Hi I have some questions about lenses!

[Touché! Good Sir]

Hi guys this is my first post on LTT!

So I wanted to know if the kit lenses that come with nikon or canon dslrs are any good? Looking at the d5300 right now.

[dizmo]

They're ok for a beginner. Don't really need any more, to be honest.

You should look into getting a 50mm prime lens. Those two are the best beginners kit.

[Jamdog]

I have the d5200 and the lens it comes with is great to start with.

If you're buying a £350 camera, it's not really worth buying a super expensive lens unless you specialise in an area of photography.

The 15-55mm lens doesn't offer any zoom, 55mm is lifesize with 15mm being smaller than in reality but you can still zoom in post production as you will have more than enough megpixels to play with.

The stock lens doesn't come with a lens hood though so if you encounter very bright sunlight then you might have issues. 

[.spider.]

If you're buying a £350 camera, it's not really worth buying a super expensive lens unless you specialise in an area of photography.

That's not true an expensive lense and a cheap camera is a better combination than the opposite.

The 15-55mm lens doesn't offer any zoom, 55mm is lifesize with 15mm being smaller than in reality

What are you talking about.

AFAIK the most recent canon kit lens is quite a bit better than the Nikon kit.

But just look for a test for example at photozone.de

[Dw136]

To start with it's a great lens. Learn your composition and exposure triangle before you start worrying about the sharpness of the lens. 

[Touché! Good Sir]

To start with it's a great lens. Learn your composition and exposure triangle before you start worrying about the sharpness of the lens.

My friend told me to buy a 50mm prime with the 18-55 kit lens so that I understand the quality difference between zooms and primes. Should I follow this advice?

Edit - the 50mm prime is on sale at a local store (about 50% off) The lens is the af-s nikkor 50mm f/1.8g and the same 50% off deal is also there on a 35mm f/1.8g lens (both are limited time offers)

[Nexxus]

My friend told me to buy a 50mm prime with the 18-55 kit lens so that I understand the quality difference between zooms and primes. Should I follow this advice?

Edit - the 50mm prime is on sale at a local store (about 50% off) The lens is the af-s nikkor 50mm f/1.8g and the same 50% off deal is also there on a 35mm f/1.8g lens (both are limited time offers)

to correct on what was said before on a d5300 a 50mm isnt "true to life zoom" you would need a 35mm because the 5300 is a crop sensor camera, At least I believe this to be true unless I was understanding my reading im entirely self taught so it is possible I miss interrupted something.

 

the 35mm will give you good bokeh (where the background subject isnt as in focus.

 

Bokeh example on the nikon 35mm 1.8

AE86 S13 DVPark-08 by Andrew Gregg, on Flickr

 

id personally recommend getting something about a 50-100mm zoom and the 35mm that will cover you in most shooting situation you find yourself in. I have an 18-105mm that has proven to be very versatile.

[Touché! Good Sir]

to correct on what was said before on a d5300 a 50mm isnt "true to life zoom" you would need a 35mm because the 5300 is a drop sensor camera, At least I believe this to be true unless I was understanding my reading im entirely self taught so it is possible I miss interrupted something.

the 35mm will give you good bokeh (where the background subject isnt as in focus.

Bokeh example on the nikon 35mm 1.8

AE86 S13 DVPark-08 by Andrew Gregg, on Flickr

id personally recommend getting something about a 50-100mm zoom and the 35mm that will cover you in most shooting situation you find yourself in. I have an 18-105mm that has proven to be very versatile.

The d5300 comes with the 18-55 as the kit lens and if I take the 55-200 zoom then I am not eligible for those two offers

Edit- and if I buy the 18-140 kit lens then it goes beyond my budget

[Nexxus]

The d5300 comes with the 18-55 as the kit lens and if I take the 55-200 zoom then I am not eligible for those two offers

I realize they are not part of the offer, i'm just recommending what id do from a versatility standpoint.

id disregard the kit lens tbh

 

get this 

http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-105mm-f%252F3.5-5.6G-ED-VR.html

 

and one of these

http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-35mm-f%252F1.8G.html

[Touché! Good Sir]

I realize they are not part of the offer, i'm just recommending what id do from a versatility standpoint.

id disregard the kit lens tbh

get this

http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-105mm-f%252F3.5-5.6G-ED-VR.html

and one of these

http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-35mm-f%252F1.8G.html

As much as I like your suggestion I am already stretching my budget so please can you recommend me something else please?

I need your help but please can you please recommend something a bit wallet friendly?

[Nexxus]

As much as I like your suggestion I am already stretching my budget so please can you recommend me something else please?

I need your help but please can you please recommend something a bit wallet friendly?

well what are you going to be shooting mostly, thats going to be vital.

 

For me I focus largely on cars so that 18-105 has proven to be more useful since it works for "feature shoots" with a single car and its worked at race tracks when I dont have media access.

[Touché! Good Sir]

well what are you going to be shooting mostly, thats going to be vital.

For me I focus largely on cars so that 18-105 has proven to be more useful since it works for "feature shoots" with a single car and its worked at race tracks when I dont have media access.

Well I'm mostly going for landscapes and portraits and macros and occasionally sports and wildlife (once a week) and others almost everyday, so in this case what should I do?

[Nexxus]

k well we can omit macro. there are ways to get macro with any lens really by reverse mounting them but that requires accessories. To get macro on a DSLR the "right" way you need a dedicated macro lens.

 

to be honest would still say go with an 18-105. its going to give you that wide angle at 18mm for landscapes but you are still going to have that 105 for stuff you cant get super close too 
 its not going to be great for sports and wildlife at that zoom but it will do after some manual cropping later. (millage will very based on the mp of the camera) plus you are getting that 35mm for "realistic levels of zoom"

 

If you like I can attempt to show you the difference between 35mm and 55mm to be honest its not much it should be a good way to get an idea of the capabilities of a 55mm since 35 as I mentioned is going to be a "realistic" level of zoom compared to your eye.
 

[Nexxus]

Cause for me this is the level of zoom I would want in your situations..this is based on my experience with a 35mm, a 18-105, and a 70-300mm

 

(keep in mind these are for niikon dx "crop sensor" cameras which add some magnification on top of the focal length of the lens)

 

Landscape 18 to 35mm of zoom

 

Portrait 35mm of zoom

 

Sports from the position of non media personal 200-300mm with vibration reduction

 

Wildlife 200-300mm of zoom with vibration reduction

[Touché! Good Sir]

Cause for me this is the level of zoom I would want in your situations..this is based on my experience with a 35mm, a 18-105, and a 70-300mm

(keep in mind these are for niikon dx "crop sensor" cameras which add some magnification on top of the focal length of the lens)

Landscape 18 to 35mm of zoom

Portrait 35mm of zoom

Sports from the position of non media personal 200-300mm with vibration reduction

Wildlife 200-300mm of zoom with vibration reduction

Thanks a ton! I'll think about that and will delay the buy if I think it's worth the extra pretty pennies (will try the lenses in the store)

[Nexxus]

Something to keep in mind is the possibility to rent lens before committing it depends on the location you are mind you thankfully for me lens rental is pretty easy.

I just say tge 18-105 because it's going to do the best job of addressing all of the subjects you want to shoot. If you go with something with a 55max sports and wildlife is going to be a struggle imo. While the 105 isn't as good as I would like in those situations it'll be the better "all in one" solution with a 55mm you are going to be finding yourself wanting a second lens with more zoom for sports and wildlife.

Lettme put it like this.

In you situation ideally I would want a minimum of two lens

Something like the 18 to 55

And something like a 70 to 300vr or 55 to 200vr

But if only one lens is possible for the foreseeable future the 18 to 105vr is the cheapest option that is gonna handle all of those situations "ok" at the very worst.

[skylane]

My friend told me to buy a 50mm prime with the 18-55 kit lens so that I understand the quality difference between zooms and primes. Should I follow this advice?

Edit - the 50mm prime is on sale at a local store (about 50% off) The lens is the af-s nikkor 50mm f/1.8g and the same 50% off deal is also there on a 35mm f/1.8g lens (both are limited time offers)

Never buy over lapping focal lengths - thus a 50 will over lap with your existing 18-55 - unless there is a very specific reason. What would be better would be use the 18-55 @50 or better yet @35 since you're using a crop sensor for a couple of weeks of shooting first before buying any primes.

[Touché! Good Sir]

Never buy over lapping focal lengths - thus a 50 will over lap with your existing 18-55 - unless there is a very specific reason. What would be better would be use the 18-55 @50 or better yet @35 since you're using a crop sensor for a couple of weeks of shooting first before buying any primes.

So should I get the 18-55 and 55-200 lens kit? (both of them come in the kit but will leave no money for other lenses)

[.spider.]

Never buy over lapping focal lengths - thus a 50 will over lap with your existing 18-55 - unless there is a very specific reason.

f/1.8 is a good reason.

[Touché! Good Sir]

f/1.8 is a good reason.

Uhhh so should I get the prime by forgoing the 55-200?

[.spider.]

Uhhh so should I get the prime by forgoing the 55-200?

Just buy the kit and than you can see what you need.

[Dw136]

My friend told me to buy a 50mm prime with the 18-55 kit lens so that I understand the quality difference between zooms and primes. Should I follow this advice?

Edit - the 50mm prime is on sale at a local store (about 50% off) The lens is the af-s nikkor 50mm f/1.8g and the same 50% off deal is also there on a 35mm f/1.8g lens (both are limited time offers)

 

Yes a prime will be sharper than a zoom. My recommendation is if you have the extra money go for the 35 1.8g It's a fantastic lens, my second lens after my kit actually and 50% off is a great deal for Nikon glass. The problem is it's very constricting to start out with. When you start photography you'll want to do everything but the basics of everything is the exposure triangle and composition. No one will give a dam if the picture is sharp at 100%. Stop worrying about sharpness. 

[Touché! Good Sir]

Yes a prime will be sharper than a zoom. My recommendation is if you have the extra money go for the 35 1.8g It's a fantastic lens, my second lens after my kit actually and 50% off is a great deal for Nikon glass. The problem is it's very constricting to start out with. When you start photography you'll want to do everything but the basics of everything is the exposure triangle and composition. No one will give a dam if the picture is sharp at 100%. Stop worrying about sharpness.

Okay thanks! I'll start out with the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses and then after learning all the basics and other stuff I will look into primes.

[Captain_Slow]

Okay thanks! I'll start out with the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses and then after learning all the basics and other stuff I will look into primes.

 

18-55 is completely useless. It's literally the worst lens in the history of bad things. 

 

55-200 is also terrible. 

 

instead of doing that I would get the kit with the 18-140. it's a lot sharper, covers most of the range of the other two lenses, and more durable than both of the other two.

 

If you are doing landscape and portrait I wouldn't rush out to get a fast prime since most landscape shots you'll want to shoot f8 or higher, and portraits look better at longer focal lengths than shot focal length. 

 

also dont bother with the 18-105 since the 18-140 replaces it and is better in every way

 

if you NEED more than 140mm get the 55-300 or the 70-300, or get a telephoto converter. 

 

Your first lens def. should be the 18-140. 

 

PS NEVER buy a lens with a plastic mount, plasticc mounts = poop lens. 

[Touché! Good Sir]

18-55 is completely useless. It's literally the worst lens in the history of bad things.

55-200 is also terrible.

instead of doing that I would get the kit with the 18-140. it's a lot sharper, covers most of the range of the other two lenses, and more durable than both of the other two.

If you are doing landscape and portrait I wouldn't rush out to get a fast prime since most landscape shots you'll want to shoot f8 or higher, and portraits look better at longer focal lengths than shot focal length.

also dont bother with the 18-105 since the 18-140 replaces it and is better in every way

if you NEED more than 140mm get the 55-300 or the 70-300, or get a telephoto converter.

Your first lens def. should be the 18-140.

PS NEVER buy a lens with a plastic mount, plasticc mounts = poop lens.

Ok then I'll go with the 18-140 but that will leave me no money for other lenses and accessories!