What’s Your Preference?

richardrash · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2011, 06:02 PM

I am a noob with D5000 and I started out with a 18-55mm, and almost immediately I feel like I need more range. So I got a 18-105mm and it feels very similar to the kit lens, and I feel like I cannot get the details of the things around me quite enough. So I got the 18-200 VR II

Have been quite happy with it; it's a great walk around lens for portraits etc. but a little short on landscape and not far enough when I want to capture bird shots etc. I know there's no perfect lens obviously, and I hate changing lens all the time. There's plenty of people saying the 16-85 is a superior lens over the 18-200mm...what are your thoughts? Do you think it's worth the upgrade to a 16-85mm+70-300mm? that would mean a lot of lens switching in mid range shots from 85mm up....Please spare your valuable opinions, thank you!

I am not sure if I have ever seen a top grade sharp lens, so I doubt I can tell much difference. I have a 35mm prime and love the bokeh etc. but quality wise I cant see much difference. DSLR and lens came into my life about 6 months ago...and I've absolutely enjoyed it

OsmosisStudios · #2 (**permalink**) 05-14-2011, 03:31 AM

Depends on where you find you need to switch over. Where are you shooting most often? If its in the 70-105 range, than a 16-85 would be of little use to you as it doesnt cover that range entirely and would require you to change lenses all the time.

richardrash · #3 (**permalink**) 05-14-2011, 07:39 AM

Thanks for the response.

Hmmm..actually I have no idea what I shoot, I shoot basically everything of interest.
If I go hiking during weekends I would shoot waterfalls, rocks, flowers, bugs, trees, rivers, canyons, valleys...anything from macro-wanna-be to wide landscape to mid range. I dont shoot a lot of wildlife because I dont see wildlife in my urban environment...

I always shoot my wife when she's with me (portrait range)

When I go somewhere I always shoot interesting architectural details, buildings, interiors etc. (wide or zoomed in

Maybe I havent quite figured out what to specialize in

OsmosisStudios · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2011, 04:58 PM

It's not just WHAT you shoot, it's at what focal length that's important. Find and download an EXIF reading software that'll let you see where you're shooting most often (Exposureplot for Windows is usually the best). That will give you a graph that shows where you shoot the most.

JFSanders · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2011, 05:37 PM

If you have the 18-200 vrII then all that is missing is the understanding that to get closer you have to move your feet. I don't think that more gear is going to be beneficial to you at this stage. As far as a top grade sharp lens goes, the lenses you have are beyond the capabilities of 99.2% of all photographers on the planet. Go shoot and keep a log book/journal of what and where and when.

Jim

kirbinster · #6 (**permalink**) 05-14-2011, 06:04 PM

For wide shooting you might consider adding a Sigma 10-20mm HSM, its a great super wide zoom lens.

richardrash · #7 (**permalink**) 05-15-2011, 12:27 AM

Hi guys thanks so much for the comments...

I never thought about what focal lengths I shot at...very interesting!

out of 3500 pictures I took in disney world 1 week ago, I found 86% of them to be under 17mm-85mm (with 19% @18mm, probably limited by the 18-200mm VRII, and 16.8% @35mm by the 35mm f1.8)

For the remaining 14%, a 8% is @200mm limited by the 18-200mm VR II.

Oh yes I do have the Sigma 10-20mm...I love it. Even though I hardly shoot with it but I know I will definitely need it when I have some great landscape shot opportunities in the future...unfortunately being stuck in Los Angeles I havent quite figure out where to get those shots.......