Lens Recommendations?

[mjsnikon]

Hi, everyone, I just bought a Nikon D3000 with the kit 18-55mm lens. Can anyone recommend the next step-up in lens that would allow me to get closer shots of people/objects? Also, since I have a Nikon, is it important to stick with a Nikon lens?

Thanks in advance!!!!

[OsmosisStudios]

The general recommendation is the 55-200 f/4.5-5.6 VR. I'd actually opt to spend a bit more and get the 55-300 VR or 70-300 VR.

This one should fit any budget and do everything you need!

Amazon.com: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras: Camera & Photo


And it's also a workout program all in one! HURRAY!

~Eric

[BuddhaPi]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

This one should fit any budget and do everything you need!

Amazon.com: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras: Camera & Photo


And it's also a workout program all in one! HURRAY!

~Eric

You forgot to mention the FREE shipping!

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

This one should fit any budget and do everything you need!

Amazon.com: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras: Camera & Photo


And it's also a workout program all in one! HURRAY!

~Eric

The related images in that link are hillarious!

[faeriegodess612]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

This one should fit any budget and do everything you need!

Amazon.com: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras: Camera & Photo


And it's also a workout program all in one! HURRAY!

~Eric

LOL!! Thats just wrong,...Funny, but wrong. *giggle*

OsmosisStudios The general recommendation is the 55-200 f/4.5-5.6 VR. I'd actually opt to spend a bit more and get the 55-300 VR or 70-300 VR.

This would probably be your next step,...but if your just starting out in photography, I'd suggest getting to know your camera first. Learn how to effectively use your camera and the lens that comes with it. Then if you decide that you need/want something that will go further, then you can decide which lens you want from there. My first instinct was to go with the kit lens and the 55-200mm as well,... but another member made me realize that I really needed to learn the camera first,...then decide if I wanted a 55-200mm or a 55-300, or 70-300, and which one of those would work best for me for the type of photography that I do. As we like to say here,...its all about the glass.

[sk66]

For the money, I would agree with the 55-300/70-300..I'd prefer the 70-300 personally, but that leaves a slight gap w/ your kit lens. At 300mm they are just into focal lengths that can work for sports/wildlife as well.

I would also agree with buy when you have a specific reason/need to buy...

[inkista]

+1 on learning to use the gear you've got now, first. Maybe you don't need a longer lens, you just need to learn to scoot your butt closer.

Originally Posted by mjsnikon

Also, since I have a Nikon, is it important to stick with a Nikon lens?

Well.... yes and no.

What's of the most importance is that the lens has a Nikon mount. Lenses from Canon, Pentax, Sony, or Olympus physically will not fit the Nikon mount.

Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina all make lenses in multiple mounts, so you just need to be careful that you're getting the Nikon version, not the Canon/Pentax/Sony/Olympus one.

The choice between going 3rd party (Sigma/Tamron/Tokina) or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) with Nikon generally comes down to three things: cost, future compatibility, and image quality.

Nikon lenses will generally be more expensive, and give better image quality, although this is not ALWAYS true. You have to judge this on an individual lens-by-lens basis. But future compatibility is always something to keep in mind when going 3rd party.

The other manufacturers are reverse engineering the camera-to-lens mount electronics. So, any lenses they make are fine for the mount you have now, and probably for the mounts of older cameras. But if Nikon decides to tweak the electronics for a new feature (say, HD video, or additional EXIF reporting), they will only make sure that their own lenses are still compatible. The 3rd party lenses may not be. An example of this is that older Sigma Canon-EOS mount lenses lost autofocus capability when Canon updated the lens mount for digital, and lenses needed to be rechipped. It doesn't happen often, though.