Help on Nikon Lenses

[hendon]

I recently bought a Nikon D40X. I just have the 18-55mm lens that came with it and I want to buy the 50mm 1.8. From other threads here on the forum I wanted to add the 18-200mm but it's pretty expensive. What do you think about the 55-200mm as an alternative? Is the 18-200mm better simply because you don't have to change lenses to cover all the ranges or is it just a better lens?
I mostly just take pictures of my kids and lots of travel photos (except now that we've got kids there's no travel!! Ha!).
Would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

I'm not positive, Donna, but I'm thinking you want to look into that lens for your D40x. Some of the Nikon bodies don't have the ability to auto-focus the prime lenses. I'm not sure if that is one of them. This means you would have to manually focus everything. The 18-200 that I use is the VR model, and it is definitely a better lens. When you're comparing Nikon to Nikon lenses, you can pretty much go by the rule "if it costs more, it's better." Unfortunately. lol

The 18 end of that lens will let you work in much tighter spaces than the 55 of the other.

Good luck with your purchase.

[hendon]

Thanks Cassie
The prime lenses don't autofocus with the D40X which is why I'm opting for the less expensive 50mm 1.8. I thought it might break my heart to spend the extra on the 1.4 only to have to manually focus!
And both the 50-200mm and 18-200mm are the VR models and they both autofocus with the D40X.

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

What's the price difference between the two zooms?


I took this picture of my niece this weekend using the 18-200 and had it all the way to the 18mm end. I could have never gotten the shot at 55mm.

[hendon]

The 18-200mm is $1260NZ ($1000US) and the 55-200mm is $445NZ ($350US). Yikes - sounds even more expensive writing it down like that!
Cool picture of your niece though. I thought taking a picture like that at the 18mm end would have had her face distorted - I take it you're not as close as it looks?

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

I'm very close. I'm standing at her feet, on the ground (not a step), and I'm leaning over her to take the picture. So, I'm only about 1.5-2 feet away from her face (if even).

[dboelter]

I purchased the 18 - 200 vr a few months ago for a trip to disney and love it! It's a great everyday lens. Yesterday, I could capture the kids easter egg hunting (in 10" of new snow!) and I could quickly take the picture when they were right next to me and then zoom as they quickly ran away. My lens was not quite that expensive - have you looked on b and h?

[kb522]

I used to have the D40 as well, and once I realized the limitation in lenses I sold it and upgraded to the D80... and haven't looked back! I purchased the 18-200mm vr lens with the D80, as I sold the 18-55 and 55-200 vr that I had purchased with my original camera.

The D40 is a great camera, though. I found myself using the 55-200 most often and usually kept that lens on the body most of the time. It was a little annoying to switch lenses all the time, or inevitably i would choose one lens and then realize that I would have been better served with the other. That is what prompted me to pay a little bit more and get the 18-200 vr.

If you can swing it I would recommend the 18-200 vr. Don't "settle" and end up with something you really don't want. Remember, lenses last a long time! It may be worth the money to buy up now and you can grow into it for the future.

[hendon]

Thanks for the example and info Cassie.

Dinah, I think you sold me on the 18-200mm by just pointing out taking a close up of the kids then also when they run away, and not having to change lenses. Thanks for the idea about b & h. I hadn't heard of them - I did look at purchasing on amazon which was cheaper than NZ but they don't ship photographic stuff internationally. b & h are cheaper, even with the international shipping added - are they a pretty reputeable company?

Also, thanks K - I have thought about selling the d40x and buying the d80 - not too much price difference. But I can't really justify it after just 2 months! I will save up for the 18-200mm - you're right I don't want to 'settle' for the 55-200mm. I think I'll see how I go with the manual focus on the 50mm before I think about swapping cameras. After all, if I get the lenses I want they'll still be the ones I want with the d80.

Thanks heaps guys.

[hguenthe]

Yes, I believe that B&H is a very reputable company. It is the photography supply source that Scott Kelby recommends. I used them for getting my new lens and was very happy with their service and pricing.

[bluelemur01]

hi Donna,
I'm not sure if you already got the lens(es!) but for what it's worth, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Nikon 1.8 50mm lens. I use it all the time on my D200. It's great for everyday snaps, portraits, flowers, etc. You get great DOF with it, sometimes too much if you try to use the 1.8 for flowers or moving kids that are close to the lens. The out-of-focus blobs of light (bokeh) at wide apertures are not as "pretty" as what you'd get with a more expensive lens, but heck, I don't care too much about that.

I know the 18-200 is a more versatile lens and it's a very good one. I'd get the VR even if it's pricey b/c that will come in handy! But seriously, I often shoot an entire morning of my daughter using just the 50mm and I love the way the photos come out. They are so much nicer than with the starter lens they give you with the Nikon kit (although that's not a BAD lens by any means!) If you're going to splurge on the 18-200, I'd say get the 50mm lens TOO - I think you'll love it!

I also love the 105mm F/2.8 VR, which I originally bought for macro work, but often use now as an "everyday" lens. This one has a harder time autofocusing, esp. on close subjects, but when you get focus the pictures are sharp and fantastic. (The 50 mm focuses FAST and correctly almost every time.)

Anyway good luck & have fun shooting!
Jennifer

[bluelemur01]

Also, B&H IS a great reputable company. Many photogs buy exclusively from them b/c they are so safe & reliable! I've bought there many times, and they are very good, IMO.
good luck!
Jennifer

[audrey77]

The 55-200 went down to under $200 around Christmas... By either Adorama or B&H via Amazon... I would wait and see if the price drops again.
I have the 55mm 1.8... yeah, you have to manually focus, but that's something you should learn how to do anyways :-)

[BillieBee]

Is it hard to manually focus? I'd really like to get the 1.8 50 mm (the price is certainly right), but I'm afraid of manual focus.

[sam ellis]

Just wanted to put a word in for b&h ! It is an amazing store (in NYC) and somethign every photographer should visit - it's like camera and stuff heaven !

They are TOTALLY reliable and have used them on MNAY occassions and their goods ALWAYS arrive in GREAT condition !

I would say 18-200 is great as an allround lense !

[audrey77]

Nope.. and on the Nikons, there's a little guide- a green dot in the field that will tell you if you're close. You just turn it like you would with the autofocus... It just takes a sharper eye :-)

Check to see if your local camera shop has lenses for rent... Or, take your camera there and try one out :-)

[bluelemur01]

I personally have a hard time with manual focus, probaby b/c I've never really used it! I find that many of the current lenses for my Nikon were built for primarily autofocus, and although you certainly CAN do manual focus, the lenses are often "loose" (meaning with a heavy lens the turning ring moves too easily and sometimes loses the setting if you point the camera down). Also, there is not enough turning room. It's like, the focus changes DRAMATICALLy with each minute tiny turn of the ring, and then you over/underfocus easily and have a hard time dialing it in just right.

I remember on my dad's older cameras, growing up, you really had to CRANK that ring to change focus, and that was great; you could really get focus sharp easily. And the older lenses also had a split prism in the center that let you know when focus was in, as the images lined up.

Anyway, I find that if I try to use manual focus on my current lenses, I have a hard time dialing it in and sometimes second and third guess: is this it? I'll go a bit over. Is that better? hmmmm. Is it better now? And then I miss the shot!

Also I should say that I'm TERRIBLY near-sighted & wear powerful glasses. Possibly not having my eye right up to the viewfinder makes it more difficult to man. focus too. I love that the newer lenses/cameras have focus tracking where you can follow a moving subject, like my baby.

I'm not trying to dissuade you, though! I'm sure if I actually tried man. focus more often, I'd become good at it, "loose" lenses and all. It's just that autofocus works so well for me!

Anyway, good luck & let us know what you decide!
Jennifer

[kathie02]

I got both the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm when I ordered my camera. I ended up buying the 18-200mm just so I wouldn't have to change the lenses all the time, and it really is worth it. I just hated having to change lenses and exposing the sensor when I was outdoors in different weather condtions.

[audrey77]

I saw this on Newegg.com (love that site!)
Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200MM F/4-5.6G IF-ED Lens- $229