Best Lenses for a Nikon 5100: Hi all, I'd like to get a great set of lenses for my Nikon 5100, that suit my needs as an amateur. The photos I shoot include scenery, architecture...

mrgriffith

Hi all,

I'd like to get a great set of lenses for my Nikon 5100, that suit my needs as an amateur. The photos I shoot include scenery, architecture, building interiors and sometimes portraits. With the interiors I do not like using a flash if at all possible, so a fast lenses for interiors is desirable but not necessary. I have it down to three options and don't want o go crazy on costs, trying to keep it to about $2000.

I'd like to hear your opinions about which option is best or another option I haven't considered. Here's what I'm looking at:

A. Tokina 12mm-24mm f4, Nikon 35mm f1.8, Nikon 55mm-300mm f4.5

B. Nikon 18mm-200mm vrII f3.5, Nikon 35mm f1.8

C. Tokina 12mm-24mm f4, Nikon 35mm f1.8, Nikon 28mm-300mm f3.5

Thanks for your help.

MG

MtnMan Loc: ID

I see you have the Nikon f1.8 35mm on all you choices. Very wise!

It provides awesome quality at an affordable price. It was my first lens after the two kit lenses (18-55 and 55-300).

With the D5100 the f1.8 has far more indoor capability than the f.14s of old film days because you can use much higher ISO with little noise.

35mm is the cropped format equivalent of a 55mm on a flim or full-frame camera. A 50 mm on the D5100 is actually a telephoto and you won't like it indoors...you'll keep backing into walls.

mrgriffith wrote:

Hi all, br br I'd like to get a great set of lens... (show quote)

rodpark2 Loc: Dallas, Tx

I liked your choice A. Just remember that you need the lenses that have AF motors built in. My Tokina 12-24 doesn't have the motor, so I had to use manual focus with my D5000. The inexpensive little 55-200 VR is an exceptional lens.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Keep in mind that the 28-300mm Nikkor is a full frame lens, it will yield a 42-450mm lens in a 35mm equivalent. Its a VERY nice lens if its in your budget, I use one as my standard lens on my D7000 body.
Never been impressed with the 12-24mm Tokina

twowindsbear

If you're serious about architecture, then consider a Perspective Control lens. They're probably kinda pricey, though.

Good luck!

MtnMan Loc: ID

BTW if you haven't bought the camera yet our local Costco has the package deal again that I bought: camera, 18-55, 55-300, and carrying case and card for under $1,000.

You probably can get it online also. If you aren't a member you can sign up right there.

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

I think the TOKINA 11-16 F2.8 would serve its purpose quite well for interiors.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Here's an additional thought.

I went to a thing yesterday that was relatively crowded and demanded that I change several times from my 18-55 to my 55-300. It didn't really need the 300 but needed more than 55. It was difficult to find a quiet place to sit down and change lenses. There were kids running all over making it dangerous for the equipment.

I am thinking that a single 18-200 or 18-270 would be much better for those situations and also for travel where I don't want to take so much stuff.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I have a friend that shoots the D5100 and her ONLY lens is the 18-200. She has excellent results with it and its light enough she doesn't tire from carrying it all day.

mrgriffith

Hi Shooter, thanks for the information. You mentioned that the 18-200 yields a 42-450mm lens in a 35mm equivalent, but your friend uses it on her 5100 all the time. What would be your recommendation when I need a wide angle? I was hoping the 18mm side of the 18-200 would cover that for me.

Thanks.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Actually using the 18 mm on a D5100 is the equivalent of a 27mm on a 35mm film camera. It is a wide angle compared to the 50mm standard but not super wide.

mrgriffith wrote:

Hi Shooter, thanks for the information. You mentioned that the 18-200 yields a 42-450mm lens in a 35mm equivalent, but your friend uses it on her 5100 all the time. What would be your recommendation when I need a wide angle? I was hoping the 18mm side of the 18-200 would cover that for me.

Thanks.

naturalite Loc: Up state NY

mrgriffith wrote:

Hi all, br br I'd like to get a great set of lens... (show quote)

To me it boils down to; what can you keep when you up grade the body in the future. I would rather have two really good primes than a trunk load of zooms.
For example; med. format use: 45mm, 75mm, 150mm, 200mm. and I'm looking to pick up a 400mm in the future.
No matter what camera brand you get, buy good glass. In the end you'll notice your lenses will cost a lot more than the bodies. Bodies will fall by the wayside, but good glass will go on for a long time.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I heard that when I first got into this last year but I didn't believe it...till I bought the f1.8 35mm.

I am now a born-again believer!

That said, I do intend to buy one more zoom...e.g. an 18-270. I went to a thing this weekend that demanded different lenses (I had to switch back and forth between my two zooms). There were 1,000 kids and mothers wielding their strollers. Changing lenses was an exercise I don't wish to repeat. I'd also be inclined to take only it on vacations that involve public transportation.

Nonetheless I managed some OK shots.

naturalite wrote:

To me it boils down to; what can you keep when you up grade the body in the future. I would rather have two really good primes than a trunk load of zooms.
For example; med. format use: 45mm, 75mm, 150mm, 200mm. and I'm looking to pick up a 400mm in the future.
No matter what camera brand you get, buy good glass. In the end you'll notice your lenses will cost a lot more than the bodies. Bodies will fall by the wayside, but good glass will go on for a long time.

Birds of Prey Center

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

mrgriffith wrote:

Hi Shooter, thanks for the information. You mentioned that the 18-200 yields a 42-450mm lens in a 35mm equivalent, but your friend uses it on her 5100 all the time. What would be your recommendation when I need a wide angle? I was hoping the 18mm side of the 18-200 would cover that for me.

Thanks.

I think you misunderstood. The 28-300mm is an FX lens and yields an equivalent of 42-450mm on the D5100. The 18-200mm is a DX lens.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Yes, that math works. And likewise the 18-200 on the D5100 is the 35mm film camera equivalent of a 27-300mm lens.

Can you clarify what you mean by "DX lens". I understand that the Nikon's DX sensor is smaller than the full frame FX, yielding a crop factor of 1.5 for any Nikon lens. As I understood it you can use most Nikon lenses on either camera type. But if your camera doesn't have a focusing motor in the body (such as the D5100) lenses without focusing motors won't autofocus.

MT Shooter wrote:

I think you misunderstood. The 28-300mm is an FX lens and yields an equivalent of 42-450mm on the D5100. The 18-200mm is a DX lens.