Nikon lens help

[2Tiggies]

Hi, I'll try keep short and to the point.

I bought a used Nikon D40 in September. My first DSLR so I was completely daunted and it arrived shortly before I went away. Took it with me to Disney which is where I got to find my way around a bit but when I got to MCO on departure the AF wouldn't work and it was making a screeching, grinding noise and there was no shutter response.

I knew I would be buying an additional lens anyway but now have no option if I want to use it at all. So this is what I do know:

I want VR
I missed the zoom on my superzoom when using the DSLR at times

After reading up about lenses for the last 2 months and going over literally hundreds of reviews I have it narrowed down to:

Option 1: 18-105 VR (first choice based on reviews and requirements)
Option 2: 55 - 200 VR (this is now more complicated as it means I would need to buy another kit lens or would be missing some of the focal range that I know I do use )
Option 3: Replace the kit lens with another 18-55 but get one with VR. Budget wise this would mean I would have to wait a good while, possibly another 6 months or so to be able to afford another lens, BUT it would mean I can actually USE the camera now and I really haven't had a chance to work with it properly and find my way around.

Sorry, I know the "which lens?" is so subjective but hopefully since I have worked out what I do/don't need or want right now and what I can/can't afford just now ... just maybe my question will be less annoying.

 

[My2Girls66]

Of the options you mentioned, I would get the 18-105VR. Then maybe save up for the 70-300VR for more reach later. The 35mm 1.8 is an inexpensive, nice little lens, too. There is an 18-200VR but it is quite a bit more money than the 18-105. I have an 18-135 that is on my camera most of the time but it is not a VR lens.

 

[2Tiggies]

Of the options you mentioned, I would get the 18-105VR. Then maybe save up for the 70-300VR for more reach later. The 35mm 1.8 is an inexpensive, nice little lens, too. There is an 18-200VR but it is quite a bit more money than the 18-105. I have an 18-135 that is on my camera most of the time but it is not a VR lens.

Thank you. Perhaps I should just stick with my research generated decision and go with the 18-105. I don't know anything about the 35mm 1.8 - I'll go and do some more reading - just in case .

 

[mrcricket]

I have he 18-200 with VR. It's my go to travel lens. I hardly ever take anything else on trips except for my 35mm f1.8. I love the 18-200 and think it is WELL WORTH the money.

 

[Gdad]

I know a lot of D7000 kits were sold fairly recently with 18-105vr lenses to people who probably did not need them. You may still be able to find a sweet deal on one on Ebay. Nice little lens and as already suggested it will pair nicely with the 70-300vr.

 

[tjl1388]

The 18-200VR is on my camera 90% of the time unless I am getting paid to shoot sports, portraits etc.

Without spending $2200 on a 24-70 2.8 The 18-200 is VERY MUCH worth the money. You can pick them up relatively cheap used.

 

[2Tiggies]

I have he 18-200 with VR. It's my go to travel lens. I hardly ever take anything else on trips except for my 35mm f1.8. I love the 18-200 and think it is WELL WORTH the money.

The 18-200VR is on my camera 90% of the time unless I am getting paid to shoot sports, portraits etc. You can pick them up relatively cheap used.

They seem to be a lot cheaper used in the US than they are here in the UK. If I go for this I have to accept that I won't be able to use my camera for a good 6 months so I can save up for it. The tough choice for me is that I am one to wait and get something good even if it means going without for a while which would have been fine if I had a lens with the camera at all, but sadly this is a predicament I hadn't anticipated. I am now also (probably needlessly so) very wary of buying a used lens after the camera. The seller mailed it in a big box with the body bubble wrapped but the lens rolling around loose in the box. I didn't need to know anything about cameras and lenses to realise immediately that this is a potential problem

I know a lot of D7000 kits were sold fairly recently with 18-105vr lenses to people who probably did not need them. You may still be able to find a sweet deal on one on Ebay. Nice little lens and as already suggested it will pair nicely with the 70-300vr.

Yes, I thought I was smart and assumed the same, especially now just after Christmas but not much on eBay UK at the moment. Perhaps it may be worth considering international sellers for a better price, despite the higher shipping costs.

Last night I found a cheap "Sigma 18-50mm AF F3.5-5.6 DC Digital Lens for Nikon D AF Mount" described in mint condition, free of blemishes, dust, etc. It is cheap enough that it wouldn't affect my decisions on the forementioned lenses and I wondered if it would at least let me play with the camera while I look for one on eBay/Amazon. However I can't find any information on this lens anywhere. It's obviously discontinued but I thought I would at least maybe find some comments on it from some Nikon users, however so far I've come up with nothing.

 

[jakespop]

I had a D60 with similar issue. Another option for you is to go to the Nikon support website, fill out the information and send it in to them for repair. Ours was outside of the warranty period but they repaired it for free anyway. The entire process took 3-4 weeks.

 

[ukcatfan]

Just a quick question, but are you sure it is the lens and not the body that is not working? I am not familiar with Nikon, but with the shutter not responding as well it sounds like the body is the problem to me. Try putting it in manual focus and see what happens. A lens with AF problems should work just fine in MF mode.

 

[2Tiggies]

I had a D60 with similar issue. Another option for you is to go to the Nikon support website, fill out the information and send it in to them for repair. Ours was outside of the warranty period but they repaired it for free anyway. The entire process took 3-4 weeks.

I had initially dismissed the option because I assumed it would possibly cost more to repair than it would to replace. I had also decided that if I was going to be using the 18-55 I would rather just pay and get a VR anyway. It may be worth looking into.

Just a quick question, but are you sure it is the lens and not the body that is not working? I am not familiar with Nikon, but with the shutter not responding as well it sounds like the body is the problem to me. Try putting it in manual focus and see what happens. A lens with AF problems should work just fine in MF mode.

Good point. The honest answer is I am not entirely sure. At first I thought it was the body because the shutter wasn't working. The first thing I noticed when I tested the camera was how noisy the lens was in AF.

I had been trying to get a pic of DD and it just wouldn't take. It was very noisy where we were so I didn't notice the sounds coming from the camera/lens.

When I got back to the room and had a look at the camera and when in AF mode the lens would screech, grind and groan continuoulsy but the shutter wouldn't respond. I then wondered if it would work in manual mode, switched it and it does take. I just seem to be really bad at mastering the manual focusing Based on that though, I drew the conclusion it must be the AF motor. I did google the problem and came up with quite a few comments by people who had experienced similar 'symptoms' and stated that it was the AF. However I admit I could be wrong. It has been playing in my subconscious that if it IS the body and I get a new lens, I would have spent more money and still have nothing. If it is the body I will look at replacing it with another D40 though. Despite only using it a couple of weeks I became very attached to it and did get some really nice pictures with it.

 

[ukcatfan]

It probably is the lens then. It has no focus motor in the body, so if the shutter works in MF it should be fine. You might try taking it to a local shop to try out another lens to be sure. Make sure it is a lens with the AF in the lens though b/c it would be MF without that anyway. For example, the Sigma you mentioned earlier likely will not AF on your camera because I believe it uses a screw type in-body AF. The D40 does not have that.

 

[2Tiggies]

It probably is the lens then. It has no focus motor in the body, so if the shutter works in MF it should be fine. You might try taking it to a local shop to try out another lens to be sure. Make sure it is a lens with the AF in the lens though b/c it would be MF without that anyway. For example, the Sigma you mentioned earlier likely will not AF on your camera because I believe it uses a screw type in-body AF. The D40 does not have that.

Thank you. Yes, I was concerned about whether the AF would work on that little lens so that puts paid to that idea. You make a good suggestion about taking it to a shop to see first though. I am going out tomorrow so I think I will just take it with and let someone have a look at it.

You have all been incredibly helpful, as always. I appreciate all the time you have taken to help me out here. I will let you know the outcome.

 

[My2Girls66]

Have you checked amazon uk? Amazon here usually has decent prices. They sell the 18-55vr for 120 pounds, the 18-105for $216 and the 35mm 1.8 for 163.95- both eligible for free super saver shipping. They are more money than buying in US but I don't know what shipping from here would be.

 

[2Tiggies]

It probably is the lens then. It has no focus motor in the body, so if the shutter works in MF it should be fine. You might try taking it to a local shop to try out another lens to be sure.

Thank you for the suggestion. I took it into a camera store today and one of the staff had a look at it. He confirmed it is definitely the lens and not just on AF - he showed me some issues with the MF as well. I hadn't really used it on M so didn't know any different. So a new lens it is and I keep the D40. Of course the down side is that he took one of their new 18-200 VR lenses to test on it .... and it looked pretty good on my little camera I have spent the rest of the day trying to convince myself that I CAN actually just afford to go and get one right now.

Have you checked amazon uk? Amazon here usually has decent prices. They sell the 18-55vr for 120 pounds, the 18-105for $216 and the 35mm 1.8 for 163.95- both eligible for free super saver shipping. They are more money than buying in US but I don't know what shipping from here would be.

Thank you. I am scouting the sites. What I have found is that it is almost the same price to buy new on a good offer as it is to buy a really good condition used one. I suspect I will end up going for a new one in the end but Amazon is pretty competitive on the new ones too.

One (hopefully last) question: Is there a very noticeable difference between a VR and a VRII? Or would it take me a good length of time and experience to notice it? There is an 18-105 VRII only used a couple of times, in original box, packaging etc that I have been watching on eBay. cost the same as what I could get the VR for new but if it is worth it I am willing to bid. It closes in about 90 minutes.