RickSr Loc: St. Paul, MN

The D5100 is well worth purchasing additional lenses for. I would think the 18-140 would be a great all purpose lens for you, at least, it is for me.

Sarco

I also have the D5100 with kit lenses, and as a very keen amateur, like you, the camera and lens suffice for most jobs that I will ever tackle. This gear is of sufficient capability to keep most photographers quite happy and the scope to produce really great photos rests in the talent of the person holding the camera.

It sounds as though you are happy with the quality of what you produce and a new zoom lens is a somewhat high price to pay for little gain.

In an earlier response there was a mention of purchasing a prime lens and this is something that I agree with. When I took this course and stuck with Nikon, I had the (economic) choice of a DX 35mm or FX 50mm. I choose the FX 50mm just in case I ever get a full frame; however, on the D5100 it is an excellent walking around lens, great for portraits, good for extension tube work at one end of the scale, and at the other end of scale it adequately handles landscapes, particularly panoramas taken in portrait mode. A good prime combines well with the kits lenses which are reasonable quality anyhow. The major deficiency of kit lenses is lack of speed, but in good light, it is not a factor. If I happen to find the 50 mm too long, I just revert back to the shot lit lens and set at about the 35mm mark which seems to be the sweet spot.

This could start a long debate as to what prime anyone should purchase.

fiberfinn

Thanks everyone for your response to my question. I've concluded that I don't need to run out and purchase a new camera and now I can concentrate on what (if any) lens I might want to purchase. I live in Alaska and I'm trying to get myself prepared for some spring time northern lights. One morning last year they were out in all their glory. I took a lot of shots, but didn't realize at the time I should have gone from auto to manual focus. For northern lights I was thinking of the 1.8/35mm lens but then I read where someone recommended not going below a 2.8. So, I'll have to research that further and make a decision. Last year we were fishing out of Resurrection Bay and I had been taking some mountain goat pics and all of a sudden a whale surfaced within three feet of the boat. He wasn't up long and with the 55-300 lens on there was no way I could take a shot. That's why it would be nice to have the 18-200.

I know this will make most of you grab your chest and say "It's the big one", but I have never taken a single photo in raw, and 99% of the time I have left the setting on auto. This is mainly because I haven't taken the time to thoroughly know my camera and all the menus etc. are overwhelming. One thing I have learned is if you don't constantly use the camera you tend to forget and start fumbling around when a good shot appears. Thanks again

Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI

That camera body is a very good piece of technology. If you want to add to your list of cameras, stay with the 5000+ series. All Nikon lenses will work on Nikon cameras. Purchase the lens you really want. I bought the 16-80 and put it on the D5200 and have a longer lens 70-300 that is on the D5100. Both produce good photos. Enjoy!