Question about Lenses

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jelphotnikondfan

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James
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Hi

I've not posted here for several months.

I have a Nikon D60 with Standard Kit lens. I've been playing with the camera and just been using it as a normal point and shoot camera but I really want to make more use of the camera.

What can I actually use the standard lens for. I want to take some Landscape. If the standard lens is not suitable which lens is suitable for my proposed purpose. And again what is the standard lens best used for.

:amstupid:

:nikon:
 
You can use the kit lens for anything really - from landscape, to portrait, maybe some nature/macro with some extension tubes.

Why do you feel the lens is not good enough? Try experimenting with your camera more by taking it off the automatic mode and use it as an SLR rather than a P&S.


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Your 18-55mm lens is a decent general purpose lens. Not so long ago, if you bought a 35mm SLR, you'd get a 50mm lens to go with it. That was before the days of decent, sharp zoom lenses.
You could do loads with a fixed 50mm lens and you can do infinitely more with your 18-55mm.
For landscapes, use it at 18mm. For everything else, zoom in and out until you like what you see in your camera's viewfinder.
 
Uneducated_Rick said:
You can use the kit lens for anything really - from landscape, to portrait, maybe some nature/macro with some extension tubes.

Why do you feel the lens is not good enough? Try experimenting with your camera more by taking it off the automatic mode and use it as an SLR rather than a P&S.


p.s. you can add subscriptions without editing your post, click on the Thread Tools at the top, then Subscribe to this Thread
Click to expand...

A few Months ago just after I got the camera (late summer) I tried to take a picture of a bird in a tree. I was a fair distance away but close enough to see it clearly with my eyes but my camera would not pick the bird up and when I got too close it flew away up I tried mannually focus and auto focus. So thats why I am baffled what I can use the lens for.

I have not been out and about over the winter because I have been at work almost all day and when I got back from work its dark.
But now with the days getting longer and the days getting better weather wise I am going to try and get out more espeically at weekends.

I want to enter this competition set by Pratical Photography to win a photography holiday to Solvakia but need inspiration. Please help

What are extension tubes?
 
I'm assuming that you've got the normal 18-55 kit lens, which is a cracking lens. If you're wanting to try nature stuff I'd say have a save and get a lens with a longer reach. I have the 55-200 Nikkor AF-S which is great. I actually bought it bundled with my D40 as a double zoom kit. It'll give you much more reach.

That said, I use my 18-55 almost exclusively for landscape work, and one of the studios I use is too small to use my 55-200, so the wider lens gets used there too. The only down side of the 18-55 is that the whole front element rotates when focussing which makes using a Cokin style system a bit of a PITA!
 
Thats not the lens thats:

A) The human brain
B) The camera


When you "see" something, say a bird in a tree it's quite astonishing how much your brain post processes the results. It loses all the "non bird guff" around the edge so you think you see the bird in large format. You dont. If you really stood back and objectively "thought" about how much extra space you could see around the bird then that's what the camera at approx 55mm (full frame) would see.

As to being able to focus on the beastie, thats where the gubbins in the camera comes into play, as well as the available light. If its dark, same shades, very thin, then auto focus is prone to hunting ... ie missing.

That's why bird togs have 400+ mm lenses. It reduces the amount of extra space around the subject, providing much more definition and gives the camera a much better chance of getting focus and using all those nice MegaPixels to their best advantage.
 
extension tubes are used in macro photography, they are hollow tubes that fit between the body and the lens and increase the magnification so you can photograph really small things such as insects, they wouldn't help with the bird in the tree though, you need a longer zoom lens for that

Your D60 has no motor in the body for autofocus so you need lenses with a motor in such as Nikkor AF-s or Sigma HSM
 
You only need a motorised lens if you want AF though, right? I actually never looked at this. As I understood it, non AF-S lenses will still work on a D40/60 other than AF function, is that right?
 
55-200 ;)
 
How much would a 55-200mm lens set me back. I dont mind a third party lens but I would prefer it to have a motor for autofocus. But if a non motor is alot cheaper I will considfer it. Please Give aprox prices
 
You can get the Nikon one for less than £200. I linked to it above, but here it is again:

55-200 Nikkor AF-S

Sigma also make one, I had one on my E-420, but it wasn't great. It was pretty good, but it was quote soft on the long end. I'd go for the Nikon. There's also a VR version for around £230.
 
ChrisMClark said:
You can get the Nikon one for less than £200. I linked to it above, but here it is again:

55-200 Nikkor AF-S

Sigma also make one, I had one on my E-420, but it wasn't great. It was pretty good, but it was quote soft on the long end. I'd go for the Nikon. There's also a VR version for around £230.
Click to expand...

Sugar. I was hopping to get one for under £100 have to save up and make use with 18-55mm

Is it my imgination or does the 18-55 and 55-200 look very similar in size if the 55-200 has a longer zoom surly it would be a lot longer
 
It's a very similar size. Someone would be able to tell you the techy ins and outs of why, but they're both fairly compact lenses.
 
ChrisMClark said:
You only need a motorised lens if you want AF though, right? I actually never looked at this. As I understood it, non AF-S lenses will still work on a D40/60 other than AF function, is that right?
Click to expand...

you're correct but most people want AF these days
 
AF is cheatin' :D
 
I've had my 18-135 kit lens for nearly 2 years now, and only recently have a i felt I've met it's boundaries and have started looking around for new lenses. And even with an 18-55 I;m sure the possibilities are endless if you put a bit of creativity into it
 
I do use AF occasionally, but I do try and avoid it. I know there's nothing wrong with using AF, but I can't shake the whole 'cheating' feeling :lol:
 
If someone could post some pictures taken with a 18-55MM lens stating at what length and apture settings I would be greatful. Just so I get an idea.
 
Tamron do a focal length comparison, it can be found at http://www.tamroneurope.com/flc.htm

Unfortunately if you want to get photos of birds (or other small wildlife) you either need to improve your bush skills and get much closer, or fork out on some of the more expensive lenses (longer lens means more glass, ergo higher price).

As for finding a lens under £100 :(. Lenses are unfortunately rather expensive, but they do hold their prices well so you can sell anything on second hand for a minimal loss. I'm currently looking at getting a 300mm lens, it is likely to cost me £800-£1100 depending if I get second hand or not, and that is the cheapest 300mm fixed focal length made by any manufacturer, I could spend over £3500
 
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