Bought a camera... now for the learning curve!

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Mr. S

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Well... I thought I had spent more than enough time deliberating what to get, so today I got off my ass and bought a Nikon D40. I had a good look at lots of different models and preferred the Nikon range. Sadly, as I should be moving house this month, I couldn't justify the outlay required to buy one of the top models.

All the reviews I have read suggest that the D40 should be a good learning tool and I can always upgrade to a higer spec body at a later date. I've just got the kit lens at present, so If any of you kind folk can suggest a decent zoom lens (or if you have one for sale) please do let me know.

I would love to take some decent wildlife pics eventually, so a zoom is a must. I was out at first light yesterday morning and saw five hares, getting within 25 yards or so of each. Now... I'm completely green at this, so can someone please tell me what sort of lens would have been needed to photograph the hares at this distance?

Thank's very much to all the kind folk who offered advice or starter kits and any more advice would be most welcome....!!!

Regards
Gavin
 
I bought a D40 a year ago and love it, its a great camera, don't worry too much about upgrading the body, invest money in decent glass :D

I've used the 70-300 Sigma APO lens for some time and I reckon its a great lens for the price, though abit extra on a nikon vr lens is a route worth considering also.
 
Might be time for some new fingers too... Now for the learning curve :D
 
I have had my D40 for just over a year now and it is a fantastic piece of kit - especially for the money :thumbs:

With regard to zooms I have the 55-200 AF-S and it is avery good lens for not a lot of money, however you may well find you need a bit more reach than that. I have recently bought the Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR and it is fantastic for the dosh (now about £350 - 400). I spent a long time looking at the Sigma and Tamron versions and it seems that althought they are not bad for the money most people seem to end up upgrading to the Nikon as it is so good.

I would suggest that if you can save and get the nikon - it may well save you more money in the long run :thinking:

Most of all enjoy taking pics and posting them up here, you will learn a lot from the others on here.
 
Got my D40 in November, absolutely love it, great for a learner like me!!! And have just bought my Sigma 10-20mm.

Don't think you can go wrong with a D40. have found it easy to use and understand. Always think there's a danger of running before you can walk.

Really hope you have as much fun with yours as I have with mine!!!!
 
Hi Gavin,

I've just replied to your other thread from a few days ago (whoops!), advising you to buy a D40 - so glad that you have :p!

You will probably find that (perhaps surprisingly), getting recommendations for the best lenses here, is actually a lot harder than getting people to agree on camera body choices :|.

Also, image quality depends on the lens in question being used 'properly' (something which I myself am in no position to preach about, although I do know when I've got it wrong :D). Consequently, you'll see sample pics that vary a lot in image quality. It may sound stupid, but try not to rule out a lens just because you've seen a few duff shots from it posted on a forum somewhere :(.

I'm not going to recommend any lenses to you, as I myself have only ever had one long(ish) range zoom, the Nikon 70-300mm VR and so I have no other experience to compare with it :shrug:. I would however echo the sentiments expressed by more knowledgable people than myself, who have voiced the opinion that this lens can start to lose a lot of focal sharpness, once you zoom much past the 200mm mark.

My best advice would be to read as much as you can on the Internet and use the search function on the "Equipment" forum here, to weed out previous threads about the lenses you have on your shortlist. Of course, Step 1 is to draw up a shortlist, which is why you started this thread :D, so I'll move on now and let you get on with sifting through the more useful replies ;) ...
 
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