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Help me spend $300 wisely

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thirdlife

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I recently purchased a Nikon D50 w 18-55mm lens with which I have been very happy with.

I now have about $300 to spend on accessories.

I need/want the following:

Zoom lens
50mm lens
2x teleconverter
Tripod
Flash

Obviously $300 is not going to go far, so I am looking for budget optiosn and suggestions.

I am pretty sure I am going to get the Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens that can be had for $100.

I would love the 18-200 Nikon VR, but at $750+ and a two-three month back order I'm out of luck. Are there any other decent 18-200 lens or similar for cheaper that you would recommend?

I can get a 2x teleconverter from $79-$200. I am not sure about the quality of these though. (Search Bhphoto for Nikon teleconverter)

I also would like a decent tripod, but I have no idea what to look for.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!
 
i would also get the nikon 28-200 D or G lens can be had for around 200. that with the 50mm 1.8 for 100 should be a good basic setup.
 
You could go a couple of different ways with this, so what is it you're planning on shooting the most? Nature? Portraits? Macro? Everything?
 
Don't bother with the teleconverter unless you have a wide aperature (f/2.8) lens to put it on. Otherwise it will be dim and image quality will suffer when used with lower quality lenses.

Anything else on your list would make sense. The best bet is not to spend your money until you know what you need most. Nobody here will be able to tell you that. Once you decide on type of item, come back if you want suggestions on which brand/model is the best for your budget.
 
A little of everything. Currently I am shooting macro using a crappy $10 tripod I have.

As the weather gets nicer I will hopefully be outside taking pictures of a little of everything, but expiremental with infrared and existing light conditions.

I guess its safe to say I'll be shooting everything.
 
For $300 I would go for a Nikon Speedlight like the SB-600 and the 50mm 1.8 you've already mentioned. I know newer and better lenses is very appealing, but you can really get good pictures out of the lens you have if you just work on technique and proper exposure. The 50mm will give you a good low light lens and a portrait lens and the speedlight will drastically improve any picture you take with a flash.

Vince

--
Crisler Photography
http://www.hockingcounty.com/photography
 
If you shoot a little bit of everything go with a telephoto lens. Somebody already mentioned the Nikkor 70-200 I think it was, but I'd look at the Sigma 70-300 APO DG 4.5/5.6. It has macro capabilities AND it's a pretty decent zoom lens for under $200 (probably could find one used for about 160).

I know everybody is saying the 50mm 1.8, but honestly right now you're just getting started and while it's not a lowlight lens, the 18-55 covers the 50mm length for now. With the 70-300 you'd have nice coverage from basically 18 all the way to 300.

Now the last 100-140 bucks you have I would save and get a nice tripod if you're doing macro work. A decent Bogen/Manfrotto tripod will cost you about $125 (3001BPRO) and a head another $100 (322RC2), giving you a great setup for the money.

If you think you might take more protraits and stuff, sure, go for the 50mm 1.8 and a speedlight (like the SB600). That would be a great setup for that.

Sigma 70-300 APO DG 4.5/5.6 (this is new, not used)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=396830&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Tripod

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=222612&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Ball Head

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=303591&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
 
I agree. Just make sure you get a 50mm 1.8D lens and not the non-D so that you can take the most advantage of the SB-600.

--
James

Nikon D-50
Oly C2100Uzi
Oly C-3000z
 
These are all good suggestions indeed, but I agree mostly with the Monfrotto tripod setup. I have a very similar setup, and it is very stable, even with 5 pounds of camera/lens attached. If you shoot alot of macro work - then you need a good tripod.

Also - along those lines - you can get the 50mm f1.8 for an extremely sharp, low-light lens AND get a reversing ring to create a cool macro set-up as well. This may be slight more than $300, but it is worth it IMO>
Brutus2600 said:
If you shoot a little bit of everything go with a telephoto lens.
Somebody already mentioned the Nikkor 70-200 I think it was, but
I'd look at the Sigma 70-300 APO DG 4.5/5.6. It has macro
capabilities AND it's a pretty decent zoom lens for under $200
(probably could find one used for about 160).

I know everybody is saying the 50mm 1.8, but honestly right now
you're just getting started and while it's not a lowlight lens, the
18-55 covers the 50mm length for now. With the 70-300 you'd have
nice coverage from basically 18 all the way to 300.

Now the last 100-140 bucks you have I would save and get a nice
tripod if you're doing macro work. A decent Bogen/Manfrotto tripod
will cost you about $125 (3001BPRO) and a head another $100
(322RC2), giving you a great setup for the money.

If you think you might take more protraits and stuff, sure, go for
the 50mm 1.8 and a speedlight (like the SB600). That would be a
great setup for that.

Sigma 70-300 APO DG 4.5/5.6 (this is new, not used)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=396830&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Tripod

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=222612&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Ball Head

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=303591&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Click to expand...
--
ShutterBugin
http://www.exposureproductions.smugmug.com

 
I didn't say this in my post even though I was thinking it...

Keep in mind if you get a 50mm prime lens and you want to take nature photos you will have absolutely no reach with the lenses you would own. Great for landscape shots, bad for closeups of animals you can't get to close to.

I completely agree the 50mm is a great lens, but as I said in my original post, buy things that complement whatever style of shooting you think you'll be doing the most of.
 
Yes I totally agree...that is why inmy thread I focused on the sharpness and macro capabilities (with reversing ring) of the 50mm.

Definately NOT a lens for wildlife or landscapes.
Brutus2600 said:
I didn't say this in my post even though I was thinking it...

Keep in mind if you get a 50mm prime lens and you want to take
nature photos you will have absolutely no reach with the lenses you
would own. Great for landscape shots, bad for closeups of animals
you can't get to close to.

I completely agree the 50mm is a great lens, but as I said in my
original post, buy things that complement whatever style of
shooting you think you'll be doing the most of.
Click to expand...
--
ShutterBugin
http://www.exposureproductions.smugmug.com

 
For $300, I would get:

Nikon 55-200 DX - $199 - sharpest, smallest, and lightest of the budget telephotos!
Nikon 50mm 1.8 - $99 - great low light & portrait lens, supersharp!

And don't forget to check off the first two items on your list :)

Cheers

Mike
thirdlife said:
I recently purchased a Nikon D50 w 18-55mm lens with which I have
been very happy with.

I now have about $300 to spend on accessories.

I need/want the following:

Zoom lens
50mm lens
2x teleconverter
Tripod
Flash

Obviously $300 is not going to go far, so I am looking for budget
optiosn and suggestions.

I am pretty sure I am going to get the Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens that can
be had for $100.

I would love the 18-200 Nikon VR, but at $750+ and a two-three
month back order I'm out of luck. Are there any other decent
18-200 lens or similar for cheaper that you would recommend?

I can get a 2x teleconverter from $79-$200. I am not sure about
the quality of these though. (Search Bhphoto for Nikon
teleconverter)

I also would like a decent tripod, but I have no idea what to look
for.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!
Click to expand...
 
The 28-200 D is the older, bigger, and heavier version. My fiancee had it on her N80 before we replaced it with the newer G. The G is sharper, much lighter, and focuses closer and faster. Nice lens!

However, my own 55-200 DX is optically superior to her 28-200 G. The 55-200 was also sharper than my old Nikon 70-300 ED, which I recently sold. I highly recommend the 55-200 DX!

Mike
thirdlife said:
Could you tell me what the difference is between the D and G?
Click to expand...
 
It depends on his shooting preference. A flash gun is definitely a good idea if he likes that kind of thing. Personally, I prefer outdoor shooting, and for that a telephoto lens would make more sense.

Cheers

Mike
James H. said:
I agree. Just make sure you get a 50mm 1.8D lens and not the non-D
so that you can take the most advantage of the SB-600.

--
James

Nikon D-50
Oly C2100Uzi
Oly C-3000z
Click to expand...
 
You might need to add $99.00 but the Epson P-2000 is hands down the best money I've spent on accessories. It brings your pictures to life without inviting everyone over to your computer room. Just great entertainment !!
 
I absolutely agree with prior posts on not repeating what you already have.

The 18-55 kit lens is pretty sharp at f4 and above. Sure you will save a few f-stops and more with the 50-1.8D but that is something you can add later.

Definitely agree with the 55-200DX lens as it is pretty sharp and I have seen them selling for under $200.

I am using two Sunpak units 422D/433D and have seemed to learn a lot about flash photography in manual mode with these units and the results are astounding. These are usually available on ebay for around $30.

That should leave you with $70 for a tripod and if you go slightly over $70 then you will also find some decent buys on ebay.

Good luck.
 
NickSP said:
That should leave you with $70 for a tripod and if you go slightly
over $70 then you will also find some decent buys on ebay.
Click to expand...
I have to disagree with this. Please don't get a $70 tripod, it's a complete waste of money!

If you want a tripod with decent stability you need to spend substantially more. Have a look at this article by Thom Hogan:

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

Mike
 
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