D80 Lens ?

[Cmcburnett]

I just ordered the Nikkor 18-200mm, f/3/5-5.6G, VR DX Zoom. So many lenses out there they make my head spin. After reading another thread here I'm not sure if this is a good lens. The thread recommended the 70-300 f/4-5.6, VR Ed AFS. Lots of good and bad reviews on both lenses. If I don't like the lens I ordered I can always swap it for the 70-300 lens.

The 70-300mm sales for $550 and 18-200mm sales for $750. I mostly take photos outdoors in the National Forrest, wildlife, waterfalls, landscapes... but would like to also be able to use the lens for indoors on occasion.

I am totally new at SLR Digital and have a disabled son w/no insurance which has really put me on a budget. Photography is my therapy, just for fun and relaxation but I still would like to have good photos.

I would appreciate any advice.

[lexcell]

Charlotte,
The 18-200mm is a very good lens for all around shooting. It covers a wide range from fairly wide to telephoto so, for your needs, I think it is a better option that the 70-300mm. The 70-300mm would be a great lens for those intimate landscape photos and some wildlife but would not do such a great job for landscapes.
People have too high of expectations on lenses sometimes...both of these lenses are great for what they do in their price category. If you want something better (ie: faster, wider, longer, etc) be prepared to jump into the thousands of dollars.
Niehter the 18-200mm or the 70-300mm are considered fast...wider aperture but, to get lenses that are faster and cover the same range as the 18-200 for example you would end up with three lenses and it would cost you approx $4000.00 and weigh 5-6 times that of the 18-200mm. So, it depends on your budget, your style of shooting and just how much you want to carry around.
Invest in a good tripod and you will be in good shape to start.

[Larop]

Have you considered Sigma and Tamron equivalents? I personally think you get better value. Check the Nikonians forum, I think they have many posts on lenses.

[billz]

Hi Charlotte -

That's my dream lens too. In fact I just rented one for the last weekend for a test drive ... I get to keep it til 6:00 today before it turns into a pumpkin and the authorities are called.

I thought I was going to like it for the extra zoom (I currently use a 18 - 135), and I do .... but what really has me hooked is the VR vibration reduction. My handheld photos are actually quite a bit sharper.

(When I picked it up Saturday morning it was starting to rain, and with the exception of a couple hours it has rained steadily since and is supposed to continue until this evening. If the rain is somehow tied to the lens (and I have to believe it is) that would be an added benefit for all of our friends your way in Georgia.;))

Enjoy your new lens!!

Bill

[mrod]

Hi Charlotte -

That's my dream lens too. In fact I just rented one for the last weekend for a test drive ... I get to keep it til 6:00 today before it turns into a pumpkin and the authorities are called.

I thought I was going to like it for the extra zoom (I currently use a 18 - 135), and I do .... but what really has me hooked is the VR vibration reduction. My handheld photos are actually quite a bit sharper.

(When I picked it up Saturday morning it was starting to rain, and with the exception of a couple hours it has rained steadily since and is supposed to continue until this evening. If the rain is somehow tied to the lens (and I have to believe it is) that would be an added benefit for all of our friends your way in Georgia.;))

Enjoy your new lens!!

Bill

I assume you'll be throwing up some shots in a gallery you took with that bad boy, Bill? :)

Mike

[Cmcburnett]

Hi Charlotte -

That's my dream lens too. In fact I just rented one for the last weekend for a test drive ... I get to keep it til 6:00 today before it turns into a pumpkin and the authorities are called.

I thought I was going to like it for the extra zoom (I currently use a 18 - 135), and I do .... but what really has me hooked is the VR vibration reduction. My handheld photos are actually quite a bit sharper.

(When I picked it up Saturday morning it was starting to rain, and with the exception of a couple hours it has rained steadily since and is supposed to continue until this evening. If the rain is somehow tied to the lens (and I have to believe it is) that would be an added benefit for all of our friends your way in Georgia.;))

Enjoy your new lens!!

Bill

Bill, for my budget the lens was quite an investment. I was all geared up ready to buy the 70-300mm lens but changed my mind at the last minute. Then after ordering the lens I read more reviews on the lens and folks were complaining about the lens slipping if pointed the lens toward the ground, which kinda has me worried. Oh what the heck, hopefully the lens will be in soon and I will let you guys know how I do w/it.

BTW, I think the rain will be here on Thanksgiving day, wouldn't you know it, it hasn't rained in months and it rains on Thanksgiving and I will be stuck inside w/30 relatives. Good thing I don't mind standing in the rain:D

[Cmcburnett]

Have you considered Sigma and Tamron equivalents? I personally think you get better value. Check the Nikonians forum, I think they have many posts on lenses.

Thanks for reminding me of the Nikonian forum. I haven't checked it out yet but I plan too.

[Cmcburnett]

Charlotte,
The 18-200mm is a very good lens for all around shooting. It covers a wide range from fairly wide to telephoto so, for your needs, I think it is a better option that the 70-300mm. The 70-300mm would be a great lens for those intimate landscape photos and some wildlife but would not do such a great job for landscapes.
People have too high of expectations on lenses sometimes...both of these lenses are great for what they do in their price category. If you want something better (ie: faster, wider, longer, etc) be prepared to jump into the thousands of dollars.
Niehter the 18-200mm or the 70-300mm are considered fast...wider aperture but, to get lenses that are faster and cover the same range as the 18-200 for example you would end up with three lenses and it would cost you approx $4000.00 and weigh 5-6 times that of the 18-200mm. So, it depends on your budget, your style of shooting and just how much you want to carry around.
Invest in a good tripod and you will be in good shape to start.

Laurie, thanks for your response and comments. $800 is about all I can spend on a lens unless I win the lottery and since I don't play the lottery guess I'll have to use the cheaper lens. Since your response I don't feel as bad as I did about changing my mind from the 70-300 to the 18-200. One reason I chose the lens was for all around shooting. Lee gave some great advice in the forum once, he said the worst thing a beginner can do is run out and buy a lot of expensive equipment and not know how to use it or when to use it (that would be me).

[Edmund]

Charlotte, You will grow to love this lense. Remember the sweet spot (aperature) is f8 or f11. I generally try to shoot in aperature preferred mode ( for land scapes) and set mine to say f11 and go from there and then adjust my ISO or speed so as to be correct in exposure.
Eddie

[Cmcburnett]

Charlotte, You will grow to love this lense. Remember the sweet spot (aperature) is f8 or f11. I generally try to shoot in aperature preferred mode ( for land scapes) and set mine to say f11 and go from there and then adjust my ISO or speed so as to be correct in exposure.
Eddie

Wow, thanks for the tip. I'm going to print that setting so I can have it handy when the lens comes. I need all the help I can get. Do you ever have problems w/your lens when you tilt your camera towards the ground? That seems to be biggest complaint on the lens.

[billz]

Charlotte -

There is definitely zoom-creep. If you partially extend the lens and point down it will continue on it's own. If you are shooting straight down you'll want to hang on to the zoom ... if you're shooting straight down with a tripod it may present a problem.

For what it's worth, after it zooms out by itself you can point it straight up and it will self-correct;).

At this point, "$800" and "my budget" are separate conversations. I'm glad I rented it though and will keep it on my wish list.

Enjoy ... we'll look forward to seeing some great photos!

Bill

[Cmcburnett]

Charlotte -

There is definitely zoom-creep. If you partially extend the lens and point down it will continue on it's own. If you are shooting straight down you'll want to hang on to the zoom ... if you're shooting straight down with a tripod it may present a problem.

For what it's worth, after it zooms out by itself you can point it straight up and it will self-correct;).

At this point, "$800" and "my budget" are separate conversations. I'm glad I rented it though and will keep it on my wish list.

Enjoy ... we'll look forward to seeing some great photos!

Bill

Bill, thanks. It may be a while before you see great photos in my gallery:rolleyes: At this point I'd settle for very good.

[lexcell]

While Eddie is correct about a sweet spot, I don't recommend setting your lens to f8 or f11 and always leaving it there. What are you trying to communicate? Do you want that much depth of field? Or, do you want more depth of field than that? There is a reason that there are so many apertures and that is so that you can be creative. Regardless of the sweet spot, I select an aperture that gives me the DOF I need to communicate what I want about my sugject.

[billz]

I assume you'll be throwing up some shots in a gallery you took with that bad boy, Bill? :)

Mike

As Mike so poetically suggested I've thrown up some images (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=511).:confused:

None of these were edited in any way other than a stray levels adjustment here and there. I just post them for you to see some of the lens' capabilities with a hack on the back side of the camera.

Bill

[mrod]

Ah. Yes. Poor choice of words, I see. Guilty, guilty, guilty.

Nice shots, though. Were you lying on the ground for the railroad tracks one?

So, final verdict on the lens...I take it you like?



As Mike so poetically suggested I've thrown up some images (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=511).:confused:

None of these were edited in any way other than a stray levels adjustment here and there. I just post them for you to see some of the lens' capabilities with a hack on the back side of the camera.

Bill

[billz]

I liked it very much Mike. It's on my wish list for certain.

For the railroad tracks I just crouched down ... waaayyyy too wet to lay down.

Bill

[Cmcburnett]

While Eddie is correct about a sweet spot, I don't recommend setting your lens to f8 or f11 and always leaving it there. What are you trying to communicate? Do you want that much depth of field? Or, do you want more depth of field than that? There is a reason that there are so many apertures and that is so that you can be creative. Regardless of the sweet spot, I select an aperture that gives me the DOF I need to communicate what I want about my sugject.

Laurie, I agree. Eddie was just trying to give me a starting point since I am totally new to the SLR Digital lenes. I will try his recomended settings first to get the feel of the lens and then venture from there. Thank goodness for digital, this way I can play around and then delete all the unwanted photos.

[lexcell]

Another option is to use a tripod and take the same shot with every aperture on the lens. That way you will learn and get at least one keeper out of the bunch. With digital it's free and you learn quickly.

[Byron Gale]

...I've thrown up some images (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=511)...Bill,

It looks like you were having a good visit with the lens!

I really like the red leaves and the mossy planter box.

...can't wait for mine to get back from the lens hospital!!

Byron

[Linda559]

I've had the 18-200 VR since May and it's the only one I use. The VR is amazing to have..

Here are some images from last weekend at the Farmers Market, all shot on Manual!!
http://www.pbase.com/linda559/farmersmarket

All of the other albums since May were also taken with the 18-200.

Also, read this thread on the Nikonians site
http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID6/22734.html

I have noticed the lens creep, but not too bad, just keep an eye on the lens when you have the camera hanging down. Not a big deal at all.

[Cmcburnett]

As Mike so poetically suggested I've thrown up some images (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=511).:confused:

None of these were edited in any way other than a stray levels adjustment here and there. I just post them for you to see some of the lens' capabilities with a hack on the back side of the camera.

Bill

Wow Bill the pictures are beautiful. My favorite is this one
http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=564&c=member&imageuser=511
its incredible. I'm disappointed, my lens was supposed to be in yesterday and it didn't:( Maybe tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.

[billz]

Thanks Charlotte ... I hope yours arrives soon!

Bill