D50 beginner: what lens?

hi guys!

what lens do you recommend for a beginner with a D50?

i mean i'd like one with a very versatile focal lenght (18-200, 28-300)... yes , i know their quality isn't quite the top, but i plan to buy one at about 250$ and see what kind or pictures i like to take... for example if i'll discover that i like taking portraits, i'll buy a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 later... but i really need to define my photography first ...

do you think it's a good idea?

what do you say about Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC? it won the EISA European Lens of the Year 2005-2006 Award !!!
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3302&navigator=6

and what about the new Sigma 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 DG MACRO Lens? i still haven't found any review on it yet...
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3305&navigator=2

any help guys?

thank a lot,
puppetmaster

This is the kit lens for the D70. Great lens for beginners, IMO. Nice and sharp, and easy to handle. You can get one for around $250-300 on eBay.

--
regards,
Jason

D 50 , 18 - 70 mm DX + 50 mm 1.8D
S 2 IS , A 80 , S 30

Search my friend . you will be up all night reading on this subject. A start
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=16608975 .

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=16305480

--
http://parisea.blogspot.com/

what about Tamron AF 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)?

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/28300_di.asp

thanks Parisis for the threads... i read a lot...

yeah i got it 50mm f1.8 if everyone's favourite ... and cheap too...

but i don't think i'm ready to be my own zoom...

plus that i haven't experimented yet on what type of photography i like...

hmmm... the search continues...

maybe someone can point me to a good lens review site?

thanks,
puppetmaster

I have it and like it. But probably not as your only lens! I also advise d70 kit lens as its very nice and well respected. You may say, but what about 70- 200 (or 300), how do I get there? Good question. Well your price range doesn't include the new 18-200, and you need a good lens for portraits etc. I think the kit lens above is nice. Very fast and accurate focus. Get kit. Many say sigma 70-300 is good to buy later and not to expensive, ask them, I dont know. If you love the hobby, get the kit and save up later ofr 18-200 or even 70-200vr. This may save you money in the end. If you get 28-300 and aren't thrilled and want excellent quality you'll end up buying 2 lense in future, one for short and one for long. The 18-70 purchase will likely make you happy for the short - and you'll have time to think about the long.

I agree with those that suggest the kit lens. It is an awesome lens for the money. I tried a 28-300 when I was starting out. The wide end just isn't wide enough (and I'm not a wide angle kind of gal) and camera shake can be a real problem at the longer focal lengths. Get your feet wet with the 18-70 and play with it for a little while. Then, you will know if you want wider, longer, macro, portrait, faster, etc.

A lot of it also depends on what you plan to take pictures of. If you are planning on shooting your kids playing soccer, you will want to disregard this advice. The kit lens makes a great walkaround though. Let us know what you would like to shoot and we might be able to help a little more.
Just my $.02. Best of luck on your decision and have fun with your new camera!
--
Tracey
http://traceylong.smugmug.com/

puppetmaster said:

hi guys!

what lens do you recommend for a beginner with a D50?

Click to expand...

I would get the D50 with 2-lens kit: 18-55 + 55-200. Both pretty decent optically, with the 55-200 the better of the two. You will get better image quality from this low-cost combo than from a Sigma or Tamron 18-200 or 28-200 lens, IMO.

The next step up would be the Nikon 18-70 to replace the 18-55, or maybe the new 18-200 VR to replace both kit lenses... But that would be at least $200 (18-70) or $400 (18-200 VR) more expensive!

The kit lenses will get you going. Then take some pictures, and evaluate what else you might need.

Have fun shooting

Mike

thank you lmpmd, thank you tlong!

no i don't plan to take pictures of my kids in the yard... i'm only 24, i don't have any

i actually plan to use the camera for some artistic shots... 'cause i really plan to develop my artistic skills further... but i'd also like to have it with me on different occasions, like a travel camera, u know... art and travel? do these two mix up?

can d50 be bought as a kit with 18-70? i thought only d70 could...

nikkor 50 f1.4 sounds great for some quality pictures and it's so small and lightweigth and cheap... hmmm... guess i'll take it as my second lens... is this a good choice?

it's really hard to make up my mind, 'cause after i make this purchase i won't be able to buy a new lens for some time, so i guess i have to decide what type of photography i'll take...

i kinda like portraits but i found out (i shot some images with a mark2 with 50mm 1.4 and 70-200) that my subjects tend to leave their state of mind once they see my camera... so i guess some long focal lenght is needed... but then i won't have quality...

jesus... i'm gonna have a heart attack! sorry...

wow, it's so difficult...

puppetmaster

...was talking about nikkor 50mm f1.8, sorry...

the 50mm f1.8 and the 18-200 VR. Im done for now.

i really don't think i'll have the money for another purchase after this one... so the lens i buy... i'm stuck with it... except i could buy nikkor 50mm f1.8 as my second lens... sounds great...

i've read only good things about nikkor 18-200 vr, but i only find it from $740 upwards... where did you see it at $400?...

i guess 18-70 from the d70 kit is a good choice... hmmm...

thanks for the advice...

puppetmaster

WOOOOOW, lucky you!!!!

that whould be exactly my choice at this moment...

where did u get them and at what price? please let me know...

maybe you could share some pictures with both of the lenses?

puppetmaster

puppetmaster said:

i really don't think i'll have the money for another purchase after
this one... so the lens i buy... i'm stuck with it... except i
could buy nikkor 50mm f1.8 as my second lens... sounds great...

Click to expand...

The 50 1.8 is a great 2nd or 3rd lens, I guess. I myself don't have any primes, and don't miss them, either. Maybe sometime later I'll try out some prime lenses, but they seem to specialized for me.

puppetmaster said:

i've read only good things about nikkor 18-200 vr, but i only find
it from $740 upwards... where did you see it at $400?...

Click to expand...

Oh, I figured if you get the D50 + 18-200 VR it would be about $400 more than getting the D50 + 18-55 + 55-200. Just a quick estimate.

puppetmaster said:

i guess 18-70 from the d70 kit is a good choice... hmmm...

Click to expand...

It's a great choice! I started with a D70 + 18-70 kit. Still love that lens! The 18-70 has better optics, more range, and faster focusing than the 18-55. However, it's also significantly more expensive.

But I think if you go for the D50 body only and add the 18-70 at full price, you would pay more than if you got the D50 with 2-lens kit, and you would not get a telephoto lens. So, if you get the kit and sell the 18-55 later, you could still get the 18-70 and altogether save some money...

I find that these lens kits are usually a good value, since you get a substantial discount on the lenses. You have to do the math for yourself

puppetmaster said:

thanks for the advice...

Click to expand...

You're welcome. I learned a lot from this forum, too!

Mike