Lens rental question

[lorijohnhill]

I am heading to DL/DCA for 8 days in early January. I have a Nikon D3200. Unfortunately, with my illness my brain is a sieve and I can't seem to retain new info very well, so learning how to properly use the camera is not working out very well for me. I was looking at renting a lens to take to Disney that will be easy to use and cover all the ranges without having to carry a bunch of lenses. I was considering the Nikon 18-300 or 18-200 from BorrowLenses. Do you think either of these would work well for being able to get decent character M&G shots as well as parade shots?

 

[SplashMo]

Which lens do you have now?

 

[lorijohnhill]

I have the two that came with the camera: 18-55 & 55-200.

 

[havoc315]

I have the two that came with the camera: 18-55 & 55-200.

They will work, but the 18-55 and 55-200 will work better.

 

[MAJPLO]

I rented a Sigma 24-70 for our last disneyland trip and it was great but pretty heavy.

 

[SplashMo]

To the lenses you already have I might add a Nikon 35mm (should be in the $150-$200 range. This is the DX lens....

 

[lorijohnhill]

They will work, but the 18-55 and 55-200 will work better.

I'm curious why the two lenses will work better than one? Is the single lens not as good quality?

 

[lorijohnhill]

To the lenses you already have I might add a Nikon 35mm (should be in the $150-$200 range. This is the DX lens....

This is one I have been looking at. I do want to add a prime that I can get a good blurred background with.

 

[SplashMo]

For a blurred background the 35mm is not the best choice....

However a 50 1.8G will do this a little tiny bit. The Nikon 85 1.8G will do this a lot. I shot for years with an 85mm lens blurring the back ground. I now no longer do this. It is a stylistic choice. However I now shoot with everything in focus....

Most shots at Disney and on a trip are in the 18-20 mm range. This is for an APS-C body.

That is why I recommend the kit 18-55 lens plus the 35mm for low light....

A 50 or 85mm at Disney on an APS-C is tough because of all of the people....

the 50-250 makes a nice compliment as well. Not sure if I would carry it each day....

 

[havoc315]

I'm curious why the two lenses will work better than one? Is the single lens not as good quality?

Zooms lenses require a lot of elements that reduce image quality, create more distortion, require slower apertures.
Thus, the best lenses are primes. They often have apertures of 1.8 or even faster -- 1.4, 1.2. They are sharper than zooms, they have less vignetting and distortion.

Next up -- 3x - 4x zooms. Here, the better zooms will have constant 2.8 and 4 apertures. (But except for 1 sigma lens, you don't get apertures any faster) The best zooms can start to rival primes. Even the "kit" zooms like the 18-55 and 55-200s are decent.

Then you have the super zooms -- even more elements. More distortion. More interference with sharpness. And again, slower possible apertures. The absolute newest generation of super zooms is getting much better. Just as the best 3x zooms are getting close in quality to primes, the very best super zooms are getting closer to 3x zooms. But your average older 18-200/300 is a pretty mediocre overall lens.

 

[xlxo]

I'm curious why the two lenses will work better than one? Is the single lens not as good quality?

When I want convenience, I reach for the 18-200/300mm. I can change the zoom by just twisting the wrist. When image quality (sharpness, bokeh, low-light) is important, I reach for fixed prime lenses (eg 50mm/85mm).

The more zoom a lens offers... the higher the distortion (pin cushion and barrelling). Check out Stephen Eastwood's famous tubblr internet comparison image with a zoom lens. You don't always want a "skinny lens".

If you do go with a super zoom (18-200mm), I also recommend getting the affordable 50mm and/or 85mm for those special moments.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Ok, a couple more questions...

By a "faster" aperture, do you mean the camera takes the photo faster?

And 3x 4x, is that referring to telecom enter (I think that's what I saw them called)? A lens you attach onto your normal lens?

I'm sorry, I feel like an idiot.

I really appreciate all the info you are giving me. I'm going to take notes and put them in my camera bag to take with me.

 

[havoc315]

Ok, a couple more questions...

By a "faster" aperture, do you mean the camera takes the photo faster?

And 3x 4x, is that referring to telecom enter (I think that's what I saw them called)? A lens you attach onto your normal lens?

I'm sorry, I feel like an idiot.

I really appreciate all the info you are giving me. I'm going to take notes and put them in my camera bag to take with me.

"Faster" aperture actually means a wider aperture -- the size of the hole that lets in light. Faster aperture = bigger hole = more light for better pictures, particularly in less than ideal lighting.

What I meant by 3x: 18-55 is a 3x lens. 55 divided by 18 = 3. A 70-210 is a 3x lens. 210/70=3. A 18-200 is 11x.
It's not universally true that every 3x lens is better than every 10x lens. The best 10x lens in the world may be better than the worst 3x.
But as a general statement, 3x/4x lenses require less compromises than a 10-15x lens, and will produce better image quality.

 

[MAJPLO]

For Disneyland and DCA the 18-55 is fine. You may not be able to get amazing low light photos and no dark ride photos but the focal range should be fine. If you already had a 24-70 or an 18-135 I would go with that but I wouldn't rent them in your situation. A teleconverter will expand your zoom but reduce your aperture capability you don't want that on either of the two lenses you own for Disneyland.

 

[lorijohnhill]

What lens do you use for shooting Fantasmic? I used the 18-55 in October and wasn't happy with my results.

I probably should also mention that I visit DL/DCA with a scooter, as I have mobility issues. So, I can't always get as close to a subject as I'd like.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Thanks for explaining the 3x & 4x lenses. That is very good info to have!

 

[xlxo]

Ok, a couple more questions...

By a "faster" aperture, do you mean the camera takes the photo faster?

If you look at your lens, there's a maximum aperture of something like f/3.5 to 5.6. Fast lenses are f/2.8 for zooms and for primes look for f/1.8, f/1.4 or f/1.2.

These large aperture values allow have bigger lens opening to allow for more light. The more light.... the "faster" the shutter can be to freeze motion in moving subjects. The added benefit are

• bokeh (blurry backgrounds).
• less need for a flash
• less need for image stabilization.