I realize I am limited with experience but I seem have either gotten very lucky or just don't quite know what I am talking about (real possibility). A few years ago I bought a Nikon D3300 with a kit lens (18-55mm like usual). Once I really got hooked I stepped up a bit in lenses..nothing crazy: AF-S 55 - 300mm, AF-S Micro 85mm. Later I purchased a AF-S 35mm an a Wide 10-24MM (most expensive lens I own). The later 2 are simply awesome for me but the Kit lens is a close 3rd of all of them. the 55-300 and the 85 aren't bad but seem limited. The 55-300 seems just fine at 55 or 300 but anything in between seems soft. (could also be me..any tips welcome). The 85mm isn't really good as a macro in my opinion but is stellar when I use it for close up portraits...anything else out in the distance is soft (is it me again) bokeh is great on the close ups. Both also have AF that hunts all over and usually settles where I just need to touch it bit. The kit lens AF is fast and always nails it, great bokeh close up, clear as a bell when I back it off distance wise. I recently purchased a D7200 (my skill level doesn't rate a full frame yet...). I thought maybe it was simply the cheaper D3300....nope....same on the D7200. So ..long story longer....has anyone ever encountered a gem of a kit lens?? Am I doing something wrong with the other 2?
I enjoy doing close up portraits of animals and people..not Macro I guess, and different/odd perspectives of common things....wide angle type of views.....do I need those other 2 (55-300 / 85) best just to keep them or just stick with the Wide the 35 and the lucky kit lens for out to 55? I have heard some here claim the they can live with just a 55? Lots of questions...probably too subjective but thanks in advance for any advice.

I've been buying Bausch & Lomb "Sight Savers" for cleaning my lenses. They come in individual packages that I throw in my camera bag.
Amazon sells 2 versions - and I'm not sure I can tell the difference.
https://www.amazon.com/Bausch-Lomb-Premoistened-Cleaning-Tissues/dp/B0032DP7Y6/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516898547&sr=8-3&keywords=bausch+%26+lomb+sight+savers
https://www.amazon.com/Bausch-Lomb-Premoistened-Cleaning-Tissues/dp/B0030BUKL0/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516898547&sr=8-9&keywords=bausch+%26+lomb+sight+savers

Question - Has anyone used these? Is there something better to use? Can anyone tell the difference between the two offers from Amazon?

Thanks.

Thanks all for your suggestions and thoughts! I appreciate your taking the time to comment.

What I am seeing is that I should have used a smaller aperture for more depth of field and that would involved increasing the ISO? I think I need to assess the situation quickly in cases like this where the bird might fly off . And try different f-stops.

As for processing, can anyone suggest the best tool to use to remove the fuzzy little twigs on the bird? I tried spot healing tool but that didn't work.

If your a fan of birds especially owls and maybe also dogs. Ingo the dog and his owl friends is a must see. I stumbled across tanja brandt's photographs on bored panda but if you prefer less advertising she has a site on 500px.

Ingo and Napoleon are an incredibly unlikely pair of friends. One comes from a family deeply involved in law enforcement, the other was the smallest and weakest of 7. One could be called “ruthless,” the other wouldn’t (and probably couldn’t) hurt a fly.

Oh, I should probably mention one more thing: Ingo is a Malinois — a type of Belgian shepherd typically used by police — and Napoleon is a 1-year-old Owlet. Maybe I should have led with that…


Both animals belong to photographer Tanja Brandt, whose account is filled with pictures of the two fast friends hanging out together, cuddling, even reading. Not sure who is reading to who, but since Napoleon (who Tanja calls “Poldi”) is only one year old, we’re guessing Ingo is doing the storytelling.

As well as Ingo and the Owls there are also Harris Hawks who sometimes use the Lens on her Nikon as a perch.

Really fantastic photography, trust me if you google Tanja Brandt you will not be disappointed. She is extremely talented, although you may feel a few pangs of envy hopefully you will be inspired.

Tucson, Arizona has a wonderful outdoor museum that is both zoo and botanical garden, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Twice a day in the cool months of (Nov - Mar), they exhibit untethered raptors that fly over and somewhat through the amazed crowd. The Museum was named the #9 Museum in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2014.

All of the images are from an EOS 5DIII and EF 135 f/2L, the bird images used also the 1.4x III extender to 189mm. The images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from host Flickr page as well.

Barn Owl by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4747/27957289949_644fe2327e_h.jpg

Desert Honey Bees
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4671/39026865754_19b52e61cf_h.jpg

Barn Owl
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4672/27957288669_9121c45403_h.jpg

Fishhook Barrel Cactus
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4700/25864115818_0ebd05ceb8_h.jpg

Pyrrhuloxia
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4758/24866546717_8a9c0ea638_b.jpg

Black-chinned Hummingbird
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4672/38837649195_14d88c0431_b.jpg

There's no denying the practicality of the Fully Articulating LCD in the D5000 series DSLRs ... not only does it make it easier to shoot movies, and do selfies, but the fact it folds out and around for use, and then folds back in for storing back in your bag, makes it extremely practical - since it protects the screen. And the higher ISO capability of the D5600/D5500 over the D7100 ... also is a plus. Plus, you have the more compact size working for you, too. Which means - when you put on larger, longer lenses - there is less weight overall, than if you attached those same lenses to a D7000/D7100/D7200/D7500/D500 ...

Here's a comparison sheet for you, Dean ....

http://cameradecision.com/multi-compare/Nikon-D7100-vs-Nikon-D7200-vs-Nikon-D5600-vs-Nikon-D5500-vs-Nikon-D5300