Lens Selection Nikon D3100

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Jackman's Runner

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Nigel
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Dear All
I'm just starting to get the hand of my new Nikon D3100.

However , at the moment I just have the kit lens , the 18-55 that came with the camera body.

So what I am looking at, is what lenses should I look to buy over the next year or so?

My main interests are Landscapes, Macro close ups, wildlife and perhaps some sport stuff..(motor racing) . A finger in a lot of things really.

I am hoping that 3 lenses should get me by. Its just which ones? I would prefer Nikon AF-S lenses, or, 3rd party maker (Sigma etc) if they offer the same functions, I'm prepared to pay up to £800 a lens if I HAVE to , but pleased to spend less if thats all thats needed.

Any advice anyone?

Cheers, Nigel

P/S Can anyone point me to anything which gives a good overview of the pros and cons of filters?
 
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personally i would add a 35mm 1.8G or 50mm f1.8G to the your kit along with a either a 55-200 f4-5.6 VR or 70-300 VR.

That should cover most of the stuff you need. Since you mention wild life i would go for the 70-300 VR.
 
Definitely the 35mm 1.8 Nikkor. It's so cheap yet the results are amazing and so sharp. I got one to go with my d3100 and I don't regret it.

I also got a sigma 50-200 os for my zoom needs. It was on offer at Jacobs for £100 and os a great lens for a modest budget.

However as your budget seems to be quite good there are a myriad of great lenses you could go for. I saw Kai on digital rev review the nikon 18-200 and he loved it. If I could afford it I would definitely go for it.

Don't discount the kit lens as well. It is a great lens in my opinion and it is always in my camera bag!
 
I have the 18-55, 35/1.8, 55-200 VR set and it is a very capable kit given the price. I don't find myself unable in most circumstances. All three are very sharp in good light or with flash, and the 35 is great in low light. These are (I think) the three cheapest nikon lenses that AF on the intro bodies, so really a good set to work with.

The 70-300 would be a consideration if you don't mind the extra size and price over the 55-200. Also for the price difference I wouldn't consider the Tamron or Sigma xx-200 consumer lenses. The 55-200 VR is just too good. As a side benefit, the 1M working distance means you can get semi macro (compared to other non macro lenses). I think it is 1:3.5 or so at 200mm. With a 2x or 4X close up lens, you can get very close to a respectable macro.

Also consider a flash. If you don't have low light lenses, then you need to add light sometimes. I have an SB400 which is a nice little flash, but there are a couple limitations. If I were to do it again, I'd get a different inexpensive aftermarket flash with iTTL instead of the SB400, or just go straight to the SB600.

Thanks,
Rick
 
Macro:
Nikkor 105 (older d or newer vr) f2.8
Sigma 105/150
Extension tubes (basic, or kenko?)

Landscape:
As above (for details)
Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 @ f8 or f11 *Manual Focus on your camera
Sigma 10-20 f3.5 (older version?)

Wildlife: (assuming birds or other skittish animals)
Sigma 50-500, 150-500
Tamron (?) 80-400

Portrait/normal:
nikon 35mm f1.8
Sigma 30mm f1.4
Samyang 85mm 1.4 * manual focus


For those that I have you can see what I get on the links in the siggy \/

:)

Approx cost per lens is 400ukp (35mm is around 170 and the bigma is nearer 800+ ukp)

Edit:
Forgot about the filters bit... Look for a rotating cpl for the normal lenses. Shouldn't need others unless you want to mess around with them... Check out the Lee filters (slot ones are more easier). Also look into an ND or a graduated filter (to darker skies).
 
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£800 should put you in the market place for a used Nikkor 300mm f.4 AF-S.

In the future you can add 1.4 or 1.7 convertors to get even more range without much reduction in quality.

superb lens:)
 
£800 you can also grab the following .....

used Sigma 70-200 f2.8 for around £400 - £470
used Tamron 17-50 f2.8 for around £200 - 250
used Nikon 35mm f1.8G for around £100 - 120
 
Your kind of in the same position as my im using D60 for pritty much the same camera.

I have got standard kit lens but this week i have purchased a Nikon 70-300mm if you check on ebay you can get a great deal on these. Second hand they seem to be selling for around the £300 mark ive just paid £303 brand new from the argos outlet on ebay.

Also going to get myself a 35mm prime in the next week or so.
 
I was thinking of the 35mm 1.8f for my D5000, by the sounds of it, it is a good lens :)
 
Miss Moo!! said:
I was thinking of the 35mm 1.8f for my D5000, by the sounds of it, it is a good lens :)
Click to expand...

I've now got the 50mm 1.8, that's a lovely one.
 
Made a choice yet?
 
depend what you want to shoot, on a crop sensor the 35mm will be 52.5mm and the 50mm will be 75mm.

I've got the 35mm and it does a cracking job, but i will also get the 50mm and 85mm as well
 
Am in the exact same position just now.

Just need a walk around lens, which for me something like a sigma 17-70 would be enough.

And a zoom lens for nature and the very occasional motorsports. Am lost with this one :| been thinking about a nikon 55-200, but not sure it will have enough zoom :thinking:
 
Nikon 35mm f1.8g

Sigma 18-50 f2.8 EX Macro

Nikon 70-300VR or Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM II
 
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Thanks everyone.

Much food for thought. I notice small fast prime lenses get a lot of support 35/50 etc.

Where do folk see this fitting in with my ,main interest. Viz: Lanscape, Macro and some motorsport?

Cheers, Nigel
 
badboy1984 said:
£800 you can also grab the following .....

used Sigma 70-200 f2.8 for around £400 - £470
used Tamron 17-50 f2.8 for around £200 - 250
used Nikon 35mm f1.8G for around £100 - 120
Click to expand...

This is not far from my d90 setup

Used NIKON 50mm f1.8
Used sigma 18-50 f2.8
Used sigma 70-200 f2.8

And a nikon sb600. Just about everything I need
 
Jackman's Runner said:
Viz: Lanscape, Macro and some motorsport?
Click to expand...

Well, they're all very different disciplines and expecting one lens to do them all isn't realistic. Fast primes (I'd go for the 35mm in a crop body) are a great general purpose lens that will let you have a shallow depth of field and be used in low light.

Macro will require a proper macro lens for best results.

Motorsport will require a telephoto lens.

Covering everything ain't cheap.
 
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