Nikon D40 hints?

[spankey]

Well I must first Say hello! I frequent RC and my buddy refered me to stop over here and check this forum out. I have to say its quite nice. I am mostly an SPS kinda guy, but love the rare zoo's too.

Any rate, I just bought a Nikon D40 and am getting to learn this camera. I stepped up from a Sony H1. Although I love the Sony the Nikon is very promising.

Anyone else use a Nikon D40 and if so can you refer a NON wallet breaking lense for this camera. I think the lense that came with the camera is OK but I think I need to adjust some settings more to get better shots..

Here are some samples.. You be the judge...
Shot with the stock kit lense too.

 

[spankey]

Oh almost forgot. I snapped this using a tripod and a 10 second timer. I think that helped alot!!!!!

Thanks
Spankey

 

[fishes2889]

OMG GREAT PICS!!! :drool:

and also....
:welcome:

 

[spankey]

Thanks! I messed with the camera for good two days straight trying to figure it out. I think though there are even better settings I could be using to shoot with, just need some pointers or some more tinkering....

I think they turned out OK, but know that a good macro lense would make them shine even more.

I would like to get a decent macro lense that fits the Nikon that won't break my wallet to hard.

 

[Azurel]

Those are great shots.....I don't have any pointers to make them butter, but I can tell you how to make them worse.LOL

 

[spankey]

LOL now that is funny. I just need to find a good decent macro lense as I feel they will be much better.

I just don't understand the MM sizes or the F1.8 jargan....
I just don't want to buy the wrong lense for what I want to do with it. I just want a nice decent macro lense for tank photos....
Right now the photos above were taken with the kit lense which is 18mm-55mm.......

THanks everyone!
Spank.

 

[Stixbaraca]

Hey Sal...bought time you showed your face around these parts!!!


See you tomorrow afternoon!

 

[spankey]

Steve thanks for stoping by today! It was nice catching up with ya. Enjoy those frags Bro! Consider it a wedding gift!!!!!

 

[raider77]

What's up Sal? Did you sell your old camera already if not l might be interested in it?

 

[spankey]

Aaron, the wife is keeping the Sony, sorry. We need two go figure. She is so used to the point and shoot and I got the SLR for me. I was going to sell it but then she complained to me that she likes the sony.


On another note, can one suggest a good lense that fits the nikon's that does all around great shooting. Decent macro shots, and with a decent zoom......Nothing major on the zoom but something that will kick my kit lense.
I was looking at the nikor 50mm... Is this OK?

Nikon guy where are you!!!!
Spankey

 

[Stixbaraca]

Sal...thanks for just about doubling my SPS collection today!!! Your tank looks amazing!!!

 

[Nikon_Guy]

Sorry it took a while for me to get to this post. I gotta work once in a while to pay for salt.

I will recommend two lenses for you. Mind you, I am recommending these with the information that you are looking for lower priced alternatives for your camera.

First, for an all around lens for the D-40 take a look at the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX. For the price point of less than 200.00 it sure delivers a lot.

For macro shots, either the Sigma 105mm macro (I use one) or the Tameron 90 mm macro would serve your purpose very well. If you want to spend 600.00 get the Sigma 150 mm macro, (I'm getting one).

You can find a review on the Nikon 55 to 200 here:

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/133/cat/13

 

[spankey]

Thanks guys. Stix you are so welcome! Any time Bro!! Thanks for the frag too! Nice and GREEN

Nikon. I am actually thinking about the 55-200 VR lense. For the same price I can snag one of these and think the VR option is nice. Thoughts?

I will look for the sigma or tameron. Thanks gain for the info.
Sal.

 

[Nikon_Guy]

Thanks guys. Stix you are so welcome! Any time Bro!! Thanks for the frag too! Nice and GREEN

Nikon. I am actually thinking about the 55-200 VR lense. For the same price I can snag one of these and think the VR option is nice. Thoughts?

I will look for the sigma or tameron. Thanks gain for the info.
Sal.

Well, there you go, you taught me something. I didn’t know that lens was available to the public yet.

That would be the way to go for an inexpensive price point. I doubt it is priced under 200.00 but shouldn’t be more than 270.00.

 

[spankey]

Well I actually today bought this lense but think I might return it.
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR

It takes amazing shots, but I really wanted a nice lense for my son's baseball. This one zoomed in still has allot of shake....Unless I am doing something wrong. I think its too much zoom for its slow speed.

I just wish the 55-200 had better zoom.....

What to do, what to do...

 

[Nikon_Guy]

Well I actually today bought this lense but think I might return it.
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR

It takes amazing shots, but I really wanted a nice lense for my son's baseball. This one zoomed in still has allot of shake....Unless I am doing something wrong. I think its too much zoom for its slow speed.

I just wish the 55-200 had better zoom.....

What to do, what to do...

Anything over 200mm you should really use a monopod to help with that.

I have a Nikkor AF VR 80 to 400 and it can get me by for sports shots in a pinch, but the AF is really too slow to do a great job and I almost always have to use a mono-pod. A primary lens is much better suited for this type of shooting.

I know we are budget minded here, but I am going to recommend a lens that you will buy once, fall I love with and never have to buy another one unless you really need some special situation shots.

NO ONE and I mean NO ONE is making a zoom lens with this wide of range that performs as well throughout. The only drawback is that the Bokeh leaves a bit to be desired between 100 and 200mm.

Take a look at a review by a “Erick Borneman†type individual in the photography industry.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

Yes, it costs about twice as much as your camera did, but glass is what makes the difference in picture quality much more so than the camera. And, on the bright side, most likely it will be the only lens you will have to ever buy.

 

[FateX8]

are you recomending him the 18-200 vr lens?
cause ive been looking for one of them for a while and every store i go to is sold out
also, i heard that at 200 the barreling is bad?
havent tried it so i dont know but thats what i read in a review