What lens would you buy next if.....

[emmabelle]

I just recently bought a Nikon D40 with the 18-135mm lens. What lens would you buy next and why?

 

[Steve's Girl]

I just recently bought a Nikon D40 with the 18-135mm lens. What lens would you buy next and why?

If going to WDW soon, I would want a fast prime for low light situations. For the D40,the Sigma 30mm 1.4 is a good option or maybe the newly announced 50mm 1.4.

 

[YEKCIM]

Depends on what your budget is and what you want to accomplish. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better bang-for-buck Nikon lens than the 70-300vr Nikkor, though. For low-light stuff, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM would be good, and Sigma has also just announced a 50mm f/1.4, also with HSM (in-lens focus motor).

Does that help?

~Ed

 

[emmabelle]

It's funny, those are the two I'm trying to decide between (30mm or 70-300). I'm leaning towards the prime, because I really like to take pictures without a flash. I've been playing with an old 50mm prime that I have and I think I would enjoy using a similar lens that would actually communicate with my camera.

 

[DVC Jen]

I am looking at the sigma 10-20mm next. I have researched it alot - compared it to the canon and so far all reports say the quality of the canon does not really justify the increase in $.

I am hoping to get it soon - definately before we go to WDW and Vero in June.

 

[TinksDH]

You have the wide end covered sort of, so probably no need to look at the 10-20's or 12-24's yet. Personally I like shooting wildlife, and you can never be too long for wildlife, so I'd say go for the 70-300 VR. It's a great lens and very sharp out to 250mm or so, still usable all the way out. You can't beat the 50mm/1.8 either, and it's fun putting a prime on a camera and shooting within the confines of a single focal length. I'd probably go for a 30mm though, as I do find my 50mm a little long for close-up portraits.

After you get these, you can then start looking at the f/2.8's...

 

[TinksDH]

I am looking at the sigma 10-20mm next. I have researched it alot - compared it to the canon and so far all reports say the quality of the canon does not really justify the increase in $.

I am hoping to get it soon - definately before we go to WDW and Vero in June.

Jen-

I got the Sigma 10-20mm about 9 months or so ago and really like it. I shoot a Nikon, and the Nikon 12-24 is 2X the cost of the Sigma, and even though I am sure it is a great lens, it isn't worth 2X to me. I've heard good things about the Tokina 12-24 as well, but I really wanted those two extra mm's! It would be great for Vero; you'll get some great sunrises with it.

Can't wait to get back to Vero - we're going to book a cottage for June '09 and spend a week on the beach. Can't wait!!

 

[cryssi]

We have the 70-300 and it's nice to have that extra reach in our camera bag...

 

[Gdad]

The 70-300vr and the 30/1.4 are both fantastic lenses and a great value IMHO. I reccomend BOTH (when you can-) what you get first should be driven by what you are hoping to acomplish with your camera.

 

[emmabelle]

I'd probably go for a 30mm though, as I do find my 50mm a little long for close-up portraits.

Thanks everyone! Good to know that, TinksDH, I was wondering about the 30mm vs. 50mm.

 

[YEKCIM]

Thanks everyone! Good to know that, TinksDH, I was wondering about the 30mm vs. 50mm.

Keep in mind, too, that until the Sigma 50/1.4 is available, your only 50mm options are Nikon's that are non AF-S, meaning they would not autofocus on the D40.

~Y

 

[Furgus]

If I was to buy any lens (which this will be my next lens, in about three years) the 70-200 f/2.8 VR. My 70-300 stinks, and once my little girl starts moving around this will probably be the lens I will use the most.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Depends on what you are using it for. I like my 50mm1.8 and use it in low light alot. Right now I'm doing alot of sailing photos and like the 70-300VR for the extra reach. However, the 70-300VR is very heavy so I wouldn't carry it around the park. I'd just use my primes instead and my 18-135.

 

[DVC Jen]

Jen-

I got the Sigma 10-20mm about 9 months or so ago and really like it. I shoot a Nikon, and the Nikon 12-24 is 2X the cost of the Sigma, and even though I am sure it is a great lens, it isn't worth 2X to me. I've heard good things about the Tokina 12-24 as well, but I really wanted those two extra mm's! It would be great for Vero; you'll get some great sunrises with it.

Can't wait to get back to Vero - we're going to book a cottage for June '09 and spend a week on the beach. Can't wait!!

oohh thanks for the review. I really want the lens badly - just having a hard time parting with the $ to pay for it. I can be so cheap sometimes. I know I won't regret it once I actually have it and start using it - I just need to bite the bullet.

 

[jann1033]

not speaking to quality weight etc but i would like more reach...you can take a normal wide angle with your lens now so i'd go longer before i went wider( actually that is exactly what i did, had the 28-135 and 50mm( cause it was sooo cheap and for lower light), went to 70-200 then prime macro then 10-17)
next for me on the horizon will probably be a better macro( the canon) which i kind of wish i had bought instead of the 10-17( great lens, i just don't use it tons) but is cheaper than the l i want for walk around.

 

[TinksDH]

oohh thanks for the review. I really want the lens badly - just having a hard time parting with the $ to pay for it. I can be so cheap sometimes. I know I won't regret it once I actually have it and start using it - I just need to bite the bullet.

Jen -

Here is a shot taken with the Sigma 10-20 at 10mm just to show the field of view (and to tempt you even more!). It's not a great shot by any means, but the intent is to show just how much you can get in the frame. This was taken on my veranda on the Disney Magic at Castaway Cay. I was standing in the front corner of the veranda. As you can see, you are able to see the floor of my veranda in the lower right hand corner, the railing itself, and the deck above me. I also shot with the sun just off to my left to see if there would be any CA or ghosting, but I see none in the image. I believe the Tokina suffers a bit more in this regard.

I did a slight bit of distortion reduction, and for all intents and purposes the straight lines in the image are fairly straight. I think I can detect the slightest amount of bowing on the railing, but in all honesty I did a real quick and dirty post-processing - levels/curves, distortion, capture sharpening. About 30 seconds of PP if that. It was shot at 1/60 s. and f/18.

Here's another shot with this lens, this one of our dog Minnie. I thought I was close to her, but as you can see, she's still fairly well back in the frame. This was taken at 20mm, 1 s., f/6.3 and ISO 800. Your whole perspective changes when shooting with this lens, and I am still learning how to frame my shots. You can never be too close it seems!

 

[DVC Jen]

Jen -

Here is a shot taken with the Sigma 10-20 at 10mm just to show the field of view (and to tempt you even more!). It's not a great shot by any means, but the intent is to show just how much you can get in the frame. This was taken on my veranda on the Disney Magic at Castaway Cay. I was standing in the front corner of the veranda. As you can see, you are able to see the floor of my veranda in the lower right hand corner, the railing itself, and the deck above me. I also shot with the sun just off to my left to see if there would be any CA or ghosting, but I see none in the image. I believe the Tokina suffers a bit more in this regard.

I did a slight bit of distortion reduction, and for all intents and purposes the straight lines in the image are fairly straight. I think I can detect the slightest amount of bowing on the railing, but in all honesty I did a real quick and dirty post-processing - levels/curves, distortion, capture sharpening. About 30 seconds of PP if that. It was shot at 1/60 s. and f/18.

One word - WOW! You just sold me the lens! I am gonna order it this weekend.

 

[TinksDH]

One word - WOW! You just sold me the lens! I am gonna order it this weekend.

You go girl!

 

[emmabelle]

those are cool pictures!