Lens ideas please

Dandy

Dandy

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Andy
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Hi all
After owning my d5100 for a few months, with just a kit lens and a Sigma 70-300 bought on the day, I now feel that it's time to upgrade to a better lens. Can anyone help me by advising about good lenses for general photography from portraits of the grandkids to a few landscapes.
Ta :help:
 
Your existing lenses should meet a lot of your needs for general photography and landscapes.

For portaits a 'fast" (wide maximum aperture) lens can be highly desirable as it allows you to throw the background out of focus.
Consider a 50mm F1.8 for starters as they are a relatively cheap intro to what can be achieved with shallow depth of field.
I can't advise on specific lenses for Nikon as I am a Canon shooter.
 
Get Nikon 35mm f1.8 Cheap superb lens.

You still can get 50mm f1.8 too, but it can get a bit tight for pictures indoors...

Stating budget would help too :)
 
Why do you feel it's time to upgrade to a "better" lens. Is the current kit lens not doing something you desire?
 
John Mc said:
Why do you feel it's time to upgrade to a "better" lens. Is the current kit lens not doing something you desire?
Click to expand...

What he said.

What do you want to do that your kit lens won't let you do?
 
Faster is always better, especially indoors - f2,8 standard zooms start at about £100, loads to choose from all about as good as each other.

Approx £300 will get you a nice ultra wide for some landscape action, not particularly people friendly though

Approx £400 will get you a nice fast telephoto, maybe a bit serious for family snaps and the like but very high quality portraiture is possible.

Or how about spending the dosh on a flashgun and learning to use that creatively instead? VEry useful for working with people indoors and out and loads of creative possibilities.
 
I'll second that on a crop frame a 35mm lens is more useful than a 50.
 
the nikon 18-200mm vr lens is second to none- highly recommend it
been using it for years with great results
as a good cover all bases lens
 
Last edited:
the only pro lens from nikon for the dx crop sensor is the 17-55mm 2.8
it produces really good images compared to the kit lens.
used it on my d300 with professional results for landscape/portrait/grand kids
but the 18-200 covers a bigger range
i would buy any of these 2 again
 
Just been away for a few days and tried out the 35mm 1.8g a fair bit and very pleased with the results.
 
For what you've described, my recommendations:

Faster zoom. Tamron 17-50 f2.8 non VC

Nikon 85 f1.8 afs or if you don't mind manual focussing, the samyang 85 f1.4

A sigma 70-200 f2.8 (nikkors are very pricey!)

A prime 35 or 50 f1.8. Had both on crop, loved both, personally preferred the 50 but one of my fave pics was with the 35!

A couple of flashes and triggers/modifiers.

IMHO getting the lights/modifiers/triggers would make most difference to your shots if you have the time/inclination to learn about them.

My tuppence worth

S
 
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