apologies- another what lens! nikon d40

[Fordo]

Sorry everyone, another what lens thread- but after reading and researching I still cant work out what I should go for.

Let me describe my position, and any comments as to what you'd buy if you were in my shoes, would be much apreicated.

I work as a video cameraman, but have always keen interest in photography. So last year I bought a D40- Ive found its cracking camera for the price, but I've quickly outgrown it- although im loathed to get rid of it- I use it a lot of time lapse photography, and its great to have a not so expensive dslr that I dont have to worry leaving in location.

Anyway, I really feel like i should start buying some lenses to expand my photography a little.
The problem with the d40 is quite restrictive with lens options. Id obviously like to get lenses that I can use with a better body in the future. Or would it be better to get some cheap lenses now, and sell with the body when I upgrade.

Then theres what lens to go for. Initailly, I thought i should get a nice long zoom lens. 55-200 mm or something like that, which a lot of people go for. Although I'm quite picky with optical quality, and I'm not so keep on cheap lens with large zoom ranges.

I was also pondering about a really wide angle prime- like the sort used for car interior photography.
I was also considering something like a fast 55mm prime. I do quite a bit of low light photogrpahy, especially on set, where I cant use flash, so a fast lens would be quite useful.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. What lenses do people use or would recommend for the d40, and what prices would I be looking at? Are there any lenses that would prove useful if I were to upgrade the body in the future?

Sorry, lot of questions. Thanks in advance for any suggestions

[GetCarter]

Not a low light but the 70-300 ED is a great long lens - and will work full frame on the newest cameras as well as a longer lens on a DX sensor.

Piss cheap too.

I still use it on my D3 and D2X and it never lets me down. Dropped it onto concrete from 5 feet last week and it shrugged it off and still works perfectly.



ETA pic - click on it to unsquash (God I hate 750)

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 2nd September 19:25

[Fordo]

GetCarter said:

. Dropped it onto concrete from 5 feet last week and it shrugged it off and still works perfectly.

if it can survive that, then it sounds ideal for me! i'll have to look into that lens.


Maybe that lens, plus really wide angle prime plus the standard lens would give me a lenses for most occasions.

thanks for the reply

Edited by Fordo on Tuesday 2nd September 20:10

[rustyspit]

I don't think the 70-300ED would autofocus on the D40, but the newer 70-300VR would be OK?

I quite fancy the Sigma 50-150 f2.8 - seems like it would a nice fast, sharp lens that wouldn't be quite as chunky to lug around as the 70-200 f2.8.

[andyquantum]

Jesops do a 50-200 for about £130 and it's alright. I bought one for my D40, and also a 50mm prime for about £80

They also work on the D80 which I upgraded to for similar reasons as you've already said

I like to bring the D40 out every so often but keep it as either a backup or stick a spare lens on it, s I'd have one camera for the 18-55 and have either the 50-200 or 300 on the other

Edited by andyquantum on Tuesday 2nd September 21:57

Edited by andyquantum on Tuesday 2nd September 21:59

[NewNameNeeded]

Recommendation for a wide angle: Sigma 10-20mm. I love it.

As for your quandry - I'd be tempted to wait a bit, and if you're happy with Nikon I'd snap up a D80 when deals appear as the D90 appears on the market. That has an in-body motor on it and then you've no restrictions on the lens you choose. Or maybe get a used D50 which I'd guess is pretty cheap now. Although it must be a few years old (and so it is only 6mp) i'd say that would compete with yout D40, but it has the in-body motor.

[Fordo]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions- you've really helped

Still not 100% sure what i'll go for, but at least i know the lenses that i want to try out

[BenjC]

All of these: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44032&am... were tken on a d80 with the 70-300 VR that I picked up from ebay for £250.

Great lens and will work perfectly on your d40 as it is AF-S.

[andyquantum]

The prime is more interesting on the D40 than the D80 for manual focus/weird depth of field stuff - try it on your body and I think you'll be quite surprised

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm



Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm



Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm

Edited by andyquantum on Thursday 4th September 19:50