Hi all,
Was wondering if I could get a little advice on lenses? I have a Nikon D3300 that I only have the kit lens for (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens). Works for me most of the time, I'm not a big equipment person because I feel I could fall quickly in to that trap and I don't have a lot of money. However on my two trips this summer - one to Cuba and one to Florida - I was really wishing I had a little more zoom and a little more low light capability. I mostly shoot street photography and people. Would like to be able to get more candid shots from farther away. And I'm not a fan of flashes so would like something that will go lower than 3.5....any suggestions? is there one lens that would help out with both situations?

thanks so much!

...don't have a lot of money
...a little more zoom
...street photography
...more candid shots from farther away

The excellent little 55-200mm kit lens fits your needs exactly, except for the requirement to "go lower than 3.5". As most of your photos will be taken outdoors in natural light, this lens gets great reviews and at $146 brand new from B&H, it's a super-bargain. Take a look at it and see if it might fit your needs. I have a D3300 with the 18-55 and the 55-200 and and it's an excellent and reasonably-priced package that performs great for the type of photography you like.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-200mm-vr.htm

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1111441-REG/nikon_20050_nikkor_afs_dx_55_200mm.html

...don't have a lot of money
...a little more zoom
...street photography
...more candid shots from farther away

The excellent little 55-200mm kit lens fits your needs exactly, except for the requirement to "go lower than 3.5". As most of your photos will be taken outdoors in natural light, this lens gets great reviews and at $146 brand new from B&H, it's a super-bargain. Take a look at it and see if it might fit your needs. I have a D3300 with the 18-55 and the 55-200 and and it's an excellent and reasonably-priced package that performs great for the type of photography you like.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-200mm-vr.htm

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1111441-REG/nikon_20050_nikkor_afs_dx_55_200mm.html

Hi all,
Was wondering if I could get a little advice on lenses? I have a Nikon D3300 that I only have the kit lens for (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens). Works for me most of the time, I'm not a big equipment person because I feel I could fall quickly in to that trap and I don't have a lot of money. However on my two trips this summer - one to Cuba and one to Florida - I was really wishing I had a little more zoom and a little more low light capability. I mostly shoot street photography and people. Would like to be able to get more candid shots from farther away. And I'm not a fan of flashes so would like something that will go lower than 3.5....any suggestions? is there one lens that would help out with both situations?

thanks so much!

Hi all,
Was wondering if I could get a little advice on lenses? I have a Nikon D3300 that I only have the kit lens for (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens). Works for me most of the time, I'm not a big equipment person because I feel I could fall quickly in to that trap and I don't have a lot of money. However on my two trips this summer - one to Cuba and one to Florida - I was really wishing I had a little more zoom and a little more low light capability. I mostly shoot street photography and people. Would like to be able to get more candid shots from farther away. And I'm not a fan of flashes so would like something that will go lower than 3.5....any suggestions? is there one lens that would help out with both situations?

thanks so much!

If there was a lens made that had a wide zoom range, fast constant aperture, and low price, every photographer here would own that lens, and never part with it, even to our grave! You saw some great recommendations in the wide to tele range of zooms. Just settle on a few, then look up some reviews on each of the lenses. Then decide, and make an informed purchase. You will have confidence in your choice because you did your own homework. Now if you want a sweet bokeh and something for rad street portraits, just get a lowly 50mm, as an additional lens, in a f1.8-1.2 range as budget allows. It will give you a fast 75mm equivalent view on your Dx camera, with bokeh galore. So a wide zoom to sweep the street views, and a tight fixed to get personal with. If there is a local photo club near you, say hello and you may find yourself taking test shots on your camera body with a slew of nice lenses. Even a faster f2.8 lens in the range of zoom you have now cannot duplicate what a prime fast lens can render. And most of the great brands of lenses have made stinkers, that burn the purchaser. So do the homework before you lay your money down.

Jules, one of the drawbacks to using a telephoto to do street photography is that you begin to appear creepy, and creepy with a camera is never a welcomed sight.

I've found that a 28~85 f/3.5-4.5 works well. In lieu of spending a lot of money on a "fast" lens, just utilize a higher ISO setting. There's nothing wrong with that approach. Just in case, they do make a 28~85 f/2.8. The f/3.5 lens can be found for about $100. The f/2.8 around $270. The f/2.8 lens reduces to f/4 at 85mm.
--Bob