D3100 purchased with kit lens, which lens next?

lolage

lolage

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Ben
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Hi, having purchased a D3100 with the 18-55 kit lens I am now looking at purchasing the 55-200. However do I really need to get a telephoto lens? My main interest is landscapes however my friends are recomending I should have at least a 55-200 for general shooting? Is this correct?

If not what type of wide angle lens should I look at, and how much am I looking at spending second hand?

Thanks.
 
If your into landscapes then put the money to landscape equipment first.

For a decent wide angle lens that's an upgrade to the kit lens is the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8. These can be found for around £200 second hand normally also bear in mind you want the NON VC version because it apparently has better image quality. Also for ND graduated filters and circular polarisers you need a lens that doesn't have a rotating front element which the kit lens does but the Tamron lens doesn't.

For filters you can buy the Kood ND sets which contain an ND grad 2 and ND grad 4 and then a normal ND 2 and 4. you need to then purchase a circular polariser which I would recommend Kood or Hoya.

For a tripod I have a Camlink TPPRO28B which is a really sturdy tripod and I got mine for £50. People also recommend the Redsnapper tripods but I have never used so can't actually vouch for them myself.

A few quid will also get you a remote shutter release to minimize camera shake.

That is pretty much your starter landscape kit, hope this helps.
 
mastertrinity said:
If your into landscapes then put the money to landscape equipment first.

For a decent wide angle lens that's an upgrade to the kit lens is the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8. These can be found for around £200 second hand normally also bear in mind you want the NON VC version because it apparently has better image quality. Also for ND graduated filters and circular polarisers you need a lens that doesn't have a rotating front element which the kit lens does but the Tamron lens doesn't.

For filters you can buy the Kood ND sets which contain an ND grad 2 and ND grad 4 and then a normal ND 2 and 4. you need to then purchase a circular polariser which I would recommend Kood or Hoya.

For a tripod I have a Camlink TPPRO28B which is a really sturdy tripod and I got mine for £50. People also recommend the Redsnapper tripods but I have never used so can't actually vouch for them myself.

A few quid will also get you a remote shutter release to minimize camera shake.

That is pretty much your starter landscape kit, hope this helps.
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Thanks for your reply, in which way is that a better landscape lens compared to the kit lens out of interest? I always thought a landscape lens was about having a wide angle? Also, when you mention NON VC i assume your talking about VR?

Thanks, Ben.
 
lolage said:
Thanks for your reply, in which way is that a better landscape lens compared to the kit lens out of interest? I always thought a landscape lens was about having a wide angle? Also, when you mention NON VC i assume your talking about VR?

Thanks, Ben.
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VC is Tamron's version of VR ;)

and the Tamron lens will have much better sharpness, colour, clarity pretty much an overall better image. Another thing is it doesn't suffer from distortion as much as the kit lens meaning less photoshop work. The Tamron will also work better at the diffraction range compared to the kit lens, diffraction is when the aperture is so small it almost goes into reverse and so it gets softer instead of getting sharper, kit lens suffer from this at about f11 but with the Tamron you can probably get away with f16 and at most f22.
 
For landscapes, you can go for the Sigma 10-20mm for a more budget option or the Nikon 12-24 or Tokina 11-16 for better but more expensive option.

I also recommend a 50mm f/1.8; can be had for £75 second hand and it's a fantastic lens for the price.

I only really use my telephoto for football shots and street candids.
 
Landscape can mean from anything in the far distance to mid distance. I would suggest sticking to what you already have for the time being.

Wait until March next year and pay a visit to Focus on Imaging at the NEC where you can try out various lenses to see what suits. Its open to everyone.

Link
http://www.focus-on-imaging.co.uk/home.htm
 
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DB_SamX said:
For landscapes, you can go for the Sigma 10-20mm for a more budget option or the Nikon 12-24 or Tokina 11-16 for better but more expensive option.

I also recommend a 50mm f/1.8; can be had for £75 second hand and it's a fantastic lens for the price.

I only really use my telephoto for football shots and street candids.
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The 10-20mm sigma looks interesting! Especially due to the fact it can be picked up for about £250 second hand. The Tokina also looks nice but am I right in thinking that this wont work with my D3100 due to it not having inbuilt autofocus motors?

realspeed said:
Landscape can mean from anything in the far distance to mid distance. I would suggest sticking to what you already have for the time being.

Wait until March next year and pay a visit to Focus on Imaging at the NEC where you can try out various lenses to see what suits. Its open to everyone.

Link
http://www.focus-on-imaging.co.uk/home.htm
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Thanks, looks like an interesting event - will probably go!
 
I would have to agree with Bazza, stick to what you currently have until you know what lens range you need / want.

There is no such thing as a landscape lens. Some people like wide angles for landscapes, some don't :shrug:. It's down to your own artistic style.

Going back to the 55-200 recommended by your friends, you can get some amazing landscapes with that lens. Just be sure to go with the VR version, it's a lot sharper than the non-VR.

As for the 17-55 f/2.8 Tamron; it's a lot sharper than your kit lens. It's a faster lens, in that it's an f/2.8 at maximum aperture and renders colours much better in my opinion.

But, again, I would suggest stick with the kit lens for the time being, until you find what focal lengths suits your style. Based on that, then find the ideal lens within your budget.

A few useful peripherals for landscape shoots are the Circular Polariser (CP), Graduated Neutral Density (GND), and Neutral Density (ND) filters; along with a tripod, ballhead and a remote trigger. Balance your budget with a nice set of kit and you'll be happily rewarded.
 
Hi Ben,
I have to say I agree with most of what has been said. I am not in exactly the same position as you, the difference being I use a D50 and have been thinking about upgrading to a D3100 just to get a bigger screen, although I suppose I would find live view and the video functions useful, and I have wondered if I would be better off getting a wide angle, so I am interested in the replies you get.
 
madmardle said:
Hi Ben,
I have to say I agree with most of what has been said. I am not in exactly the same position as you, the difference being I use a D50 and have been thinking about upgrading to a D3100 just to get a bigger screen, although I suppose I would find live view and the video functions useful, and I have wondered if I would be better off getting a wide angle, so I am interested in the replies you get.
Click to expand...

Hey dude

After the replies here and my own research (for the d3100 at least as it doesn't have the inbuilt autofocus motors) the best budget wide angle seems to be the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6. Can be picked up on this site second hand for £250ish.

Hope this is of some help

Ben
 
Cheers Ben,
I will look out for the Sigma, and as you are local to me, if you ever decide to sell the D3100 can I have first refusal please?
I prefer to pick up any purchase I make, I bought my 70-300 from a guy in Kinver.
All the best,
Ken
 
madmardle said:
Cheers Ben,
I will look out for the Sigma, and as you are local to me, if you ever decide to sell the D3100 can I have first refusal please?
I prefer to pick up any purchase I make, I bought my 70-300 from a guy in Kinver.
All the best,
Ken
Click to expand...

Np dude, and I doubt I'll be selling it any time soon as I've only recently got it! :)

Ben.
 
When it comes to a landscape lens don't fall into the trap of thinking 'wider is better'

It can be but much of the time it isn't - only go wide once you are familiar with the limitations of your current kit. It is too easy to go wide and get left with lots of uninspiring shots.

I recently looked through my landscape shots again and found I got better results in the 16-24mm range of my 12-24mm lens - the wider ones just didn't work as well. Wide clearly doesn't suit my style.
 
I would use your lens for a while, and keep notes on focal lengths you use or need. You may find that a lot of the time you need less than 18mm, or possibly more than 55mm. For example, when I was looking at the Tamron 17-50 mentioned above, I noticed that I rarely shot below 24mm, and often found 55mm not long enough, so went for its sibling, the 28-75.
 
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