Nikon SLR Cameras

What next lens should I purchase?

Masha Zalyvadna
Masha Zalyvadna

I have Nikon D3100, and I have 85mm macro, 55-200mm, and the kit lens. I'm trying to decide what lens to get next. Would it be worth it buying a 70-300mm? Since I already have 55-200mm. I like photographing nature, wildlife, ect.So, what should be my next lens? A friend of mine mentioned 35mm 1.4. Please help, thanks.

Added (1). Okay, thanks. So you don't think I should bother with 70-300mm right now?

fhotoace
fhotoace

The 35 mm f/1.4 will do NOTHING toward shooting wildlife and is nothing but a fast "normal" lens, a focal length that your 18-55 mm lens already covers. To see the limitations of a 35 mm prime lens, set your 18-55 mm lens at 35 mm and leave it there for a week or so.

Look at the AF-S 55-300 mm lens for that purpose

Picture Taker
Picture Taker

The 70-300 VR lens is a decent lens, but I have replaced iot in my kit with the newer 28-300 lens. This gives me the same reach as the 70-300 and the same aperture range, but (obviously) wider focal range. It's not for fine, hypercritical, architecture photography (for instance), but it has been great for event coverage, sports, and wildlife. I put this lens on and generally I can leave it on when I shoot these subjects.

I shoot birds and a lot of auto/motorcycle races and the lens autofocuses quick enough for that. I just went to an air show and captured several good shots of an F-16 fighter jet going 500-600 MPH that focused well.

Jet:
Planes at air show:
(The last one - the shiny silver one - was shot with the 70-300 VR lens.)
Samples from 28-300:

If you really shoot wildlife a lot, you might enjoy the 80-400 lens. It's on my wish list, but I keep thinking that Nikon will come out with a new version the day after I buy this one, so I'm waiting…