Which Lens Next? (Nikon)?
I've had a Nikon D5100 with a basic 18-55mm lens and am looking for a larger lens with more potential. The main camera use wil be for an A Level Photography course, but will also be used for long into the future. I want something that can do many different things in one, isn't too expensive, and will be able to use for a long time!
Thanks in advance!
Added (1). ALSO. I'm happy to buy second hand!
I hear Nikon is an excellent lens to use.
"larger lens with more potential. " Mmm - bit of a vague statement that!
If you mean you want more reach, then the 55-200mm is the logical companion lens to the kit lens you have.
If you mean you want faster glass, then you could try some primes - 50mm f1.8 or 85mm f1.8.
If you want fast glass AND reach, then you are going to have to splash some serious cash & I'm guessing by your Q that's not your intention.
If you don't mind a gap in your focal length range, the Nikon 70 - 300 mm is an absolutely wonderful lens, but you didn't specify a price range, you just said "isn't too expensive" which is fairly meaningless! I bought one to go with my D5100, but now I'm regretting having bought the 18 - 55 mm
instead of going with my initial choice, the 16 - 85 mm, which would avoid the gap in coverage and (so I've heard) is a better lens.
If you can find a second hand, I would agree that going with the Nikkor 70-200mm VR II. It's a great piece of glass, but new it runs over $2k. Yikes, right? Right now I shoot with a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 and a Tamron 18-200mm. It's less expensive and allows you to do a lot with one piece of equipment. It doesn't have the best specs, but I've done a lot of shooting with it and with a little post processing to get rid of some shadow edges or straightening out lines or buildings, it works really well.
I have the Tamron lens stated by lana for my Nikon and it's really a fantastic (and fairly cheap compared to Nikon lenses) lens. It's very reliable and so far, it's been very useful, both in my casual and professional photographs.