Good first lenses?

[wulf]

If they weren't even close, they probably weren't Nikon mount lenses. One of the important selling points of the Nikon range is long-range backward compatibility for fit (even though many of the old lenses require manual focusing and metering).

Wulf

[asuyete]

Phew, I'd hate to think I wasted that sort of opportunity. My local second-hand shop is attempting to sell me a used Nikon 20mm 2.8 AF for £169 - good deal, do you think?

[wulf]

I would probably pass on it. You can get (a little) wider than that using the kit lens. Being able to open up to f/2.8 is good but would you want wide angle shots (and distortion) everytime you need a fast lens? You can get a new 50mm f/1.8 lens from Amazon for about £82 which would be a less spe******ed choice.

It looks like the lens you are talking about is around £340 on Amazon, so I'm not suggesting that the shop is overcharging but simply that it probably isn't the best one for your first experience of having a second lens.

Wulf

[Cuchulainn]

Originally Posted by wulf

Everything I've tried (Nikon mount, of course) on my D40 has worked. Is the (relatively brainless) D40 more adaptable than smarter camera? I do have to use most of my lenses in full manual mode but that's not a problem for me.

Wulf

Yes. Actually it is. Older Non-AI lenses will mount on the D40, D40x and D60 without conversion. Non-AI lenses must be converted before they can be used on any digital body (except those mentioned above).

Here is a (loose) table of which lenses require which modification for each Nikon camera body http://www.aiconversions.com/compatibilitytable.htm

The Nikkor-Q Auto 135mm lens I have is circa 1968 so it had to have the type A conversion for it to be able to mount.

This is the guy who actually did it for me along with some photos of the process..

http://hometown.aol.com/wdshpbiz/AImod.html

[richsuk]

Buying that second lens

Again depends on what photography you want to do but I think most people buy a telephoto zoom lens for there second lens. Then look at upgrading the kit lens.

Obviously I have no idea of your budget or what you photograph. I have the 18-55mm DX non VR lens and the 18-135mm nikon lens that comes with the D80 kit is better. Cheap 2nd hand bargain as well.

[asuyete]

Update for update's sake - I have lenses! Two, as they were rather cheaper than I was expecting. I got a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 and a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6. I haven't had much of a chance to practise with the Sigma but the Nikkor is fantastic. Manual focus is easier than I thought it would be - it didn't take me long to get the hang of at all - and I'm very impressed with the quality. Thanks for all the advice!

[Volsfan91]

For me, one of the best things that I did was ditch the kit lens on my D60 and replace it with the 18-70mm AF-S. It didn't give me a much longer lens, but it feels so much more professional, and the results show that too.

[ToPpS]

Well looking at what lenses you have already.... the only hole/gap i can see is either the extreme zoom, the wide angle side or a macro lens....

Originally Posted by Volsfan91

For me, one of the best things that I did was ditch the kit lens on my D60 and replace it with the 18-70mm AF-S.

Also a very good observation/idea.

As ideas to look at:
Tokina 12-24mm f/4 AT-X 124 AF PRO DX
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM

[mightymarce]

I have a friend with a Nikon d200 and she has a 18-200mm lens (I think those are the numbers, it's that range anyway). Her photos are great, and it must be so nice to have that kind of range (wide to telephoto) in a single lens. Might be something to look into... though I have no idea how much it cost.

[JerBear]

If you are going for Landscape, the Tameron 14mm lens is a good choice.

Although I do not use it a lot, when I do need it, nothing will come close

Good Shooting

JM