Lens questions for possible new DSLR (Nikon D60)

Daysleeper40

Daysleeper40

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Hi All,

It is my 30th birthday in August and as the parents say they want to buy me a "special" present to commemorate the day, I am of course going to ask for a DSLR. Don't worry - I'm not going to ask which DSLR for a newby as I can search the forums for the millions of other posts on that subject! Suffice to say I am leaning towards a Nikon D60.

SO, my question is - can anyone help get me started on which lenses I would be best to look at? I enjoy wildlife photography and macro. Currently I am using a Panasonic Lumix FZ8 which has 12x zoom. I also have the Raynox DCR 150 & 250 clip on lenses.

I have tried researching this myself but am struggling to understand the technicalities. If anyone can help me get a handle on what all these numbers mean and how they vaguely relate to the zoom capabilities of my bridge camera I would be eternally grateful!

I'm thinking that with camera + kit lens, I will need one additional zoom lens to start with for the wildlife stuff... the question is, which one? :thinking:
 
What sort of a price range are you thinking?
 
Up to about £300 max but obviously cheaper is better.
 
I'd recommend the Nikkor 70-300mm VR for wildlife. Avoid the cheapo 55-200mm optics as they are fragile, especially the non-VR version.
If you like macro too, look at the Sigma 70-300mm APO, this will give you a macro ratio of 1:2, i.e. half life size.
 
it's cheaper if you buy reconditioned at half the price !
got mine from filterfantastic
 
Thankyou - I will have look at both of those.

I may well say to the rest of the family that all I would like for my birthday is camera + kit lens + zoom lens + bag, and ask they they pool resources to get the best possible combination - I'd also top up the birthday fund if necessary. I don't want to scrimp now and just end up spending more later.
 
Graham00 said:
it's cheaper if you buy reconditioned at half the price !
got mine from filterfantastic
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Hmmm filterfantastic. Bit of a gamble if a recent problem Puddleduck had with these is anything to go by.
 
foggy4ever said:
Hmmm filterfantastic. Bit of a gamble if a recent problem Puddleduck had with these is anything to go by.
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knock that idea on the head then :bonk:

It's a good point though - where do all you experienced photographers buy your kit - new or otherwise?
 
Daysleeper40 said:
knock that idea on the head then :bonk:

It's a good point though - where do all you experienced photographers buy your kit - new or otherwise?
Click to expand...

I've used the classifieds on TP for my last few buys, although I wouldn't descibe myself as experienced:D

And you can use the new feedback system to check out the sellers. You can look at my itrader as an example.
 
If you go for the Sigma 70-300 try to get the 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO.

The APO is the important part of that, as the "APO lens has been made using Special Low-Dispersion (SLD) glass and is designed to minimize colour aberration."

There is a cheaper version of the lens which is not APO. The APO version has a red ring around the lens barrel as the only way to distinguish them.

You can see the 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG here.

I had the Sigma 70-300 APO when I had a Nikon D70 (6Mp) and was quite happy with it, when I moved up to the D200 (10Mp) I started to see the limits of the lens, so sold it and got a Nikon 70-300VR. Better lens, :) but the twice the price. :( I miss the Macro capability of the Sigma though. :(
 
Thanks all - lots to think about.

I do know about the AF-S thing but it still gets very confusing when looking at all these different lenses.

I wouldn't be bothered for macro stuff as imagine I will be using manual focus anyway, but I'd want the option of autofocus for everything else if possible.

Also - if you do get a lens with the motor in and then upgrade your camera body to one that doesn't need it, will the lens still work on the new body? I'm trying to think long term here obviously!

Maybe I should try for a D80 instead - although that would have to be second hand now I think.
 
Daysleeper40 said:
Also - if you do get a lens with the motor in and then upgrade your camera body to one that doesn't need it, will the lens still work on the new body? I'm trying to think long term here obviously!

Maybe I should try for a D80 instead - although that would have to be second hand now I think.
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yes a body with focus motor in it works perfectly well with a lens that has focus motor in it .

a second hand D 80 is a good idea * cough *
 
Daysleeper40 said:
Thanks all - lots to think about.

I do know about the AF-S thing but it still gets very confusing when looking at all these different lenses.

I wouldn't be bothered for macro stuff as imagine I will be using manual focus anyway, but I'd want the option of autofocus for everything else if possible.

Also - if you do get a lens with the motor in and then upgrade your camera body to one that doesn't need it, will the lens still work on the new body? I'm trying to think long term here obviously!

Maybe I should try for a D80 instead - although that would have to be second hand now I think.
Click to expand...

You can use a lens with a motor on a body with one without any problem, all the Nikon bodies above the D60 have their own af motors.

You might still get a new D80 body if you hunt around, there are certainly still some "refurbished" ones to be had - Jessops had them in the sale a few weeks back at about £250....
 
A used D80 would be a good choice, then you might spend a bit more on a lens:D. I've recently got a sigma 70-200 2.8 hsm macro for £380 from the TP classifieds, its the EX so its their top of the range. Tried it out at cadwell for first time saturday its very good, I've also picked up a 2x tele converter(£80 also from TP classifieds) which makes it a 140-400 5.6 and it was a good combination(AF still quick).

Choices choices :shrug:
 
Thanks for all the replies. I have just read Diego's rumour about Nikon releasing a camera to fill the gap between the D60 - D90 which I'm very intrigued by...

and as my birthday isn't until August I have plenty of time to see if it actually materialises :)
 
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