Lens Advice

juancarlos66

juancarlos66

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Christian
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I'm due to go on holiday in 3 weeks and intend to take my D3000 instead of my usual compact.
The only lens I have is the 18-55mm VR lens that came with it. Would this be adequate for general holiday snaps or would another be suitable ?

Thanks.
 
If you can only take one lens, that's it. Known as a 'walkabout' zoom, you can have a go at most things with that.
 
HoppyUK said:
If you can only take one lens, that's it. Known as a 'walkabout' zoom, you can have a go at most things with that.
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I agree, it's the best range for walkabout. Plus, you have foot zoom if you need it, no need to take loads of gear with you unless you are on a pro trip.
 
The 35mm 1.8G is excellent and cheap (at least over here - $200 USD) and might make you abandon your 18-55. primes are not as versatile as zooms for obvious reasons, but well worth the inconvenience. The optics are much nicer then the 18-55 and the f1.8 will allow you to achieve much better images in low light "holiday" conditions. you can pick up a 50mm 1.8 AF-D for around half the price - same quality, but No AF on your d3000 and a bit too tele on a crop sensor.
 
Thanks for the quick advice. Feel a bit daft though because I had to do a google search to see what "foot zoom" meant :lol:

Hopefully I will be able to upload a few pics when i get back so be gentle with me.

Thanks.
 
I think you will find, that whatever you take, you will adapt to what you have. When I went on holiday a few weeks ago, I had about 4 lenses with me, I could easily have used one the whole time, I think about 10 out 400 photos were taken with a different lens.

The lens I used was the Nikkor 24mm F2.8 AFD for what its worth.
 
Thanks John. I probably need to experiment more with it before I go, don't want to come back with a card full of unfocused/dark photos.
 
To be honest, I had had it for about 8 months, only took it, because it is my widest prime, stuck a couple of filters on, and made the best of it, some photos I deleted, but overall the majority came out really well. I think I had only used it once in anger previously.
 
You could always take a prime and leave the zoom behind.....I found that it forced me to 'look' more carefully and think about everything a bit more. I shot a whole Christmas with a nifty fifty once and I had some amazing shots and a good learning experience.
 
When I bought my D50 it came with the 18-55, I then bought a Tamron 55-200. I then changed the Tamron for a used 18-135 to use as a walkabout lens. I don't miss the extra focal length and not having to change lenses more than makes up for it anyway. I suppose you could also go for an 18-105 which seem more available, being newer, and have the advantage of VR
 
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18-55mm will be fine as a holiday lens. You probably wouldn't want to confuse matters further with something else new anyway, judging by your comments. One thing I have found useful for hols/trips where I didn't want a lot of kit was a gorrilapod - easier to get pics steady esp for night shots or pics where you want to set the cam down to get you and another in for example.
 
BazEP said:
18-55mm will be fine as a holiday lens. You probably wouldn't want to confuse matters further with something else new anyway, judging by your comments. One thing I have found useful for hols/trips where I didn't want a lot of kit was a gorrilapod - easier to get pics steady esp for night shots or pics where you want to set the cam down to get you and another in for example.
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A gorillapod...?
 
stick with the kit lens, save your dosh for the holiday. For just general snaps on holiday it will be fine. As said maybe a gorillapod but dont go gear crazy otherwise you will have too much to cart around.
 
boyfalldown said:
possibly the single most useless piece of kit ever invented for an SLR. (IMHO only of course)
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seriously? i must admit i don't use mine that often but it's quite a versatile wee thing - and it cost about the same as a couple of bottles of wine.
 
BazEP said:
seriously? i must admit i don't use mine that often but it's quite a versatile wee thing - and it cost about the same as a couple of bottles of wine.
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yep, its versatile, and incapable of holding a camera steady
 
I'm not suggesting it's going to be as good as a tripod (but then it isn't the size and weight of one) - I think it can do a ok job for where you want to site the camera elsewhere and take a pic of yourself (and your missus for example) or for a little extra stability when you have luggage limitations. I'm not suggesting it as a commercial/pro option.
 
boyfalldown said:
possibly the single most useless piece of kit ever invented for an SLR. (IMHO only of course)
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The baby Gorillapod is OK for holding a small compact or a flash but I really wouldn't want to trust it to keep even a small DSLR steady for any sort of long exposure (over 1 second). The GP SLR Zoom is steady enough though and I've used mine for exposures running into minutes with no wobble problems. Steadiest when wrapped around something sturdy but can work as a free standing tripod if necessary. There's also an even sturdier version but significantly more expensive.
 
BazEP said:
I'm not suggesting it's going to be as good as a tripod (but then it isn't the size and weight of one) - I think it can do a ok job for where you want to site the camera elsewhere and take a pic of yourself (and your missus for example) or for a little extra stability when you have luggage limitations. I'm not suggesting it as a commercial/pro option.
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no, the whole reason I bought it was to deal with not wanting to take a full tripod on a plane and not for commercial use. It failed spectacularly at even providing a little extra stability
 
Nod said:
The baby Gorillapod is OK for holding a small compact or a flash but I really wouldn't want to trust it to keep even a small DSLR steady for any sort of long exposure (over 1 second). The GP SLR Zoom is steady enough though and I've used mine for exposures running into minutes with no wobble problems. Steadiest when wrapped around something sturdy but can work as a free standing tripod if necessary. There's also an even sturdier version but significantly more expensive.
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I hate to say but my GP SLR zoom isn't good enough for that
 
Sounds to me like you should send it back Hugh
 
:plusone:

Mine can hold a D700 with a 150-500 on it (lens mounted on GP) or the same body with a 24-70 (body mounted on GP). As I said, more stable when wrapped around something than when free standing but certainly better than nothing which is what I'd have if I didn't take the GP. (Real tripod's just too heavy to take on hols - we're usually overweight anyway and my kit uses up all my handbaggage allowance [well, there's room for a set of pants and socks in the bag, possibly with a T-shirt as well])
 
Nod said:
:plusone:

Mine can hold a D700 with a 150-500 on it (lens mounted on GP) or the same body with a 24-70 (body mounted on GP). As I said, more stable when wrapped around something than when free standing but certainly better than nothing which is what I'd have if I didn't take the GP. (Real tripod's just too heavy to take on hols - we're usually overweight anyway and my kit uses up all my handbaggage allowance [well, there's room for a set of pants and socks in the bag, possibly with a T-shirt as well])
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yep, mine jsut can't cop (even wrapped around something) with a d700 and 24-70
 
Nod said:
:plusone:

Mine can hold a D700 with a 150-500 on it (lens mounted on GP) or the same body with a 24-70 (body mounted on GP). As I said, more stable when wrapped around something than when free standing but certainly better than nothing which is what I'd have if I didn't take the GP. (Real tripod's just too heavy to take on hols - we're usually overweight anyway and my kit uses up all my handbaggage allowance [well, there's room for a set of pants and socks in the bag, possibly with a T-shirt as well])
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Don't forget your toothbrush...
 
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