| Author | Thread |
|
|
05/13/2008 08:28:33 AM · #1 |
With the lack of a on board lens motor with Nikon DSLR's, how limited are my choics for high zoom ratio lenses?
As in over 8x.
Also how much does that limit me for regular 3 or 4x zoom lenes?
I was really hoping to get away with a single wide range zoom lens if the trade off of image quality wasn't that great.
Yes, I do know there is a trade odd, but I'm hoping there are ones that aren't as bad as some of the others I have read about. I really didn't want to carry a 2nd lens and have the hassle/worry with changing lenes in the field.
The cameras I was considering are;
Canon EOS 400D (Digital Rebel),
Olympus E-510,
Nikon D60,
Nikon D40x &
Nikon D80
Kinda in that order.
Message edited by author 2008-05-13 08:41:34. |
|
|
|
05/13/2008 08:40:28 AM · #2 |
Grab a D80 and an 18-200VR... all sorted...
As for the lack of focus motors in camera, I believe that's only the D40 (haven't looked at the D60 yet)... |
|
|
|
05/13/2008 08:45:52 AM · #3 |
The lack of a 50mm Nikkor lens is my biggest gripe - they haven't released one with a built in motor. If you're wanting to go for a universal lens that covers wide angle to long zoom (e.g the 18-200mm f3.5/5.6 VR) it'll come with a built in autofocus motor.
If you go down that road you'll encounter a couple of problems - for a start cost, that universal lens costs £420ish which if you're going for an entry level Nikon is about the cost of the body. Also as good as the quality of the D40x is you might not be able to get all that that universal lens can offer out of the body. If cost isn't a massive problem I'd go for the D80 or the D300 and that lens.
If cost is an issue then the set-up I have is ideal - the D40x is a wonderful camera, very easy to use and the image quality is great, the kit lens is decent, and the 55-200mm VR is relatively inexpensive and produces fantastic results.
Taken with the 55-200mm -> and 
Swapping lenses can be a pain but you get used to it!
J |
|
|
|
05/13/2008 11:58:17 AM · #4 |
| I believe the Nikon 18-200 zoom is the only 8x zoom available in either the Nikon or Canon family. I had the same thought you did about not wanting to carry around extra lenses, and went with the D80 and this lens. Focus motor works fine, vibration reduction is great, convenience is wonderful -- there is a bit of a trade-off with sharpness but not too bad. Everything in my profile was taken with the Nikon D80 and the 18-200 zoom if you want to see a range of photos taken with it. |
|
|
|
05/13/2008 12:34:55 PM · #5 |
|
|
|
05/13/2008 12:47:43 PM · #6 |
As I understand it only the D40/D40x Nikons are lacking the focus drive on the body.
I believe the other Nikons you list can use the full range of lenses.
|
|
|
|
05/13/2008 01:09:27 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by ososnilknarf:
As I understand it only the D40/D40x Nikons are lacking the focus drive on the body.
I believe the other Nikons you list can use the full range of lenses. |
That's not correct - the new D60 also lacks the focus motor. |
|
|
|
05/14/2008 08:45:38 AM · #8 |
I pretty much ruled out the D80 because of it's age. Though I haven't ruled out the D60, I'm leaning towards the Canon XTi (400). I was also considering the newer XSi (450), but I perfer CF over SD and the 400 is cheaper. 12MP seems overkill anyway.
All the reviews I have rad on these 10x and up zooms are very disappointing to say the least. I don't know if I could live with the compromises, but I also don't know if I can live with changing lenes in the fiels either.
Doesn't anyone make a decent hi zoom lens that is above 'consumer' grade without paying a couple grand? |
|
|
|
05/14/2008 10:58:55 AM · #9 |
Only the entry level DSLR's from Nikon do not have the focus motor, the D40 and the D60. The D80 and above all have it. I would think the D80 is up for a new model any day now.
As for a 10x plus zoom my feeling is that IF that is your main focus you should stick with a point and shoot. Any zoom for a DSLR is going to be a compromise when it is over 3x and a big compromise when at the 10x and above range. If you only want a walk around camera then there are many great P&S cameras on the market to suit that need.
As for Nikon lenses that have the focus motor built in look at the AF-S series. Nikon has many great lenses with the AF-S syetem and they are fast and smooth focusing. They all will work with the D40 and D60 as well as the D80 and above.
Good luck in your shopping.
Message edited by author 2008-05-14 14:24:39. |
|
|
|
05/14/2008 12:53:51 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by videobruce:
I pretty much ruled out the D80 because of it's age. Though I haven't ruled out the D60, I'm leaning towards the Canon XTi (400). |
You do realise that the D80 was announced just two weeks before the XTi, right? |
|
|
|
05/14/2008 03:45:16 PM · #11 |
I picked this combination for my first D80 lenses because the extra reach and image quality outweighed the need to change lenses from time to time:
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR
18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6
|
|
|
|
05/14/2008 03:47:54 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by JMart:
I picked this combination for my first D80 lenses because the extra reach and image quality outweighed the need to change lenses from time to time:
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR
18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6 |
That 18-135 is very sharp, but the distortion and chromatic abberations are a bit much. |
|
|
|
05/14/2008 04:13:52 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by LanndonKane:
Originally posted by JMart:
I picked this combination for my first D80 lenses because the extra reach and image quality outweighed the need to change lenses from time to time:
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR
18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6 |
That 18-135 is very sharp, but the distortion and chromatic abberations are a bit much. |
Tests I remember (it's been a while) had the 18-135 beating the 18-200 in sharpness for most situations but I don't remember how it compared in those other respects. The real big issue on the 18-135 for me was that it was far less $$ (by about half?) than the 18-200 which allowed me to put my money into the 70-300VR (much better/longer than both of the others). That whole package is more expensive than just getting the 18-200VR, but for me the 70-300VR was worth it. |
|
|
|
05/14/2008 05:09:30 PM · #14 |
Hi Bruce,
I guess my first question would be...what are you targeting as your subject matter?
The reason I ask you this question is that you may want to keep the end result in mind prior to buying your glass. For a zoom lens, you will want to buy glass that will allow you shoot in the lighting conditions of your subject matter. Low lighting will mean a higher quality zoom may be required.
Most likely, you will keep your lenses far longer than you will keep your camera body (unless of course, you drop them...;-)...). So, when investing in your lenses you may want to think long term, and when investing in your camera body you may want to think shorter term because you will most likely replace it sooner rather than later as the technology progresses.
If you purchase a Nikon camera body without a motor (e.g. D40x or the D60), then you will have to buy AF-S lenses or learn the Art of Manual focus which also has many uses.
Well, that's my two cents!
Good Luck!
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/12/2025 03:14:58 PM EDT.
