Advice on lenses.

[dk87]

Hi,

I am buying a new SLR camera, I was thinking of buying the D90 (or a Canon 50D) but have just been recommended by 2 friends who are professional photographers to get the D300 as they said that this is a great camera. Do you think this is a good idea? From review I have read it does seem great.

But more importantly I wanted some advice on lenses to buy. I would like to take the camera with me travelling this summer so to minimise the amount of lenses I could take! I was thinking of a wide angled lens and then a standard lens but wasn't sure which ones to go go for? Or possibly a super-zoom?

Possibly the 10-20mm Sigma lens or the 12-24mm Nikon. Then maybe the Nikon 18-200 mm? I do need to do some research on prices of these lenses too.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[kirbinster]

I have a D300 and recently upgraded my D80 to a D90. There is really not a lot that the D300 does that the D90 does not do. If you take care of it, the D90 will be a great camera. The D300 is metal not engineered plastic and it is more weather-resistant. If the D90 existed when I bought my D300 I do't think I would have bought the D300.

As for lenses I love my Sigma 10-20 HSM lens, but keep in mind it is not a fast lens. I use it mostly for landscape shots and it serves well for that. Many hate the 18-200VR, but I like mine. It is not the fastest nor the sharpest lens - but it covers almost all focal lengths so you never find you have the wrong lens on the camera. It is great for travel. BTW, for travel the D90 weighs less than the D300.

[sk66]

The cost difference is around $500 between those two cameras. What you gain with the D300 is a little in performance, a loss of movie recording, a large increase in overall durability.

For normal/ average use I would recommend the D90 and better lenses. (not saying the lenses you mentioned aren't good choices...I love my Sigma 10-20 and 18-200 as general tools)



well dammit, kirbinster. You must have been hitting submit as I was beginning my reply!

[dk87]

Thank you, that is really helpful.

How about either the 16-85 VR or the 18-105 VR? Which one would you recommend of these two?

Then the 70-300 VR as well? Do you think this is practical?

Thanks

[Shokinen]

I recommend the 16-85mm if you have the budget. It's not a cheap lens if you compare it to others but you get the far end of wide angles as well as portrait in 1 lens. The build quality is also better than the 18-105 (metal mount instead of plastic). It's sharp at any focal lenght. Actually, that's the lens I purchased when I bought my D90. I bought the body and the 16-85mm

As for the 70-300, you can't miss with this one. A very good tele for the price. With these 2 lens, you'll cover from 16mm to 300mm which is far than enough for most people.

Check my flickr if you want to see some examples (link in my signature). That's my current setup and I have no intention to change it in a near future.

[LoveDSLR]

D300 + 10.5 + 18-200 VR is my vacation kit. I recommend the 16-85 VR as well.

[dk87]

Originally Posted by Shokinen

I recommend the 16-85mm if you have the budget. It's not a cheap lens if you compare it to others but you get the far end of wide angles as well as portrait in 1 lens. The build quality is also better than the 18-105 (metal mount instead of plastic). It's sharp at any focal lenght. Actually, that's the lens I purchased when I bought my D90. I bought the body and the 16-85mm

As for the 70-300, you can't miss with this one. A very good tele for the price. With these 2 lens, you'll cover from 16mm to 300mm which is far than enough for most people.

Check my flickr if you want to see some examples (link in my signature). That's my current setup and I have no intention to change it in a near future.

They're great pictures! What lenses did you take them with? Is the the D90 you have?

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I will probably go for the 16-85 mm VR and 70-300 mm.

Thanks

[Shokinen]

Originally Posted by dk87

What lenses did you take them with?

Depends which one you are taking about. Click on a picture you like, get to the Additional Information in the bottom right section of the page. Click on More Properties and you will get a the EXIF file information.

Enjoy