Beginner question. Which lenses should I carry?

[jec6613]

Well, the D5500 and D3300, built on the new monocoque body are only marginally more compact than the D5100 (which is my compact body, my big one is a D7200). However, since you have the D5100, I do know exactly which version of the 18-55 you have ... and that's where you can definitely save some weight and size substantially without a massive price penalty.

The two that come to mind are the 18-55 VR II and 55-200 VR II. They both use the same 52 mm thread and cap size (as does your existing 18-55 VR), so filters if you decide to use any are no problem, don't have super long zoom ranges and are sharp without any real optical flaws, and have collapsing lens barrels to keep things small and light. These two are designed to be used as a pair, giving you a normal zoom and a telephoto zoom lens. The best part, is that they're cheap, $130 refurbished direct from Nikon for the zooms (which is cheap enough that if it breaks you can just buy a new one). Links at the bottom, you can also sometimes find the refurbs even cheaper at major camera stores (the full price new is about $300 each).

I you want to go whole-hog, a D3300 kit includes both of the zoom lenses and gets you a second slightly smaller camera body for about $600 at most retailers, and it includes a Wi-Fi adapter to send to your phone.

If your budget is less forgiving, and you still want the telephoto reach, just pick up the 55-200 mm VR II, and you have a small, light lens that pairs really well with your 18-55, won't cost too much, is easy to carry and change over to when needed, and is very sharp. Just keep one on the camera and the other in your bag

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Refurbished-Camera-Lenses/AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-55mm-f%2F3.5-5.6G-VR-II-Refurbished.html

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Pr...R-55-200mm-f/4-5.6G-ED-VR-II-Refurbished.html

Edit: Also, if you want to shoot in low light or do macro, Nikon also makes three more lenses designed to work with that kit: one fast aperture (35 mm f/1.8 DX) and two macro (40 mm f/2.8 Micro and 85 mm f/3.5 VR Micro).

 

[gunderda]

The 18-55 and 55-200 I already have came with my D3000, when I bought my D5100 I just bought the body - but I'm sure the same lens come with each.
I'll have to look at the VR II's - I can totally afford $130! well sometimes.... lol
I think at this point my wish list just contains the Nikon 18-300mm which I can get refurbished for about $600. Still pretty well out of my price range but maybe some day I rented it a couple years ago on a vacation and really liked it. WAY better than the generic 18-250 or whatever I currently have.

Thanks for the info!

 

[jec6613]

Any time, and it sounds like you're already all set with lenses for now! The only other one I'd recommend is the 35 f/1.8 DX lens, which is about $200 new (and $170 refurb, so I'd buy new and get the 5 year warranty that comes with it). The aperture opens to f/1.8, so you can gather about four times as much light and use 1/4 the ISO when in dimly lit situations.

The 18-300 is a good lens on the D5100, but it is iffier if you ever go to a newer 24 MP body, which is why I've kept my 18-55 and 55-200 zooms instead. There's a newer less expensive one that goes to f/6.3 at the long end that's actually a bit sharper, and around $100 cheaper. Oh, and smaller, too!

 

[gunderda]

Man I love how tiny VR II's are... now I'm itching to get them.... so I'm kinda glad I only know about these 2 days before I go on vacation so I cant do a quick click and buy them right now lol (I even checked for amazon prime haha). But maybe for my next vacation!

I rented a 50mm f/1.4 a few years ago and I could not get the hang of that lens for anything! I did manage to get a fairly cool photo of my cat though lol

 

[jec6613]

To get the hang of a 50 mm or 35 mm lens, for free, zoom your 18-55 to that focal length and don't move the zoom ring, and turn off VR. In good light, the difference is minimal. 50 mm is a bit odd on a DX body, but I use my 50's for portrait and pet shots. My 35 gets out much more and is used all the time indoors.

I'd probably own the VR II 18-55-200 pair myself if I used them more - owning the 16-85 VR and 70-300 VR as my primary zoom pair does have me a bit spoiled by their higher optical quality, wider wide-angle and longer telephoto reach, plus instant manual focus over-ride. Plus, my D7200 body is a bit of a brick anyway, so heavier lenses are less bothersome. That said, the 18-55, 55-200 and 35 f/1.8 are coming along on my next WDW trip as my lens setup for most days, (except for AK where I'm using the 16-85 and 70-300), with my wide angle and four primes (50, 85, 105, 300) making appearances only for certain days and events where I know they'll be used. Yeah, it's a bag full of lenses, but most of it stays in the hotel room!

 

[bob100]

To get the hang of a 50 mm or 35 mm lens, for free, zoom your 18-55 to that focal length and don't move the zoom ring, and turn off VR. In good light, the difference is minimal. 50 mm is a bit odd on a DX body, but I use my 50's for portrait and pet shots. My 35 gets out much more and is used all the time indoors.

I suppose the difference is minimal if you never use the larger apertures !
For me (on a Canon system) the "nifty fifty" allows you to shoot at larger apertures which produces a more blurred background for portraits and pets

 

[jec6613]

I suppose the difference is minimal if you never use the larger apertures !
For me (on a Canon system) the "nifty fifty" allows you to shoot at larger apertures which produces a more blurred background for portraits and pets

Well of course, but for the beginner, they can step into the larger aperture later.

I own three 50 mm for the Nikon system (f/1.4 AI, f/1.8G, f/1.8D), and the 35 f/1.8 DX. On a crop body, 50 mm is a bit awkwardly long, being 75 mm equivalent, it's best on full frame (58/60 actually make much better portrait lenses, but at a much higher price). The lack of a cheap 32/35 mm prime lens for EF-S (APS-C) bodies for Canon is probably the biggest hole they have in their EF-S lens lineup..

 

[bob100]

Well of course, but for the beginner, they can step into the larger aperture later.

I own three 50 mm for the Nikon system (f/1.4 AI, f/1.8G, f/1.8D), and the 35 f/1.8 DX. On a crop body, 50 mm is a bit awkwardly long, being 75 mm equivalent, it's best on full frame (58/60 actually make much better portrait lenses, but at a much higher price). The lack of a cheap 32/35 mm prime lens for EF-S (APS-C) bodies for Canon is probably the biggest hole they have in their EF-S lens lineup..

LOL !
sure, the "beginner" can step up to large apertures later (why not now!)

FX, DX, EX, GX, AI
1.3 crop, 1.5 crop 1.0
14mm, 22mm, 28mm 35mm, Sigma 30, 35. 50mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2

all those big "holes" !

 

[jec6613]

LOL, Nikon in particular has a byzantine list of lens capabilities and compatibilities, dating back to 1959. Canon pretty much just has EF and EF-S since the great MF/AF schism of 1987. Off the top of my head, there's Auto, Invasive, AI, AI-S, Series E, AF, AF-S, D, G, IX, DX and E, and they can exist in a variety of combinations. I have one 50 mm that's AI-S, D and AF, and another that's AF-S and G, and another that's AI.

As much as Canon is missing a 35 mm fast EF-S prime at reasonable price like Nikon has, Nikon could really use a nice DX 24 mm like Canon has - it's also probably the biggest hole Nikon has in its DX lineup.

 

[bob100]

LOL, Nikon in particular has a byzantine list of lens capabilities and compatibilities, dating back to 1959. Canon pretty much just has EF and EF-S since the great MF/AF schism of 1987. Off the top of my head, there's Auto, Invasive, AI, AI-S, Series E, AF, AF-S, D, G, IX, DX and E, and they can exist in a variety of combinations. I have one 50 mm that's AI-S, D and AF, and another that's AF-S and G, and another that's AI.
.

OK, AI, AI-S, Series E, AF, AF-S, D, G, IX, DX and E, APS-C APS-H EF, EF-S, Series F and FD
(maybe I forgot the GX-10 and EOS SX 50 M1, M2 and 3
maybe it's AI or perhaps AX-G

 

[gunderda]

I caved and only brought my 17-270 (or whatever it is lol I can never remember). I'd didn't even pack the others because I have a dedicated carry on bag for electronics and it's packed full already.
My focus better cooperate! Most things. Should be fine. It's just really up close shots where the focus can get a bit off.