Camera Lens suggestion please?
I'm studying to be a professional photographer and am looing into a new camera lens. I plan on doing lots of portriture, nature, landscape- basically the whole mix. I currently use a Nikon D40 and use a 55-200 non Vibration Reduction lens. I was looking into the 55-300 vibration reduction and the 70-300 vibration reduction but I don't know if the extra 100mm will be benificial for so much more money. So my question is, would it be benificial for me to buy the lens I already have (55-200mm) just with vibration reduction? Also, if anyone uses VR, does it really make that much of a difference? Would it help increase the sharpness?
It will increase sharpness at low shutter speeds. The lesser lens would be better in my eyes but if you already have it why spend money just for the VR. Use the cash you have to get a cracking fixed (non zoom) portrait lens of about 85mm to105 mm.
VR - Vibration Reduction - is only useful to correct camera shake when using a slow shutter speed.
If you use the old "Shutter Speed Rule" of 1/focal length like we did in the days before VR was even a lens designer's dream you'll be fine with your non-VR lens. If we were using a 200mm lens we'd use a shutter speed of 1/250 when hand-holding the camera. 100mm, 1/125 sec. 24mm, 1/30 sec.
You'll only need the VR if you plan on doing a lot of hand-held low-light photography. Of course VR does nothing to correct for subject movement. It only corrects for camera movement.
On a 35mm film camera or full-frame DSLR a focal length of between 85mm to 105mm is considered a good focal length for portraits. The Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.8 or AF-S 50mm f1.4 with the 1.5x "crop factor" of your D40 is equivalent to a 75mm lens on a 35mm film camera or full-frame DSLR so 50mm makes an acceptable portrait lens on your D40.
Keep your 55-200mm zoom and invest in a 50mm prime lens for portraits.
For landscapes in my opinion you need a much wider angle of view than that afforded by the 55mm end of your zoom. The 18mm end of the 18-55mm kit lens would be far better for landscapes. I also consider a tripod mandatory for good landscape photography.