new lens

[woody12]

Hi, still a newbie but learning fast. I'm going to lyme regis on holiday in a couple of weeks and looking forward to taking some landscape pics of the beautiful scenery down there. I've got a nikon 3100, with 18-55 lens. Also purchased a 55-200mm lens which is cracking. What lens is best for landscapes or do i really something else. Thinking about getting another lens, but not sure what. What apature is best for landscapes? Sorry but really want some cracking landscapes of the coast. thanks

 

[TCR4x4]

Landscapes you want between f/8 and f/16 usualy, so any lens can do that.Of more concern would be the quality of the optics.

The kit lens is capable of a good landscape shot, as demonstrated below, but you might want to consider something a step up like the sigma 10-20.

Alternitvely buy a good sturdy tripod and some slot in filters, argueably they might be of more use than a new lens.

Nikon D3100 test 6 by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

 

[Spug]

So much depends on your style of shooting. For example you might use a telephoto to pick details out of the distant landscape, or use a wideangle lens such as the 10-20 mm suggested to get a much wider picture. The 10-20 mm is not the easiest lens to use for a beginner because you invariably need some point in the foreground to "anchor" the scene. Your 18-55 mm should work fine as a standard lens - just remember to put the camera on a rock-steady tripod and close down the aperture to get good depth of field. I would suggest sticking with the 18-55 and 55-200 for now, and waiting until your needs become more apparent to you. When you do understand the shortfalls of these lenses you'll also understand what lens you need to move on to. Not much use for the imminent holiday, I know, but there will be other holidays.