the higher number = more zoom thing B, there are both zoom lenses & prime lenses to consider just so as you know for next time you're upgrading.
Zoom lenses do exactly what it says on the tin, you can zoom in or out with them as you indicated you would like. Prime lenses have fixed focal lengths so you would have to zoom with your feet - they are usually faster & sharper than zooms but you lose the flexibility of being able to zoom.
It's all down to personal choice really, I prefer prime lenses but also own zoom lenses because I need the flexibility for my job.
Not too sure on the Nikon options but Sigma (as Cedarapple suggested) or Tamron (just two examples) are good & cheaper alternatives

 

[mho]

For autofocus with the D40 you need a Nikon AFS lens or a Sigma HSM lens

Not 100% true (but nearly there)

Nikon Lens's need to be AF-S or AF-I

Sigma lens's need to be HSM with the exception of 80-400 Optical Stabalised zoom.