New owner of Nikon D3100, need help with accessories?

[NateNLogansDad]

My favorite cheap prime is my 50mm 1.8. I love it for getting pics of the kids, but it's not so great for getting background/scenery types of pics, so I only use it about 30% of the time at Disney. Other than that, I'm using my 70-200 VR.

I'm pretty sure the 50mm won't auto focus on the D3100.

The 35mm 1.8 will and goes for just under $200.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Just to suggest a couple of very inexpensive accessories:

• one of those lens cap keepers. I lost my lens cap the second time I used the camera.
• A circular polarizing filter. Really tunes up those blue skies and puffy white clouds.

For expensive accessories, I'm saving my pennies for an 18-200 zoom.

Sigma makes a 18-250 that runs about 1/2 the price of Nikon's 18-200 and it's gotten some really great reviews. I'm no pro, but I've had it for a few months and love it. All the pics in the trip report I'm doing now (in my sig) were taken with that lens. It never once came off the camera all week.

 

[OKW Lover]

Sigma makes a 18-250 that runs about 1/2 the price of Nikon's 18-200 and it's gotten some really great reviews. I'm no pro, but I've had it for a few months and love it. All the pics in the trip report I'm doing now (in my sig) were taken with that lens. It never once came off the camera all week.

Good to know!

Question: How big is it? One of the things I like about Nikon's is that its just about 3" long (collapsed I'm sure) so it makes a nice compact package to carry around.

Also, I presume its VR?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Good to know!

Question: How big is it? One of the things I like about Nikon's is that its just about 3" long (collapsed I'm sure) so it makes a nice compact package to carry around.

Also, I presume its VR?

Just measured it from the camera's body out.

Collapsed it's 4"

Extended about 7

Yes, it has Sigma's version of VR. They call it OS. Gotta have the OS... never leave home without it!

 

[m-tinkerbelle]

- I edited this posts because I could find some information about what I was asking-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hi!!!
I have some questions, it would be great if you could help me

-I'll be buying this DSLR this afternoon or maybe on Monday. The store that sells it has some offers with the D3100 + a "G" lens and I don't know what the letter stands for. Can someone explain it to me please?
(For example, a 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G VR DX)

Is the "G" important? should i look for a lens that includes it or should I avoid it?

Edited with the info I found: Nikon's website says that "G" lens doesn't support Autofocus with the D3100. The list of compatible lenses for this camera (to be able to autofocus) are AF-S and AF-I, so I guess I need to stay away from the G option, right? (I'm just checking if I got it right)

One more thing. Let's say I buy the AF VR lens, but I want to manually focus to take a certain shot... I can still disable the autofocus option right? (I'm quite embarassed to ask this!)

Sorry for so many newbie questions I think the kit I want comes with a book or with a basic nikon school photography course, so I hope I "see the light" soon

thanks a lot in advance

 

[Wadecool]

- I edited this posts because I could find some information about what I was asking-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hi!!!
I have some questions, it would be great if you could help me

-I'll be buying this DSLR this afternoon or maybe on Monday. The store that sells it has some offers with the D3100 + a "G" lens and I don't know what the letter stands for. Can someone explain it to me please?
(For example, a 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G VR DX)

Is the "G" important? should i look for a lens that includes it or should I avoid it?

Edited with the info I found: Nikon's website says that "G" lens doesn't
support Autofocus with the D3100. The list of compatible lenses for this
camera (to be able to autofocus) are AF-S and AF-I, so I guess I need to stay
away from the G option, right? (I'm just checking if I got it right)

One more thing. Let's say I buy the AF VR lens, but I want to manually focus
to take a certain shot... I can still disable the autofocus option right? (I'm quite
embarassed to ask this!)

Sorry for so many newbie questions I think the kit I want comes with a
book or with a basic nikon school photography course, so I hope I "see the
light" soon

thanks a lot in advance

When I was shopping around and doing research before purchasing this camera, I never noticed the "G". But, I do know that since the lens you mention with the G didn't have AF in the description, it is manual focus only. Regarding your last question, yes the lens will have individual toggle switches so you can turn off AF or VR separately or together.

 

[spinetnglr]

When I was shopping around and doing research before purchasing this camera, I never noticed the "G". But, I do know that since the lens you mention with the G didn't have AF in the description, it is manual focus only. Regarding your last question, yes the lens will have individual toggle switches so you can turn off AF or VR separately or together.

Actually the G means there is no aperture ring. All the functions of the lens can only be controlled by the dials on the camera. "G" lenses will autofocus if they are also AF-S. The "s" stands for silent wave and indicates the lens has a focus motor.

 

[m-tinkerbelle]

wow! I wasn't expecting any replies since it's Saturday (yay!) so thank you both so much!!! I'm off to take a look at the D3100 at the local mall and I'll see if I buy just the AF18-55VR or I buy the 55-200 or the 55-300 XD (always VR hehe)
I'll let you know ;D
thanks A LOT! really

 

[m-tinkerbelle]

hi!
Finally I couldn't get my hands on this camera the store I went to didn't have the kit with 2 lenses but they ordered it to the central warehouse. I'm waiting for their call to confirm that they'll receive it next week.

But, the sales clerk didn't know if any of the 18-55mm/55-200mm lenses was AF G or not. My guess is that the 18-55mm is going to be an AF G lens so I might have to look somewhere else.

I'll let you know what I end up buying
thanks a lot everyone!

 

[DVC Mike]

hi!

But, the sales clerk didn't know if any of the 18-55mm/55-200mm lenses was AF G or not. My guess is that the 18-55mm is going to be an AF G lens so I might have to look somewhere else.

The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S is just fine for your camera. The "G" just means it doesn't have an aperture ring on the lens. It's the AF-S that indicates it will auto focus on the D3100.

 

[m-tinkerbelle]

The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S is just fine for your camera. The "G" just means it doesn't have an aperture ring on the lens. It's the AF-S that indicates it will auto focus on the D3100.

Got it. Thank you for making that even clearer ;D
I'm still waiting for the call

 

[m-tinkerbelle]

yay!!! I got my brand new D3100 yesterday afternoon!!! I'm SO happy with it!
Of course I just took pictures using the auto mode, a couple trying to use the manual focus... but I have A LOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT to learn!
Still, all those pictures came out WAY BETTER than those from any of my older compact cameras
The auto mode makes things too easy and of course I want to learn a bit of the basics to make the most of the camera and lenses. knowing that I can use the auto mode until I am more comfortable with all the buttons, functions and options is a great relief! When I opened the packaging I thought it was going to take me a few days before I could get a picture out of this camera hahaha but I took the first picture within the first 2 minutes

I'm SO happy!!!!!! thank you all A LOT for your explanations and advices, they were really helpful!

I ended up buying a kit at Fnac (french electronics shop) with the 18-55mm VR AF-S G and a 55-300mm VR AF-S G. I couldn't find any kit with the 55-200mm in stock anywhere. Had to pay more than what I considered spending on this camera and lenses ;(

It came with the strap, a small carrier bag and a 4GB high speed SD card.

Now I have to find a couple of filters, maybe another strap and a couple of attachable lens caps (those with a string to keep them hanging from the camera when not in use while shooting)

But first, I have to learn the basics and then I'll log on to Nikon school site to check the online basics course, and I'll sign up for a beginner photography course at the Fnac soon after I'm done with all of that

I'm so happy guys!!!!!!! yaaayyy!

thanks a lot for your help!