Nikon "Holiday Lens"

abooth2909

abooth2909

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Andrew
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I'm just coming back to the forum from a bit of a break. I sold my Canon 40D and 24-70L as I found it wasn't getting much use and bought a Panasonic GF1 20mm kit. I have used this combo exclusively for the past few years and love the versatility it provides. Recently, the wife has become more interested in taking the pictures rather than just being in them (:)) so I am going to get her to start using the Panasonic. I have recently been given a Nikon D60 body so am looking for a good general purpose lens to take on our holidays in the Summer (off to Tuscany and Florence).

I have narrowed down the selection to the following lenses. Budget is tight as it will really only get used while we are away and we will use the GF1 at other times. I will be looking to buy second hand for all options.

Nikon 18-55 VR kit lens
Nikon 18-105 VR
Sigma 18-200 non-OS
Nikon 35mm f1.8

I wan't to be able to take a combination of landscape shots and street style pics. If anyone has any experience of the above, I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks for reading

Andy
 
Hi Andy,
I use the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 VR, as a general 'walkabout' zoom. On a 1.5 crop it's nice and wide at the 16mm end with a 24mm FOV.
Becoming a 'short' tele at the 85mm end, with a 127mm field of view.
It's sharp right through the range and gives me pleasant results.
The Nikon 35mm 1.8 is a very good 'budget' prime lens choice, as is the 50mm 1.8. Both very good value for money !
Hope this helps,
Fred
 
How about the Tamron 18-270? It gets some good reviews and is an ideal walk around lens offering massive opportunities. You could also pick up the 35mm f1.8 for not much second hand and have a great combo.

Happy searching.
David.
 
This morning I traded my Tamron 18-270 in against a Nikkor 18-200. Not so much on quality grounds but because the Tamron wouldn't AF on my V1 while the Nikkor is happy to do so. I might also use the lens on my old D70 if I want to travel light but keep a wider wide end (the V1 has a 2.7x crop factor). Like I said, only did the trade this morning and the light isn't that great today so can't do an extensive test but by all accounts the 18-200 is a good all rounder. FWIW, I paid £220 for the Tamron last year and the Nikkor cost me £150 + the Tamron, both second hand.
 
abooth2909 said:
I'm just coming back to the forum from a bit of a break. I sold my Canon 40D and 24-70L as I found it wasn't getting much use and bought a Panasonic GF1 20mm kit. I have used this combo exclusively for the past few years and love the versatility it provides. Recently, the wife has become more interested in taking the pictures rather than just being in them :))) so I am going to get her to start using the Panasonic. I have recently been given a Nikon D60 body so am looking for a good general purpose lens to take on our holidays in the Summer (off to Tuscany and Florence).

I have narrowed down the selection to the following lenses. Budget is tight as it will really only get used while we are away and we will use the GF1 at other times. I will be looking to buy second hand for all options.

Nikon 18-55 VR kit lens
Nikon 18-105 VR
Sigma 18-200 non-OS
Nikon 35mm f1.8

I wan't to be able to take a combination of landscape shots and street style pics. If anyone has any experience of the above, I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks for reading

Andy
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I'll comment on the lenses you list ...

Not used the Sigma 18-200 (did own a 28-300 though and it wasn't great). The kit lens takes some beating on a price /performance basis - on a D60 it is a great match. You can often pick them up for little more than £50. The 35mm f1.8 g DX lens is exceptional for it's price, a true gem of a lens but obviously a fixed focal length. If you need more reach than the 55mm then than the 18-105 is the one to get, it has it's faults but again for the price they go used for, it is a very good choice, it is no worse in the overlapping range and is probably marginally better tbh. It is better made too. It's a great match to the D60 imo.
 
What about a Nikon old 18-70mm ,28 to 105 on 35mm,cheep as chips,great for a walk about lens ,if not long enough just walk a little closer ,lol
 
Thanks for the replies so far everyone.

I'm afraid the 16-85 is a touch pricey for the time being, I shall take a look at the Tamron 18-270, I hadn't considered it before but it sounds good. The old 18-70 doesn't get the best reviews online, it gets placed behind the 18-55 and the 18-105.

I've been looking through my shots from when I had the Canon set up and the only times I really zoomed past the 50mm mark was at air shows when I used a 70-300 or at the Safari Park when I had my 70-200 L.

I'm swaying towards possibly the 18-55 and maybe the 35mm to pop in a bag if the light is poor... I'm pulled by the sheer convenience factor of having the extra length though and wonder if I didn't zoom more as it meant swapping lenses!

I may just not bother and splash out on the new Sigma 60mm for the GF1!! Lol!!
 
Either the 18-105 or the latest 18-140. Cheap and acceptable quality.
 
I've used the 18-55, 35mm and 18-105 on a D60 and I think the first two suit it better. The 18-105 is a great lens but I found it a little unbalanced on the small body of the D60, great on the D90 I had though.

Nowadays I keep a 35mm on my D3200 and love it and given the D60's limited ISO the fast f/1.8 aperture helps a lot too and as you're used to a prime that's what I'd recommend for you :)
 
IMHO the 16-85 is massive overkill for the D60, the 18-70 would be a much better bet.
 
Nawty said:
IMHO the 16-85 is massive overkill for the D60, the 18-70 would be a much better bet.
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Not sure about `overkill`, especially @ £250 (it's an excellent lens, wider & more reach, that will perform well & transfer from the OP's current D60 at some point in the future, if they decide to upgraded)
 
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How can any lens be overkill? Even a 6MP camera can give better images with a better lens.

I'm looking for a (sony fit) travel lens for later this year, and will likely go for a Sigma 18-270 because I do find longer focal lengths occasionally very useful.
 
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this is a tough one really, because you don't want to travel all that way and realise you've missed an opportunity. However at the same time you don't want to be lugging half of Jessops round with you. I had a similar issue last year while travelling to the Czech Republic, ended up taking my Tamron 17-50 and Nikon 35mm 1.8. I found taking the 35 was great because of the IQ, and i think its a really good length for all round. I ended up using it exclusively on the day it rained (it's weather sealed) and then ended up using it exclusively after that because my pictures got better (made me think about framing more :lol: ) That said, i was really glad i took the Tamron for some wider shots that wouldn't have been possible on the 35 :)

I've just noticed you're down the road from me in Southport (i live in Ormskirk) i'm more than happy to meet up for you to have a try with my Nikon 18-105 and the 35. Also try the Tamron 17-50 if you like :) I don't have any experience of the other lenses though i'm afraid!
 
Looks like I may have missed the 16-85mm, I'd like to spend less if possible but agree generally with spending on good glass. I loved the 24-70 L on my 40D, I just didn't love carrying it!!

andy1868 said:
this is a tough one really, because you don't want to travel all that way and realise you've missed an opportunity. However at the same time you don't want to be lugging half of Jessops round with you. I had a similar issue last year while travelling to the Czech Republic, ended up taking my Tamron 17-50 and Nikon 35mm 1.8. I found taking the 35 was great because of the IQ, and i think its a really good length for all round. I ended up using it exclusively on the day it rained (it's weather sealed) and then ended up using it exclusively after that because my pictures got better (made me think about framing more :LOL: ) That said, i was really glad i took the Tamron for some wider shots that wouldn't have been possible on the 35 :)

I've just noticed you're down the road from me in Southport (i live in Ormskirk) i'm more than happy to meet up for you to have a try with my Nikon 18-105 and the 35. Also try the Tamron 17-50 if you like :) I don't have any experience of the other lenses though i'm afraid!
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That's a really generous offer Andy, I may take you up on it as I'm no closer to picking. I had a play with the 18-55 my dad has yesterday and it was OK but no firm decision made... I shall PM you if that's OK?
 
I have the following Nikon lenses, 35mm/F 1.8, 18-105mm and 70-300mm VR. The 18-105 is my walk about lens of choice. The 35mm, is a great lens but you can't always rely on being able to get yourself in the right place on foot. I find the flexibility of the 18-105 suits me best.
 
Yeah that's no problem, give me a PM whenever. You're welcome to try mine out, for the others I know wilkinson on east bank street are normally very good too, if you rang ahead they might let you try some out in store. They've been very helpful for me in the past!
 
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