ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Well I bought a D7100 with an 18-140MM & a 55-300MM kit and shooting our grandchildren was very successful, landscape was quite good as well. The 55-300MM disappoints. Where I am heading is the D7100 with a higher quality lens and an SX50 for the reach and traveling. What lens would you recommend with varying price points to do what the 18-140MM has accomplished here. It really did quite well but are there any others that would give me more of a WOW factor plus landscape or should I stick with the kit lens for now? Currently, I am just shooting JPEGS with so much to learn, I have to take one step at a time plus my 6 year old computer Macbook Pro is reaching capacity (only 50GB left). New drive, new system and/or a divorce :o) ?? I am fine with a relatively new backup, 2TB Time Capsule. I sent the camera back due to embedded dirt in the sensor that required a wet swab but due to the 55-300MM let down, I sent it all back. "But I do miss not having it around" You all have been so patient with this "old hacker" who wants to be so much more.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I suggest you have more practice with your photography before you start blaming your gear AB...
The 55-300 is a great lens, been using mine for some years now and it's won me several competitions and I have pics regularly published in a national magazine. There are several in my two photography groups who also use this lens and they love it as well, especially for wildlife/birds, etc...don't be fooled by "lens snobs" who only believe you can take decent pics with a more expensive lens...
The lens I use for every day "stuff" s my 18-105 and that is also a brilliant lens.

55-300 @ 300...

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amehta Loc: Boston

First, you are off to a pretty good start with the pics of your grandchildren. One thought is to "get to their level", which gives more of a sense of connecting with the children.

I basically agree SX2002, you may have given up on the 55-300mm lens too quickly. That said, the "reach for reach" might be a little overblown. You may do best with just the D7100 and the 18-140mm lens for now. There is a lot you can do with that lens, and only a little that you cannot. After a few months, I think you will have a better idea of what else you might need.

On the question of the SX50, again, I think reach is a little overhyped, especially the reach of the superzooms bridge cameras. Yes, you can take a moon picture with it, but really who cares? If you want a really good moon shot, buy one from the Sky & Telescope web site. If you aren't happy with the image quality of the D7100 and 55-300mm lens, what are the chances the SX50 is better?

My suggestion is to get the D7100 and 18-140mm back, and just use it for whatever you want to photograph, improve your technical and artistic skills, and then see where it takes you. And have fun with the grandkids. :-)

For the disk space, another 2TB drive is less than $150. Then shoot raw+jpg, or shoot raw and extract the embedded jpg using Instant JPEG From Raw. Even if you don't do any post processing now, you may decide to in a few years, and you'll never get another chance to take these pictures.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

With the D7100 did you go into the "Camera Settings" on the menu and adjust for sharpness, saturation, etc, etc.? If you want to get the WOW pictures in JPEG this is a must along with color balance. The D7100 even has normal 1 and normal 2. Nikon has been said to be a little cold in auto so they put auto 2 on that is warmer. You can do these things in PP if you shoot RAW. I like to do it in the camera. - Dave

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Thanks for taking the time to look, listen & respond. This is in Picture Control, Right?

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Thank You! I was not impressed with the reach and read a Ken Rockwell review on the 55-300MM and he suggested the 70-300MM, which was better for sports & fast moving subjects due to it's faster auto focus. Is your magic (awesome shots) a blend of camera settings & post processing (extra sharp) which would include cropping? I sure can't get that close, even at 20', birds appear small. I can pickup a kit which would include the 18-140MM and the 70-300MM, would that be a better choice? How would I best learn such techniques?

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Amehta....you were so right on about the DSLR and not missing the shot. I had so much fun tinkering & trying during our granddaughter's birthday party. My wife even printed up some of my efforts "Hey, she likes it". The in-camera flash is quite good however I did have some trouble with the flash setting on red-eye and resulting shutter lag. I wanted to keep my ISO low and I stuck with the P* suggestions in the meter. I went back to fill-flash (faster) and cleaned up red eye in iPhoto. You can see my reply to SX202 about the 55-300MM. It is more about the lack of reach than the quality but other comments were suggested about in-camera settings for saturation & clarity. It doesn't pay to upgrade my current MacBook Pro, so I will cull data for now however the 1 TB stand alone hard drive is not a bad idea with two cards in the D7100 (raw + jpeg). I do like all my photos in the laptop and then have a backup every hour with my Time Capsule, a stand alone does not have a seamless backup procedure. I think the SX50 or anything that may come along the way might be a nice replacement for my Powershot S3 IS for the extreme reaching, easy/fast macro & lightweight travel too but for now I will focus on the D7100, which was my initial goal (better shots of grandchildren). I will try getting on the ground or at their eye level as suggested. I love 'Red Bones' in Boston, our daughter went to BU and our son went to MIT & Harvard. Thanks again for listening, viewing & responding. We viewed my shots in Pittsburgh on a 27" iMac and my heart was pounding when I saw the clarity even with jpegs. Yee Haa!!

amehta Loc: Boston

You may decide you want a longer lens than 300mm. I still think waiting for a month or two might make sense, using the D7100 and the 18-140mm for now. If your wife wants to print the pictures you take of the grandchildren, it seems like that gives you permission to get some toys. :-)

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

All good points....Thanks! There are so many choices but I have to say that B&H Photo's Policies are so helpful, with (30) days to try out what you hope to keep. You can read and read and read but until you have hands on, it is often becomes gibberish causing brain overload.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

onefofun Loc: Elk Grove CA

For pictures of the grandchildren or family having a prime lens is nice. If you cant afford much, Nikon has a fast 50mm 1.8D lens for a little over $100.00 bucks that takes great sharp pictures.

Spektra Loc: Arequipa Peru South America

This might be helpful:
http://www.switchbacktravel.com/best-lenses-nikon-d7100
A very good quality tele/zoom lens "with reach" can cost as much as second hand car. For the moment, I would follow the recommendations of fellow UH members and stick with a portrait lens or an "all purpose" lens such as the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II ($597).
Keep on honing your skills and enjoy your grandchildren, while they are still… children.

Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

Try AF fine tune with your camera and all lens. It can make a big difference.

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Thank you that is on my list or others that are similar.

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Thanks for the response. I had the 55-300MM and found the reach to be wanting "big time" thus the comment about the SX50 versus the other choices Sigma's and Tamron's, which have been discussed at length on The Hog. I am planning to rent some of the larger lens to see if they give me what I want and can be handled to my satisfaction. The 18-140MM (in my kit) has some very favorable reviews and has been labeled a high end kit lens exceeding the 18-200MM & 18-105MM from what I could see although the extra reach is nice. I am really shooting for others as many young parents are relying on phones and don't seem to find the time to fully learn how to use the equipment they have purchased. Gosh, I read the manual and buy additional books to learn as much as I can. "Old school I guess, retired & have more time too"