Good Beginner set of lenses.

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distortedkirk

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Ok i have had a canon 300d for a few years now, so decided i would treat my self to a new DLSR. I couldn't quite spring for the canon 550d, so decided in the end to buy the nikon d3100. The reason i went for this is because it also has decent video recording features (albeit mediocre sound)

So now im looking around at what lenses i would want in addition to the standard. I want ideas for a good all round kit (at a reasonable price) as i use my camera in many situations.

I was thinking of getting something like a Sigma 10-20mm, for nice wide angle landscape shots, as well as skate/bmx style photography and video. either that or the nikon 10.5 fisheye (but i think this might be too wide looking perhaps?)

Also a nikon 1.8 50mm lens, i had the canon equivalent, which i used quite a lot, as its great for portraits, low light photography, and nice close up photography full of bokeh.

And finally i guess i would need a decent stabilized (VR in nikon terms?) zoom lens, somewhere near the 300mm mark? as you never know when you'll need a decent zoom. i was in rome the other week and missed out on getting a decent shot of the pope because i hadnt packed a zoon lens.

so what do you guys think?
 
I take it you had no lenses other than the 50mm one on the 300D then? It seems strange to move otherwise!

I don't know much at all about Nikon, but lens wise, it depends on what sort of photo you want. I've seen some very smart photos of skate parks, etc that have used fish eye lenses, but you have to bear in mind that you will be limited to a very specific style of photo. The 10-20 would give you more options to take other photos. It's up to you really.
 
Up until about a month from now the only 50mm lens that will autofocus on your camera is the AFS f/1.4 at over £300! (sadly the £80 f/1.8 AFD wont)

However, a new lens is in the offing - the AFS 50mm f/1.8 which should be more like £180. Not available yet but on Nikon's website.

For zooms, the best mid range choice is the 70-300VR although the 55-300 is almost as good but with slower autofocus and dosn't work on full frame cameras. The bargain of the bunch is the 55-200vr which is an absolute cracker considering you can get one for £125 or so new.

For a cheap but good it lens I would get either a 18-105 if I wanted VR or an 18-70 if I didn't (18-70 is the better lens but has les range and no VR). Both can be had for ca. £100.
 
Sounds like you've already know what you want. The 10-20 is supposed to be a good lens.
Might also be worth considering the tokina 11-16mm? less flexible zoom, but it's got a wider aperture and very highly regarded IQ.

For the 50mm, you're in luck because nikon have just announced a new AF-s version that'll autofocus on your D3100.

For the zoom lens, I here good things about the 70-300VR
 
Hey thanks for all of the replies. I'm just having a look at the tokina 11-16mm now, it dos appear to be a good lens and it has the benefit of having f/2.8 instead of the sigma's f/4-5.6... ummm.....

ah im glad i came here, i didn't realize that nikon 1.8 50mm wouldn't auto focus on my camera. When im looking at lenses what is it exactly that i am looking for to indicate that my camera will be able to focus with it? AFS?
55-200vr which is an absolute cracker considering you can get one for £125 or so new.
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yup you cant complain at those type of prices :)

i have just uploaded a selection of my old 300d photos to my website if anyone fancy's a look http://www.distortedkirk.com (not trying to spam or anything)

thanks again
 
distortedkirk said:
anyone used this website before? they appear to have the best price for the 55-200 vr, and appear legit (after looking at reviews of the site via Google)

http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product.asp?ProductID=2643&gclid=CIqZlr-vyqgCFYFB4QodKU0MoA
Click to expand...

I'd be careful

http://www.camerabox.co.uk/text-contact.asp

Camerabox.co.uk said:
Mail your questions or comments regarding our website, products or offers to:

Customer Service Dept., PO Box 20, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2WZ
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PO Boxes put me off. I rarely like dealing with anyone without a proper address that I could turn up on their doorstep if it were necessary.

Shall we say 'mixed' reviews out in the real world? I think that would the kindest wording.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/oxford-uk/discuss/72157622814730658/

http://www.avforums.com/forums/camcorders-video-editing/470679-anyone-used-www-camerabox-co-uk.html

http://www.brucepercy.co.uk/blog/2011/03/11/camerabox-co-uk-avoid/

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2958486
 
AF-S is indeed what you need to look for on Nikon Lenses. That indicates that the lens has its own built in focus motor rather than relying on one in the camera body (which your camera does not have).

Sigma HSM lenses are safe and maybe other Sigma variations but anything with HSM on the label will auto focus on your body.

Tokina are less straight forward but be warned, the 11-16 will not auto focus on your camera. They do a 12-24 that will auto focus and it's very well regarded. Be careful here though as I understand that only the MK2 version has it's own focus motor. The MK1 will not auto focus.

Your best wide angle choices that will AF would probably be:

Sigma 8-16 (meant to be excellent but will not take filters if that is important to you)
Sigma 10-20 (good price, generally well regarded)
Tokina 12-24 MK2
Nikon 10-20 (don't know much about this one)
Nikon 12-24 (Again, don't know much other than that my friend has one and loves it)

For 50mm, as said there is an AFS 1.8 on the way, otherwise there is the 35mm 1.8 or the 50mm 1.4 AFS (which is a bit of a bargain compared to most 1.4's). There is also Sigma options.

For a telephoto, I love my 70-300 VR but I've not really used many of the alternatives. I bought that based on very positive reviews and have not been disappointed. There will certainly be better options but things can start to get expensive very quickly.
 
I know this is not a direct reply to your question but based on my experience you should spend absolutely as much as possible on your lenses. They will move with you from camera body to camera body (as long as you stick with the same brand of body as well as format) and the more expensive lenses actually hold their resale value too.
 
dubcat said:
I know this is not a direct reply to your question but based on my experience you should spend absolutely as much as possible on your lenses. They will move with you from camera body to camera body (as long as you stick with the same brand of body as well as format) and the more expensive lenses actually hold their resale value too.
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+1 to that.

Buy once, buy right. If you scrimp now then find yourself wanting something better in a years time, you'll end up paying more to sell the cheap lens and buy a better one that it would have been to just buy the better one in the first place.
 
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