Is my gear appropriate to learn photography?
My father bought a Nikon D80 and two lenses:
Nikkor AF-S DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED
Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6 G IF-ED
Now I'd like to begin learning photography and I was thinking about buying a used Nikon D90. My father agreed to let me borrow his lenses (which are all compatible), but I was wondering if there's anything I should be looking for in a lens to begin.
First of all, what are these two lenses capable of? I assume the second one would be better used for wide angles, landscapes and the like while the first would be more appropriate for telephoto and portraits?
I'd like to try and work with a fixed focal length lens too. I thought it'd be a good learning experience. I saw a few used 50mm f/1.8 lenses for sale. Would that be good?
Ideally, I would like enough versatility to take not only portraits, but also the average travelingphoto. Maybe even some sports photos if I have the chance.
I'd also like to eventually try macro photography. I assume I would need a specialized lens for that?
Well, yes and no.
Yes because your lenses and camera is fully adjustable, the kind of camera you need if you wish to learn photography.
Maybe no because many photo schools require that their students take the first few classes using a camera that uses film. Check with your local community college and see what their requirements are. If you do need a different camera, you can find a good used Nikon 35 mm SLR with standard lens for from $50 to $150 on craigslist in a city near you.
The Nikkor AF 50 mm f/1.8 lens will work fine on either your D80 or the D90 if you purchase it.
More on the D90
http://www.kenrockwell.com/...on/d90.htm
The AF 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens is what you need for shooting macro shots. You can find good used ones from time to time
The 50mm 1.8 is a perfect lens to learn on. The fixed focus prime lens will be sharper than any zoom lens, and 50mm is considered 'normal'- or close to it depending on the size of the sensor, which means that size proportions and angles are exactly as they appear without the camera. Way too many people [professionals included] use their zoom lens when they should be moving closer or further from their subject. The 1.8 aperture is fast enough to use in low light, and the size of the lens will help you avoid camera shake. As a professional, the 50mm 1.4 is still my favorite and most commonly used lens.
Any focal length less than 50mm (on a 35mm or equivalent body) is considered 'wide' which means lines will be stretched and bent outward horizontally and pushed in vertically to fit more in the frame. Anything over 50mm is considered telephoto which is just the opposite. Either wide or telephoto is a distortion of the image, however most people prefer their portrait made with around a 100mm lens because it pushes the facial features in a pleasant way.
A macro lens is different altogether. Nikon makes a 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor Lens that is probably the best macro that is also compatible with the D80 or D90.It is a 1:1 macro with a very flat field. Lenses with a macro switch or macro focal 'zone' are OK, but not great.
The short answer is yes. The only things you need to learn photography are a camera (and lens), reading material on photography or a mentor, and the eagerness to learn.
You've got the lenses mixed up. The 18-135 is a wide angle to short telephoto. This one is more appropriate for landscapes due to the wide angle. The 55-200 is more suitable for sports and wildlife. Either can be used for portraits. I'm curious as to why your father bought two lenses that have quite a bit of overlap: you can have focal lengths in the range 55-135mm on both. I'm not familiar with the Nikon line, but these sound like either kit or consumer-oriented lenses. You will get better optical performance from higher end lenses, either primes or zooms. By the way, pros use zoom lenses too. There are many who prefer fixed focal length lenses, the so-called "primes". However, there are many zoom lenses that are considered "professional" level.