My first Lens - Paris & Zoo trips

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Janey

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Hello

I have a Nikon D5100 + kit lens which I got for Christmas and I'm now wondering which lens to get. As a complete beginner I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.:)

I'm hoping to visit London Zoo soon and also planning a weekend away in Paris in May. I can't decide which lens to go for!

Nikon 70-300mm VRII or 55-300mm - I'm thinking these would be good for the Zoo visit?

I'm not sure whether I should get a different lens for my trip to Paris. I have the 18-55mm kit lens which came with the camera but I have been looking at the Nikon 18-200mm but this is a bit out of my price range! I've also been looking at the Tamron 18-270mm lens but have read some negative reviews. Or should I just stick with the kit lens?

I can't afford to buy two lenses at the moment but I'm wondering what would be the sensible option to go for?
 
I find for zoo a minimum of 300mm is nice to have try the Tamron 70-300 vc USD as a lot of people say its better than the Nikon 70-300 vr2 and for Paris u would need much wider than the 18-55! I found the 18-55 not to be wide enough when I was in Paris over Christmas so now I have a 15-85 **** is perfect for what I want. I don't know if Nikon offer anything similar to that range but u could always get a sigma 10-20 mm
 
Hi Janey, I owned the 55-200 vr as my first longer zoom and later upgraded to the 70-300 vrII, the difference between the two is massive for a few reasons.

Build quality - 55-200 feels cheap and plasticy compare to the solid build of the 70-300

70-300 vrII makes the 55-200 vr seem like it didnt have vr at all, the differenc is that big

Image quality again is much improved on the 70-300

Stating the obvious but you have an extra 100mm which at times still does not feel long enough

I upgraded to a D90 after a year with a D40 and kit lens, i purchased the body only and a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 to use instead, this again is a huge step up from the kit lens. The tamron can now be bought with VC (VR), the non vc was the better buy quality wise but i believe the VC has now been revised resolving its inital realise issues. Sigma also do a 17-55vc f2.8. The beauty of these are they are constant f2.8 allowing for better use is lower light at all focal lengths, they are also great for throwing the background out of focus (DOF)

Hope this helps
Mike
 
SnappyHappy said:
Mike, what's the IQ like at 250 and above then? Thanks.
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Hi, it is rather good for the price of it. There are plenty example picture available on flickr shot at 250-300mm you can take a look at here....

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikkor_70-300mm_vr/pool/with/6963881235/

I only have one handy shot right now of our puppy whippet flat out along the beach, cant see the exif data but it was defo somewhere 250-300mm, whippets can reach 40+mph so he be up the mid 30's here, wouldnt say i had that much exerience shooting something moving that quick but here it is...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmike-uk/6963881235/in/photostream/

Mike
 
Thanks....thinking about upgrading the 55-200 (non VR!!) - and would like a bit more reach (as you do!)....just a bit worried it wasnt great above 250, but the pics seem very good, easily acceptable :thumbs:
Cant grumble at that price, can you...:cool:
 
Thank you for the suggestions. I'll have a look at the wide angle lenses and check out the prices to see if it's worth getting one for my Paris trip. If only I'd won the lottery this weekend, then I wouldn't have this dilemna about whether to go for a zoom or wide etc I'd just buy both :-)
 
When I was on DX I found the 70-300 VR to be an excellent zoo/safari park lens, good IQ and light enough not to be a pain to lug around all day. For Paris though I'd recommend something like the 18-105 VR, you get the wide angle and the reach without having to change lenses all the time, I had a 18-105 on a D90 when I was in Paris the 2nd time and didn't really want for anything else. Cheap and very cheerful, better than you'd think for the price.
 
I'd go for the 55-300mm VR. Apart from high image quality, you'll be glad of the light weight after a day pounding the pavements.
 
I was looking at the Nikon 16-85mm lens for my Paris trip but nobody seems to have it in stock. It's £419.95 on Jessops at the moment but no stock for home delivery or shop collection!

Has anyone seen it available elsewhere for this price?
 
Janey said:
I was looking at the Nikon 16-85mm lens for my Paris trip but nobody seems to have it in stock. It's £419.95 on Jessops at the moment but no stock for home delivery or shop collection!

Has anyone seen it available elsewhere for this price?
Click to expand...

Have a look at hdewcameras or panamoz.com
 
John Lewis have it at that price but list as out of stock. It might be worth ringing a store if you have one within reach or one a relative could get to? Park Cameras have them at £461, they are nice people and very reliable.FFordes also have them new at the same price. Also great people and reliable.
 
To be honest i have been to the Safari Park on numerous occasions with my kit 55-200mm and gathered some great pics. I couldn't justify the additional expense for an additional 100mm zoom.

Also, i found the kit lens 18-55 ideal for my trip and sight seeing around London. The longer zoom would not have been of any benefit around the City in my opinion.

Really happy with both kit lenses on my D5000.

Even though i've invested in a 35mm f1.8 i still prefer the versatility of the 18-55 kit jobby.
 
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