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what would be the first lens you would purchase?
Aug 22, 2011 12:18:46   #
purple orchid
 
Recently bought Nikon D3100 and want to add a lens for landscape, children and pet photos. What would you recommend?

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Aug 22, 2011 14:37:29   #
mayreid
 
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 the 17-50 isn't a huge zoom, but it would be the lens you would use the majority of your photos. you will just have to move your body closer to the action. it's definitely not cheap, but it is excellent quality and sharp. and of course, it holds f/2.8 through all focal lengths of the lens, meaning you can zoom in and it's still 2.8. i would recommend checking amazon, bhphotovideo, or maybe even ebay. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/550954-REG/Tamron_AF016NII_700_17_50mm_f_2_8_XR_Di_II.html


Good luck!

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Aug 22, 2011 22:37:24   #
PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach
 
If you can spare the money, the Nikon Zoom Super Wide Angle AF 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX has superior performance to all third party brands.

I once bought a top of the line third party zoom, and while initially liking it, I grew not to like its lack of edge acuity and not quite perfect contrast/color rendition. Replacing it with the much more expensive Nikkor zoom of the same range solved my issues. You only have to buy the best once, while wading through things not quite as good becomes an expensive journey on the way to finding visual nirvana.

Of course, all this depends on your ultimate goals for your photography. If you are content with good snapshots documenting your life in 4x6 to 8x10 size, the less expensive third party lens solutions may be adequate. But, if you have dreams of 24x36 wall prints, the Nikkor is almost a must have.

I think I still have a high end Nikon mount third party zoom which I'd sell cheap.

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Aug 23, 2011 08:49:38   #
gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL
 
I would buy a mid range zoom, 18 - 200 mm. It will give you wide angle and some zoom capability and could be used as your primary lens, as well as give you flexibility in what you are shooting.

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Aug 23, 2011 10:56:38   #
notnoBuddha
 
I too would go with the fastest mid range that I could afford. I have a camera by one of those other companies with a 18-135 that I find very handy.

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Aug 23, 2011 10:59:35   #
wrei
 
Excellent comments. One word of caution to those of us who started off with "film" cameras. The small format film pictures(negative or slides)measure 24 x 36 mm. (2:3 ratio)
In digital cameras, the film is replaced by a "sensor" The size of these sensors vary between cameras. With the exception of the very latest pro cameras, these sensors are smaller then the size of a negative. Consequently, only part of the image seen thru a 50 mm lens can be recorded by the smaller digital sensor. As a rule of thumb, I assume that the focal lens on a SLR camera functions differently if used on a DSLR by a factor of approx. 1.6. (50mm lenses function as 80 mm. This ratio applies linear accross all focal lenses.
Somebody might have an answer to my related question. I learned that camera lenses (SLR) have their "sweet spot" (optimal image quality) if stoped down to f/8 since this eliminates the vignetting and all other distortion problems inheritant in the design towards the edges of the lenses. Would that mean, that the SLR lenses are working at there optimal "seet spot" centers if used on DSLR's?

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Aug 23, 2011 11:03:57   #
notnoBuddha
 
My understanding is that the "sweet spot" you refer to actually varies amoung manufactures and the different lens and that one should look by expermintion to find there own. Very likely I did not help any - and will be watching for others to clear up.

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Aug 23, 2011 11:21:13   #
laith
 
Many new cameras are sold with 2 lenses :18-55mm with 55-200mm or 18-55mm with 55-300mm. These lenses with camera are cheaper than when some one wants to buy each alone and they are absolutely have good quality .

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Aug 23, 2011 18:34:26   #
PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas
 
My first lens was a kit lens that came with the Canon D20. I considered of little use for professional work. I bought a 24-70 mm f2.8, which is a good portrait or indoor lens, but I would do it differently now. I recommend the 28-300 mm f3.5 - 5.6 image stabilized lens. Having a modest wide angle, and a very good telephoto, it is the most generally useful lens one can buy. Its failure to open the lens to f2.8 is not as much a problem as you would think, especially since the newer cameras have very good high ISO capability.

All of the lenses above are of the "L" line, meaning they are the best and most expensive. I think a serious photographer should not work with less.

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Aug 23, 2011 19:39:33   #
samiam Loc: Rochester, NY
 
I bought the Nikon D5000 last year on fumfie.com.Got the 18-55mm lens as well as the 55-200mm in the "package". I use the 18-55mm lens the most but get very good quality pictures with both.I am far from a professional but am told I take some pretty good pictures:)

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Aug 24, 2011 02:35:01   #
Randyb1969 Loc: Armpit of California
 
PhotoArtsLA wrote:
If you can spare the money, the Nikon Zoom Super Wide Angle AF 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX has superior performance to all third party brands.

I once bought a top of the line third party zoom, and while initially liking it, I grew not to like its lack of edge acuity and not quite perfect contrast/color rendition. Replacing it with the much more expensive Nikkor zoom of the same range solved my issues. You only have to buy the best once, while wading through things not quite as good becomes an expensive journey on the way to finding visual nirvana.

Of course, all this depends on your ultimate goals for your photography. If you are content with good snapshots documenting your life in 4x6 to 8x10 size, the less expensive third party lens solutions may be adequate. But, if you have dreams of 24x36 wall prints, the Nikkor is almost a must have.

I think I still have a high end Nikon mount third party zoom which I'd sell cheap.
If you can spare the money, the Nikon Zoom Super W... (show quote)


What would you recommend for a Canon? I know the "L" lenses are the best, but if you could only have one all around, what would it be?

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Aug 24, 2011 03:14:12   #
Lavolpebxr Loc: Cleveland, OH
 
Randy,
I also have a Canon. It's a Rebel T3. I bought it at walmart, and it came with a Canon EFS 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS lens. It works fine, but I did go out and purchase a telephoto lens for the camera. It's a Canon EFS 55-250mm 1:4-5.6 IS lens, and I'm having no issues with it. It runs about $190, and you can get it from amazon, with free shipping. Hope this helps.

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Aug 24, 2011 04:25:19   #
laith
 
I think Sigma or Tamron 18-200mm will be a good option and reasonable price $280 ,$250 from amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-18-200mm-3-5-6-3-Nikon-Cameras/dp/B0011GGNQ2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314174076&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-AF-18-200mm-Aspherical-Pentax/dp/B0007WK8NK/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314174193&sr=1-4

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