Help - wanting a better zoom

[staffitaxi]

Ok, I have have Nikon D40 and at the moment I have a 55-200 zoom lense.

But its not getting as close as I would like.

I know I can only get certain lenses for the AF to work.
Probably thinking about a minumum of upto 300mm zoom maybe 400mm.

However, after buying the camera and zoom lense I have little money left.

Anyone any recommendations without making me bankrupt. Some of the prices I have been looking at are scary.

Will be used mainly for nature photography and I might want a dabble at photographing power boat racing sometime over the summer if I get chance. Just for something different to try.

Should I be looking at one with a built in macro?

Sorry, so many questions.

Thanks in advance.

Andrea

[Dan Leach]

It's not a great idea to get a long zoom lense that also does macro. A lense should only try to do 1 job at a time (or someone told me)
You could try the Nikon 70-300 for the very low price of £109, but at that price it can't be very high quality
http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?pName=nikon-70300mm-f456g-af-lens-black-colour&cName=nikon-lenses-nikon-zoom-lenses

There is also the 70-300 sigma for £95
http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?pName=sigma-70300mm-f456-dg-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-af&cName=sigma-lenses-sigma-telephoto-zoom

The cheapest you will get a -400mm zoom is about £350, ive been looking at a few meself recently.....

[Joe T]

Dan, he has a D40 so those lenses wont AF Im afraid.

I think you're going to need a bigger budget to get anything longer than the 55-200 and still retain AF.

Sorry.