DSLR LENS.to pick the right one
So, I have the money to get a new lens for my Nikon D60 but I'm overwhelmed with all the options. What I need really is zoom… But I want a lens that I can use in low light and outdoors… Pretty much a jack-of-all-trades but not outrageously expensive. The lens I'm thinking about (linked below) is $759 and I don't know how much more I could spend on a lens. So any advice, thoughts, rants, would be appreciated AND do you think a refurbished lens from Amazon would be a good buy?
Right now I have the kit lens: AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
http://www.amazon.com/...B000ZMCILW
and the one I'm thinking about is this: 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
http://www.amazon.com/...B000BY52NU
As you probably already know, a slow zoom lens, either your 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 or the 18-200mm f3.5-5.6, isn't the best choice for low-light photography. Since a visual aid is always useful, go to this site which I use and recommend for low-light/night exposures:
http://www.calculator.org/...osure.aspx Now choose the Scene 'Domestic interiors at night, subject lit by campfire or bonfire' and choose ISO 400. Now look at the list of f-stop/shutter speed combinations.
ISO 400
f1.4 @ 1/60 sec.
f2.0 @ 1/30 sec.
f2.8 @ 1/15 sec.
f3.5 @ ~ 1/11 sec. The 18-55mm or 18-200mm wide open at 18mm
f4.0 @ 1/8 sec.
f5.6 @ 1/4 sec. The 18-55mm or 18-200mm wide open at 55mm or 200mm
While the two zooms are fine for general outdoor photography or when you're using a flash (preferably an external one like the Nikon SB-600 AF), from looking at the above chart they will require a very high ISO to get to the same shutter speed as a lens with a maximum aperture of f1.4.In fact, you'll need ISO 3200 to get a slightly faster shutter speed at f3.5 (~ 1/80 sec.) than the f1.4 lens allows at ISO 400. At ISO 3200 f5.6 will allow a 1/30 sec.shutter speed and will need ISO 6400 to get to 1/60 sec. - the same shutter speed of the f1.4 lens at ISO 400.
So buy the 18-200mm for outdoors and use with a flash unit and buy the Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.4 for your low-light photography.
I recommend the Tamron 18-270 lens. Here's a link: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/...VC.html.It is only $479 right now after rebate. I have a couple of friends who own this lens and they love it. No need to pay a premium for genuine Nikon lenses when you're just getting started in photography. Tamron is a reputable lens manufacturer.
Keep in mind that, with lenses, you get what you pay for. You're not going to get the same sharpness with a wide-range zoom as you would with a high-priced lens. And there will be a few other compromises.
But in return, you get a powerful 15X zoom that's lighter in weight than the expensive lenses. And, you can leave this lens on the camera most of the time - at least until you can afford a top-quality (expensive) lens or need to use some specialty lens (like the one I mention below). You also get a fairly fast f/3.5 aperture at the wide-angle end which will help in low-light situations.
For better performance in low light, I suggest the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 lens. It's the fastest lens available and is a worthwhile addition to your camera bag. Here's a link: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/..._1_4G.html.
I've been using an older f/1.8 version of this lens, but the D60 requires newer G-series lenses with built-in focusing motors, so the older lens won't work on the D60 unless you like to focus manually.
If you can afford it, get both lens so you can have the zoom range you want AND the low-light capability. You can't get both in one lens, unfortunately.
Have fun,
Alan
http://PhotoCitizen.com
Information for traveling photographers.