Fancy Lens on a starter SLR?
Discussion
Quick one this - is there anything wrong with using, say, £1000 worth of lens on a £500 Nikon D3100?
I ask because I went lens shopping at the weekend. One guy said no, there's nothing wrong with it and the body is less important than the lens. The other guy, in a different shop, talked down to me, was generally condescending and made me out to be an idiot for even considering it. He said it would be mismatched and wrong.
Nevertheless despite being condescending perhaps he is right? I'm sure there must be plenty here who use expensive lenses on a cheap body?
Is there a big difference between a pro SLR and a starter SLR when using a good quality lens?
I ask because I went lens shopping at the weekend. One guy said no, there's nothing wrong with it and the body is less important than the lens. The other guy, in a different shop, talked down to me, was generally condescending and made me out to be an idiot for even considering it. He said it would be mismatched and wrong.
Nevertheless despite being condescending perhaps he is right? I'm sure there must be plenty here who use expensive lenses on a cheap body?
Is there a big difference between a pro SLR and a starter SLR when using a good quality lens?
Nothing at all wrong with it but it is also true that the better glass will offer even more on a higher spec body. Usually.
Of course, once one has the glass the potential for upgrading the body, possibly with a used higher spec body of a similar age (to keep the upgrade cost under control) would release the full benefits.
Conversely a top end body with a lower end lens may sometimes be great but the chances are that some of the comptence of the body will be wasted. This can go beyong pure photographic image ability. Think of usability and things like weatherproofing and so on.
Of course, once one has the glass the potential for upgrading the body, possibly with a used higher spec body of a similar age (to keep the upgrade cost under control) would release the full benefits.
Conversely a top end body with a lower end lens may sometimes be great but the chances are that some of the comptence of the body will be wasted. This can go beyong pure photographic image ability. Think of usability and things like weatherproofing and so on.
Podie said:
Agree... but having expensive kit does not make you a good photographer.
Surely it does?The shop probably won't surprise anyone, it was a Jessops branch...
The guy was wearing branded Nikon clothing. I took that to be a bad sign.
It probably didn't help that I just had been in another shop where they unboxed and fitted a potential lens to my camera then let me snap a few pics in the shop so as to get a feel for what it was like. I did then buy it - 35mm f/1.8. So I was riding high on this experience and hoped for a similar level of service in Jessops. I entered and basically said "Can you recommend any lenses in the sub £1000 bracket and if so could I try it on my camera?"
. He presumably thought I was a timewasting idiot.Pentoman said:
Surely it does?
The shop probably won't surprise anyone, it was a Jessops branch...
The guy was wearing branded Nikon clothing. I took that to be a bad sign.
It probably didn't help that I just had been in another shop where they unboxed and fitted a potential lens to my camera then let me snap a few pics in the shop so as to get a feel for what it was like. I did then buy it - 35mm f/1.8. So I was riding high on this experience and hoped for a similar level of service in Jessops. I entered and basically said "Can you recommend any lenses in the sub £1000 bracket and if so could I try it on my camera?". He presumably thought I was a timewasting idiot.
There's your mistake...The shop probably won't surprise anyone, it was a Jessops branch...
The guy was wearing branded Nikon clothing. I took that to be a bad sign.
It probably didn't help that I just had been in another shop where they unboxed and fitted a potential lens to my camera then let me snap a few pics in the shop so as to get a feel for what it was like. I did then buy it - 35mm f/1.8. So I was riding high on this experience and hoped for a similar level of service in Jessops. I entered and basically said "Can you recommend any lenses in the sub £1000 bracket and if so could I try it on my camera?"
. He presumably thought I was a timewasting idiot.I too just got your combination:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Oddly enough, I bought it from Jessops, but only because I knew that that was the lens I wanted.
y2blade said:
MartinP said:
You'll get far better results with top end glass on a low end body than with low end glass on a top of the range body!
Definitely worth spending money on good lenses.
Wise words^^Definitely worth spending money on good lenses.
Definitely glass! I have a D7000 which I think is basically the same sensor as a D5100. I've invested in some proper glass over the past 12 months...it makes a world of difference.
I'd be looking at any of
17-55 F2.8 £900 new or £600 second hand DX only
24-70 F2.8 £1200 new or £900 seond hand FX or DX
70-200 F2.8 VR1 £900 second hand FX or DX
80-200 F2.8 £600 second hand FX or DX
50mm F1.4 G or D £200 to £300
105mm Macro F2.8 £500 second hand FX or DX
Most people will tell you the 17-55 F2.8 is a must have on a DX body....I have the 24-70 because it works better for me. I see from your sample photo that you have a baby so you might find the extra reach that the 24-70 F2.8 will be better.....you'll soon have a fast moving target and at the longer end the 70mm on a DX body is a good length for childrens portraits. 24mm not that wide on a DX for landscapes etc though...
I'd be looking at any of
17-55 F2.8 £900 new or £600 second hand DX only
24-70 F2.8 £1200 new or £900 seond hand FX or DX
70-200 F2.8 VR1 £900 second hand FX or DX
80-200 F2.8 £600 second hand FX or DX
50mm F1.4 G or D £200 to £300
105mm Macro F2.8 £500 second hand FX or DX
Most people will tell you the 17-55 F2.8 is a must have on a DX body....I have the 24-70 because it works better for me. I see from your sample photo that you have a baby so you might find the extra reach that the 24-70 F2.8 will be better.....you'll soon have a fast moving target and at the longer end the 70mm on a DX body is a good length for childrens portraits. 24mm not that wide on a DX for landscapes etc though...
Pentoman said:
Podie said:
Agree... but having expensive kit does not make you a good photographer.
Surely it does?Pentoman said:
The shop probably won't surprise anyone, it was a Jessops branch...
Actually, that does. On the occasions I've been into a Jessops, they've been knowledgeable and helpful. Then again, the store will vary upon the people in it...Pentoman said:
I entered and basically said "Can you recommend any lenses in the sub £1000 bracket and if so could I try it on my camera?" . He presumably thought I was a timewasting idiot.
You may have approached it in the wrong way. Rather than say 'I want to splash £1,000 on a lens, what do I need?' you might have done better to say 'I need a fast wide-angle' etc. He may have seen you as only judging things by cost, not what they do.. He presumably thought I was a timewasting idiot.Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff