New user lens advice

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carlzola

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Carl
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I have recently taken up digital photography and purchased a Nikon D60 kit. Having purchased a tripod I would like to add a lens or two with the aim of taking close up, wide angle and sports/nature pic's.
Are there lenses that can combine close up and distance work and should i be looking at Nikon or Sigma.
Money will play a part in my ultimate decision!
As a real novice to digital photography any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Carlzola
 
Hi and welcome.

Now some idea of a budget would be useful as you are not going to get all 3 options in one lens.

Can you list the close up(macro), wide angle and sports/nature in order of prioroty.
 
I can see carlzola from where I'm sitting so I'll tell him to reply soon. I told him he should put a budget in his post... :shake: :D

I'm in the same boat so I'll be watching this thread closely. We bought matching D60's :suspect:

LookUp
 
welcome to you as well then. 2 more darksiders.:)
 
Welcome to the forum!!

As far as lenses are concerned, Dyxum is your friend...;)

http://www.dyxum.com/index.asp

Unbiased advice from people who have spent their "hard earned" on kit.

My advice (for what it's worth) is don't rush into anything.
It's so very easy to go out and buy "everything" and end up with overlapping focal ranges and lenses that you wished you'd never bought and have to sell on again.
 
I think that if your after a reasonably priced but decent telephoto you cannot overlook the 70-300 VR. Its AFS so will autofocus on your D60 which may be important if you plan to use it for sports.
I got that to replace my Sigma 70-300 which I found dissapointing. My 70-300VR has got me some brilliant nature shots and I am now starting to use it for sport as well with good results. It will cost you around £300 (last time I checked) but it would be money really well spent and you would not regret it.
 
Smiffy said:
Welcome to the forum!!

As far as lenses are concerned, Dyxum is your friend...;)

http://www.dyxum.com/index.asp

Unbiased advice from people who have spent their "hard earned" on kit.

My advice (for what it's worth) is don't rush into anything.
It's so very easy to go out and buy "everything" and end up with overlapping focal ranges and lenses that you wished you'd never bought and have to sell on again.
Click to expand...


So have most of us, Oh and they are Nikon users not Minolta.
 
alex_m90 said:
I think that if your after a reasonably priced but decent telephoto you cannot overlook the 70-300 VR. Its AFS so will autofocus on your D60 which may be important if you plan to use it for sports.
I got that to replace my Sigma 70-300 which I found dissapointing. My 70-300VR has got me some brilliant nature shots and I am now starting to use it for sport as well with good results. It will cost you around £300 (last time I checked) but it would be money really well spent and you would not regret it.
Click to expand...

I have one of these and it is a fine lens.
 
Amazing to get so many replies in such a short time!
My budget depends a lot on what i should purchase for the long term, not a short fix.
That said, £400 for a lens that performs one service is about my limit but i have a relative working in Hong Kong next month who may be able to get me a deal!
As for priority, zoom, macro and then wide angle.

Cheers
 
You definitely want the 70-300 VR then

Then save a bit and look for a used macro either Tamron,sigma or Nikon. Focal length will determine how close you need to be to object.

Just make sure it is true macro i.e. can do 1:1 as a lot of "macro" lenses are just close up.
 
Will get the 70-300 VR but what about the "macro", how much and what type?
 
I'd like to point out I told him to get the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR NIKKOR so I'm feeling chuffed with my guess :). I won't mess up carlzola's thread with my own questions though. Will create another one about architucture photography later on.
 
carlzola said:
Will get the 70-300 VR but what about the "macro", how much and what type?
Click to expand...


Re Macro what do you want to shoot, flowers or bugs?
 
Both bugs and flowers ideally but if i had to make a choice then bugs it is!!
 
Then the longest focal length you can afford the 105 Nikon at £450 is pricey but good

The 105 Sigma is less but still around 300.

the Tamron 90mm is also a good lens but still around 300.

You might need to look at pre owned .
 
carlzola has left the building to play golf!! Okay for some isn't it?? Anyway, he likes the sound of that Sigma. He said I was to say he'd be back on the forums tomorrow :D Isn't that sweet? He's new to forums you know...

LookUp
 
lookup said:
carlzola has left the building to play golf!! Okay for some isn't it?? Anyway, he likes the sound of that Sigma. He said I was to say he'd be back on the forums tomorrow :D Isn't that sweet? He's new to forums you know...

LookUp
Click to expand...


surely he should be out shooting?;)
 
Trying to make a decision on my first Macro purchase and its between the following:
Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
Sigma 150mm f2.8 EX DG APO Macro
Any thoughts or suggestions please?
 
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