Camera Help - Nikon D3100

A._Badger

Strider590 wrote: »

The OP is s looking at spending over the value of the camera body is on a single lens, there are other things that offer bigger bang for buck, especially as OP is still new to DSLRs.

Then the OP is doing exactly the right thing. Most experienced photographers - and all professionals - will end-up spending more on lenses than the light-tight boxes to which they are attached.

Particularly today, when electronic cameras are outdated so quickly, it makes even more sense to spend your money on good lenses and to keep them as you change bodies every few years.

Strider590

No, it makes sense to learn how to use the damn thing before you spend money on new lenses. Knowledge and experience are far more valuable than a fancy new lens, because only then will you know what you actually need.

Speaking as someone who's spent nearly £2000 on lenses alone.

A._Badger

Strider590 wrote: »

No, it makes sense to learn how to use the damn thing before you spend money on new lenses. Knowledge and experience are far more valuable than a fancy new lens, because only then will you know what you actually need.

Speaking as someone who's spent nearly £2000 on lenses alone.

One doesn't preclude the other. And please, let's not get into a childish contest about how much money we've spent on equipment (not least because the sum you mentioned is small beer).

If the OP wants the maximum enjoyment from her DSLR, a decent zoom lens is likely to be a very satisfying and sensible investment. It certainly wouldn't inhibit her learning how to use her camera. It's more likely to increase her enjoyment of it and encourage her to make the most of its capabilities.

simon.griggs

Dear Masonsmum,


If you're heading for Florida, I would recommend three things.

Firstly go for a 75-300mm zoom lens. It's a good all rounder, and doesn't cost the earth. You can pick up this one from Amazon, for less than £115, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-AF-70-300mm-4-5-6-Macro/dp/B000HDZAUA/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1413934570&sr=1-2&keywords=nikon+75-300mm

Invest in a Polarising Filter, which you can find here, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Equivalent-Series-Circular-Polariser-Filter/dp/B001RCILQK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413935004&sr=8-3&keywords=polarising+filter+p+series

This will deepen blue skies, and enable you to eliminate reflections from a scene. At £30 they are not cheap things, but I use one myself, and can attest to their usefulness.
You will need a holder, which you can get here, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cokin-BP-400-Series-Filter-Holder/dp/B000L47COM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413935140&sr=8-3&keywords=cokin+filter+holder+p+series

and a mounting ring for 52mm, which is here, and will fit your existing lens. You will need a different size ring if you buy a zoom lens of course.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/52mm-Square-Filter-Stepping-Ring/dp/B00D3L7E16/ref=sr_1_21?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1413935745&sr=1-21&keywords=filter+ring+set

A flashgun will help you take shots indoors, and is more powerful than the camera's built in flash. Do a search for the Yongnuo YN565EX for Nikon.


I hope this helps.

ukcarper

simon.griggs wrote: »

Dear Masonsmum,


If you're heading for Florida, I would recommend three things.

Firstly go for a 75-300mm zoom lens. It's a good all rounder, and doesn't cost the earth. You can pick up this one from Amazon, for less than £115, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-AF-70-300mm-4-5-6-Macro/dp/B000HDZAUA/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1413934570&sr=1-2&keywords=nikon+75-300mm

Invest in a Polarising Filter, which you can find here, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Equivalent-Series-Circular-Polariser-Filter/dp/B001RCILQK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413935004&sr=8-3&keywords=polarising+filter+p+series

This will deepen blue skies, and enable you to eliminate reflections from a scene. At £30 they are not cheap things, but I use one myself, and can attest to their usefulness.
You will need a holder, which you can get here, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cokin-BP-400-Series-Filter-Holder/dp/B000L47COM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413935140&sr=8-3&keywords=cokin+filter+holder+p+series

and a mounting ring for 52mm, which is here, and will fit your existing lens. You will need a different size ring if you buy a zoom lens of course.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/52mm-Square-Filter-Stepping-Ring/dp/B00D3L7E16/ref=sr_1_21?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1413935745&sr=1-21&keywords=filter+ring+set

A flashgun will help you take shots indoors, and is more powerful than the camera's built in flash. Do a search for the Yongnuo YN565EX for Nikon.


I hope this helps.

Some good points here the polarising filter can really improve some outside shots on sunny days.

A flash gun will not only be more powerful but will allow more shots before it needs to recycle meaning you can sometimes get that good shot you miss with the built in flash not to mention the other advantages a flash gun has over the built in flash.

I'm not sure about a 70-300mm I think a 70-200mm might be a better compromise as it's lighter. I did have the Tamron and although it's OK you do need a lot of light or some form of camera support to get the best out of it.

InsideInsurance

Strider590 wrote: »

The OP is s looking at spending over the value of the camera body is on a single lens, there are other things that offer bigger bang for buck, especially as OP is still new to DSLRs.

Yes, its common to spend more on lenses than on the body. Canon's 800mm is £10,000, their most expensive camera body is under £5,000

With dSLRs the reality is that lens technology progresses slowly but body technology progresses rapidly. I bought my 70-200mm 2.8IS lens when I still had my 350D and it was about 4 times the value of the body. I continued to use it when I replaced the 350D with a 40D and still use it now on my 7D

The difference between the 350D and 7D is night and day and still the lens arguably has more to give but my budget doesnt go up to a 1D. It was far more "money saving" to invest in one lens that would last me the life of my photography hobby -v- buying a budget lens for the budget camera then having to replace it with a moderate lens for the moderate body and replace a third time for a prosumer lens for the prosumer body.

Strider590

Being new to DSLR, the OP will not have been expecting lenses to be so costly and CHEAP lenses are a complete waste of money.
A lens won't give you good images, but learning how to get the best from what you already have will.
I do however agree with buying an external TTL flash, onboard flash is just terrible!

ukcarper

Strider590 wrote: »

Being new to DSLR, the OP will not have been expecting lenses to be so costly and CHEAP lenses are a complete waste of money.
A lens won't give you good images, but learning how to get the best from what you already have will.
I do however agree with buying an external TTL flash, onboard flash is just terrible!

Depending on what you call cheap I would dispute cheap lens are a complete waste of money you can get good results with the Nikon 16-55mm kit lens and low price telephoto zoom such as Nikon 55-200mm. Obviously better lens will give better results and be able to used it less favourable conditions.

I would find very little use for a 50mm prime lens which in reality on the Nikon d3100 is a short telephoto or portrait lens.

Really the OP needs to decide what they wants out of the new lens and how much they are prepared to spend. As for learning how to use the camera I would suggest switching to manual and learning about the effect different shutter speeds and apertures have on the image.

althas

To pick bits out of a few posts for my humble opinion

THE best lens a new person to DSLR photography can (and should) get is the "Nifty Fifty". Each manufacturer does one, and they retail for around £100. It will be a 50mm fixed length (so good quality images) f/1.8 (so great for low light). In basic terms, a 50mm is basically the range you eyes see

The other good reason for this is you learn to "zoom with your feet" so you think more on the composure of the shot, where you are standing etc

If you want a general all round zoom lens, then at this stage I would probably get a 55-200 range. Again these are usually not too expensive (£200ish) and will let you get used to and (more importantly) HAVE FUN with your camera on holiday. Thats what it is all about. Getting something like these two lenses will let you cover a lot of ranges. Yes they will not be the best you can get, but at the end of the day, the majority of quality of a shot comes for the PERSON behind the camera. You could have £20,000 camera and lens, but if you dont know what you are doing, a person who does know and an i-phone would do better

What I would say make sure you have, is a spare battery and a couple of good SD cards. Nothing worse than running out of juice and space

And between now and your holiday, the best thing to do is shoot your heart out and look at the pictures on your PC. You will see what works, what doesn't, what you did right etc. Remember this is all digital, so it does not cost you to process the prints

ukcarper

With so much conflicting advice I thought I'd try to clarify options.

50mm prime focal length already available on kit lens but a sharper faster lens better for low light and reduce depth of field useful for isolating subject from background about £100.

55-200mm or 70-200mm quality depends on cost of lens Nikon 55-200mm about £200 similar quality to kit lens. More reach good for nature and sport photography and when you can't move closer.

70-300mm similar to above. But with extra reach but bulkier than 55-200mm.

18-200mm or 18-300mm cover range of kit and telephoto lens save changing and carrying more lens, expensive if reasonable quality wanted, heavy and bulky compared to kit lens.