New lens options: I have a Nikon D5100 and am looking to purchase a new lens with a reasonable budget. I currently have the kit lens and a f 3.5 55-200 zoom lens. I like to shoot...

apdawn Loc: New Orleans, LA

I have a Nikon D5100 and am looking to purchase a new lens with a reasonable budget. I currently have the kit lens and a f 3.5 55-200 zoom lens. I like to shoot anything from landscape to close-up nature. I also spend a lot of time shooting my 15 month old so something with a f stop around 2 would be ideal. Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

apdawn wrote:

I have a Nikon D5100 and am looking to purchase a new lens with a reasonable budget. I currently have the kit lens and a f 3.5 55-200 zoom lens. I like to shoot anything from landscape to close-up nature. I also spend a lot of time shooting my 15 month old so something with a f stop around 2 would be ideal. Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

I have the D5100 too. I have a variety of lenses but my favorite, and the one that's on my camera about 95% of the time is my Sigma 17-70mm f2.8. It's about $400-$500, depending on whether you want the new Contemporary model which you can fine tine the focus with a dock, or the original model. Both are excellent lenses and well-suited to your needs.

apdawn Loc: New Orleans, LA

Thank you Indi! I was looking at a prime lens originally, but I wasn't sure if I would be able to capture special moments of my running toddler without a zoom.

I also shoot homes and businesses for a builder friend. Do you think the sigma would be good for that kind of photography? I've not used sigma before, how does it compare to a Nikkor lens?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Go for the fast primes! That's what I prefer to shoot with my 3 and 6 year olds.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Cdouthitt wrote:

Go for the fast primes! That's what I prefer to shoot with my 3 and 6 year olds.

I agree with the "fast primes," especially for the "fast kids," but the OP did say they wanted something for landscape & other purposes.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

apdawn wrote:

I have a Nikon D5100 and am looking to purchase a new lens with a reasonable budget. I currently have the kit lens and a f 3.5 55-200 zoom lens. I like to shoot anything from landscape to close-up nature. I also spend a lot of time shooting my 15 month old so something with a f stop around 2 would be ideal. Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

I have a 5200 and not happy with my kit lenses. I was watching a video on youtube on the best lenses for this camera, and I would suspect they would be the same for the 5100, as they are about the same camera. I suggest you watch this video for some info:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSJ4trhBfFQ

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

apdawn wrote:

Thank you Indi! I was looking at a prime lens originally, but I wasn't sure if I would be able to capture special moments of my running toddler without a zoom.

I also shoot homes and businesses for a builder friend. Do you think the sigma would be good for that kind of photography? I've not used sigma before, how does it compare to a Nikkor lens?

If I had the money, it would always be Nikkor Lenses, but I don't so the Sigma is the next best thing for me.

As far as the architectural stuff goes, bear in mind that the D5100 has a crop factor of 1.5. That means that a 17mm-70mm lens is the equivalent of 25.5mm - 105mm.
That being said, I have used the Sigma in my son's house with pretty good results. If it's an occupation, you might want to go down to something a little wider.

So, if you're thinking Prime Lenses, you're probably going to need a variety of those.

I don't know how much the wide primes go for; I imagine quite a bit, but you can pick up the Nikkor 35mm f1.8, or the 50mm f1.8, for a fairly reasonable price. Maybe $200 + or - $50.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Indi wrote:

I don't know how much the wide primes go for; I imagine quite a bit, but you can pick up the Nikkor 35mm f1.8, or the 50mm f1.8, for a fairly reasonable price. Maybe $200 + or - $50.

Good suggestions on focal length.

Keep in mind, that you'll likely be shooting a lot indoors, and with those fast lenses and a slight bump in iso, you won't need to use a flash (of course this does help sometimes, but I'd suggest a bounce flash rather than the built-in one). The primes will also be less bulky on your camera, making it easier to carry around.

With fast primes you can do this:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-189373-1.html

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

You'll also be able to blow out the background for some nice subject isolation using those primes...

apdawn Loc: New Orleans, LA

Cdouthitt wrote:

Good suggestions on focal length.

Keep in mind, that you'll likely be shooting a lot indoors, and with those fast lenses and a slight bump in iso, you won't need to use a flash (of course this does help sometimes, but I'd suggest a bounce flash rather than the built-in one). The primes will also be less bulky on your camera, making it easier to carry around.

With fast primes you can do this:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-189373-1.html

Great images! This is definitely something I would like to capture. Did you use a 35 mm or 50 mm prime?

apdawn Loc: New Orleans, LA

[quote=Indi]
As far as the architectural stuff goes, bear in mind that the D5100 has a crop factor of 1.5. That means that a 17mm-70mm lens is the equivalent of 25.5mm - 105mm.

Thank you Indi. I am very much still learning basics and didn't know about the crop factor. I'm thinking I may need to go ahead and get a prime and one like your sigma. Maybe even a less expensive wide angle for the construction/building shots.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

apdawn wrote:

Great images! This is definitely something I would like to capture. Did you use a 35 mm or 50 mm prime?

75mm f1.8...keep in mind that I'm shooting an Olympus, so that's a 150mm f2.5 in full frame terms. Back when I got into photography, my first lens (outside of the kit lens) was a 50mm f/2. Primes can be frustrating at first, but you quickly learn to adjust for a fixed focal length and learn to compose your shots better (IMHO). Now I shoot primarily with my 20mm f1.7 (40mm f2.4) and 45mm f1.8 (90mm f2.5) and the 75mm listed above.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Let me know if you want to see other examples with prime lenses and kids...I've got a slew of them.

apdawn Loc: New Orleans, LA

Let me know if you want to see other examples with prime lenses and kids...I've got a slew of them.

That would be great! That's where I spend lots of time these days. I just looked at prices for the sigma zoom and a Nikkor prime and the price has jumped about $50 on the 50 mm prime. Do they normally fluctuate on prices?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

50mm no flash
http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/2012/February-2012/i-hZQZZHW/0/L/P2117613-120211-2-L.jpg

45mm no flash
http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/2012/December-2012/i-LsTXz27/0/L/PC030160-20121203-L.jpg

20mm no flash (but lots of natural light)
http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/2013/January-2013/i-dSn94gQ/0/L/P1120104-20130112-L.jpg

and then there is me...a kid at heart...20mm shot wide open outside
http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/2013/Feb-2013/i-8wb88vx/0/M/P2240163-20130224-M.jpg