Question about Lenses...

[beachphotog]

I have a Nikon D40 and I am using the kit lens. Can anyone show me an example of some pictures using the kit lens? I'm nervous that I won't get the photos I want because I don't have a lens with all the bells and whistles.

 

[spinetnglr]

These were all taken with the Nikon D40 and the 18-55mm kit lens

 

[saturndb]

Karyl, very nice pictures!


Dave

 

[spinetnglr]

Thanks Dave .. I only had my D40 a short time when I took most of those ... That was 2 years ago and I have since gotten a D300 but I still love getting out the D40 from time to time.

 

[beachphotog]

Don't get me wrong, I love my D40, but I'm just afraid I won't get the great Disney shots that I see on the Dis. I have had my camera for about a year and a half and I use it all the time.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Don't get me wrong, I love my D40, but I'm just afraid I won't get the great Disney shots that I see on the Dis. I have had my camera for about a year and a half and I use it all the time.

A lot (well most) of what you see on the Dis isn't the lens, it's the photographer.

I have five different lenses now, and yeah, I can get a little more from them than I could from the kit lens, but I still have some awesome pictures that came from the kit.

Have you really learned the ins and outs of your camera? Do you know how to use aperture, shutter speed, ISO settings? I took my Canon XSi with my kit lens in 2008 and got some good pictures, but nothing like I got this past trip. The difference was partly lenses, but mostly my knowledge of photography. I knew how to compose shots to make them more interesting, I knew how to use depth of field, etc. There's a ton more for me to learn, and I know I have a long way to go, but I'm much happier with my shots from 2009 than those from 2008.

 

[beachphotog]

A lot (well most) of what you see on the Dis isn't the lens, it's the photographer.

I truly believe this!

Have you really learned the ins and outs of your camera? Do you know how to use aperture, shutter speed, ISO settings?

I have been teaching myself all that I can about my camera! I still don't understand everything, but like I said, I am learning! I have done a few amateur shoots for friends and I'm pretty confident in my ability...
I guess I just got nervous cause I saw all these amazing photos and the accompanying equipment made me second guess myself!

 

[ssanders79]

I still don't understand everything, but like I said, I am learning!

Go check out your local library's photography section. They should have a bunch of old FILM centric books, but the principles still apply to digital. Most of those books just sit on the shelf because people think they need to read a book written around digital cameras. Thier loss your gain.

 

[boBQuincy]

The current crop of kit lenses is pretty good, I carry one when I want to travel light. The reasons I use a different lens most of the time are: it focuses faster than the 18-55; it has f/4 through the full range; the front element does not rotate when focusing; the lens hood is designed much better.

None of these are real big, just things that add up. So, the limitations on the kit lens might be: it is not really for low light, especially at full zoom; using a polarizer is a bit clunky; it might not focus fast enough for rapdily moving objects; Canon's lens hood is almost worthless.
If these are not likely to be a real problem then I would say the kit lens would be a fine walkaround lens for WDW (and it is).

Here are two I took with the 18-55:

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I have a Nikon D40 and I am using the kit lens. Can anyone show me an example of some pictures using the kit lens? I'm nervous that I won't get the photos I want because I don't have a lens with all the bells and whistles .

What are the photos that you want?

 

[beachphotog]

Thank you everyone for your advice!
I guess I just have images in my head of the shots I want, crisp castle shots, fireworks shots, parade, character, food... I want to photograph it all!

 

[My2Girls66]

I took a quick look at Consumer Reports last night. The Nikon 18-55mm kit(both vr and non-vr) lenses were highly rated in the entry level section.

 

[NLD]

For fireworks and nightshots, use a tripod and remote shutter release, and make sure you know how to use your camera in bulb mode. That is much more important than what lens you use.

Your 18-55 will be okay. It won't do low-light shots well, but for other stuff it should be fine.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm no pro but I think you should be fine.

Definitely have a tripod for fireworks and if you want shots of just the castle at night. Also either use a remote shutter release ($5 on Ebay) or the camera's built in timer.

Food, parades, characters shouldn't be a problem as long as there's enough light.

Biggest issue would be Spectromagic. Take some shots at night for practice (before you go on vacation) and play with the ISO. Go as high as you can without causing so much noise that the picture isn't usable. The higher the ISO the faster the shutter speed. The faster the shutter, the lesser the camera shake.