new lens to my collection

[city]

Hi,I am new to photography and uses a Nikon D 3000+ 18-55 VR lens +55-22 VR lens at the moment.I like nature photography best and want to buy a longer reaching lens .But at the moment cann't spend much the best I can go for at the moment is sigma 70-300 APO which is about $ 200 (nikkor 70-300 does not auto focus in my camera).What is your idea? Is it better to wait for a better lens such as sigma 150-500 while using my existing kit to gain much needed experience ? I have attached one of my photos .Thank you for your time

[OsmosisStudios]

I'd go for the Nikkor AF-S 70-300 VR first, but if youre gonna invest in a "real" telephoto, a 300 f/2.8 would be even better, especially if youre going to be using it almost exclusively at 300mm. You've already got the 55-200, so the general telephoto range is covered.

If youre planning on birding, more focal length is always better. The 150-500 may be another option that would be different enough from your 55-200 to be worthwhile.

I say save up.

[city]

thanks osmosis studios for your advice

[pjgoswami]

I could resist myself to write here.

I am also new to photography world. Our senior member OsmosisStudios is totally right. But I like to share my little experiments with camera lenses. Which may be helpful for you (but I am not sure). I am also in lots of confusion with lens selection. I used some lens with my new Nikon D5000 from last September 2009. The Lens I tried is listed below:

Manual lenses:
Vivitar 200mm f3.5
Vivitar 70-210mm f2.8 Series 1
Vivitar 28-105mm Microfocus f3.5 1:5
Zenith M52x0,75 MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1:2
Zenith M52x0,75 MC HELIOS-44M-2 58mm
Nikkor 35-70mm Kit lens for Nikon FM10

Auto but Manual for my Camera body
Sigma 70-300mm Micro AF (with out motor) (very much tough to focus manually then other lenses)

Auto Lens
Nikkor AF-S-DX 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G-VR (as my Kit lens)
Nikkor AF-S-DX 55-200mm f3.5-5.6G (got from junk yard)
Nikkor AF-S DX Zoom 18-135mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED (purchased 2nd hand)
Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO (purchased new)

All the lenses I use not purchased. I am lucky enough that lots of senior photographers helped me to satisfy my eagerness for lens use.

Lastly some words about the lens from my side (some mistakes may be there) :

01. All the old lenses are much more better build, ease to handle but to use those lenses I have changed my focusing lens below the penta mirror changed to split focus mirror (not advisable hence void warranty, and need experienced hand on miniature work).
02. All kit lens are handy and give good result, one drawback is that it has plastic mount, so frequent change may damage it.
03. For me a general purpose use lens any good Nikkor 18-200mm, Sigma 18-250mm or Tamron 18-270mm With VR/OS/IS which one give better result (haven't got any opportunity to try any one of above lenses till today).
04. Nikkor/Nikon lens are too good for Nikon body, but if the person is not doing photography professionally, then Sigma and Tamron are also not bad as compared to its price differences, which is one third of the Nikon lens.

From last week I am carrying Nikkor 55-200mm lens and Vivitar 28-105 lens in my bag. I am lucky to get those lens from one junk yard of a shop which was not sold due to rapid development of technology.

Now , I am thinking that I will go for following lenses for future (but with metal mount):

01. Any one of Nikkor 18-200mm, Sigma 18-250mm or Tamron 18-270mm With VR/OS/IS and all time manual over driven.
02. One 10-24mm Wide angle lens (Nikkor/Sigma)
03. Nikkor 35mm f2.8 or Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
04. One tele converter for my Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO

Major thing is that I will never discard the manual lens because most of them are of JAPAN make and optics are still clean after a long year s as compared to the latest modern lens .

What I am thinking may be wrong, so please guide me if there is any mistake.

[OsmosisStudios]

pjgoswami:

To be honest, here's what I'd do:
Manual Lenses
Sell the lot. This includes the Sigma 70-300 youve listed as well.

Auto Lenses
I'd be tempted to upgrade some of your stuff here as well. In particular: The 55-200 (which is actually an f/4-5.6) is best served by VR. The 120-400 is also not the greatest. Your two kit lenses, while good, can be improved.

If you're gonna replace the lot of it, might as well do it right. The 16-85 is very nice, as is the 18-70. Regardless, I'd recommend a 10-24 (if you like wide-angle, optional), either one of the midranged lenses mentioned and the 70-300 VR (All Nikon). The 16-85 provides a good walkaround range. You could also add a 35mm f/1.8.

You'd end up with:
Nikon 10-24 f/3.5-4.5 AF-S DX (optional)
Nikon 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 AF-S DX OR Nikon 16-85 f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR
Nikon 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 AF-S DX