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Best all around lens?
- Thread starter Trav29
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I can't comment on a Nikon specific lens but something in the 24 - 70 range is usually considered an all around lens.
That being said an all around lens is very subjective. For me my walk around is a 16- 35 on a full frame, and I personally would use that for shooting cars because I like the exaggerated effect I get of an ultra wide angle, but for you you may not like that.
Before purchasing a lens you may want to try a site like http://www.rentglass.com and rent a few before settling on one and see which suits your needs.
Thanks for the help but I will be asking for it as a Christmas present and I won't be able to use my camera until Christmas when I go back to Fl so renting isn't really an option
Look through your photos and see what focal lengths you use most now with your current lenses. Or if you have a point and shoot look up the equivalent focal lengths. If you've got a kit lens and use everything equally, get a 17-55mm f2.8 zoom of some sort. If you're always at the long end, go for a longer zoom. Short end...something shorter.
Personally, I don't like ultra-wides. For me (on APS-C), a 17-55mm zoom (and even then, I don't think much of the long end) and an 85mm prime would be all I'd really need.
Personally, I don't like ultra-wides. For me (on APS-C), a 17-55mm zoom (and even then, I don't think much of the long end) and an 85mm prime would be all I'd really need.
All round lens
I have a Nikon D300. My favourite all round lens is the 18 - 200 mm lens with VR. It is not a pro level lens in terms of image quality but for me, a keen amateur, it is perfectly acceptable and when I am careful with my technique I find the results to be very good.
I did try a 17 - 55mm f 2.8 which is a well regarded lens but found I missed the extra range and was often switching to the 18 - 200mm. I hate changing lenses so now I just keep the 18 - 200 mm lens attached.
I also have the 35 mm f 1.8 which is a great lens but not as versatile.
The 16 - 85 mm f 3.5 - 5.6 is also well regarded and is less expensive than the 18 - 200.
I have a Nikon D300. My favourite all round lens is the 18 - 200 mm lens with VR. It is not a pro level lens in terms of image quality but for me, a keen amateur, it is perfectly acceptable and when I am careful with my technique I find the results to be very good.
I did try a 17 - 55mm f 2.8 which is a well regarded lens but found I missed the extra range and was often switching to the 18 - 200mm. I hate changing lenses so now I just keep the 18 - 200 mm lens attached.
I also have the 35 mm f 1.8 which is a great lens but not as versatile.
The 16 - 85 mm f 3.5 - 5.6 is also well regarded and is less expensive than the 18 - 200.
I would stick with your kit lens and see if you want more zoom or your happy with the 17-55 range. I would look into getting the 35 f1.8 DX lens. Its a great little lens with a wide aperture so you can get low light shots and also some very nice bokeh and at $200 its a great value.
For the pics I was taking I would have liked more Zoom though I wasn't taking many pics of cars at the time.
On a D3000, you're on a DX sensor so the 17-55mm f/2.8 would be perfect since it's a mid-tele. If that's too expensive, the 18-70mm is a great lens and you get a good deal on them new because they were sold as a kit lens. I take photos of cars and I'm using the 24-70mm on a FX body.
I personally would recommend the 35mm f/1.8 prime lens. It's not considered an all around lens, but it's sharp, fast, inexpensive and will help you become a better photographer since it makes you think on how to frame your photo because you have to zoom with your feet.
I personally would recommend the 35mm f/1.8 prime lens. It's not considered an all around lens, but it's sharp, fast, inexpensive and will help you become a better photographer since it makes you think on how to frame your photo because you have to zoom with your feet.
My best general purpose lens is the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. It's available for Nikon, as well as Canon.
Dale
Dale
I use the 16-85 on my Nikon as a walk around lens. Nice to have a bit more at each end than some of the other options. If you go to NikonCafe and search the lens area, you will find many shots taken with the 16-85 as well as others.
I don't use it very often because I shoot primes but I do have an 18-200 VR that I bust out when I have a rush shoot and don't have a lot of time to jack around. Although it's not a pro lens you can't tell from the image quality. It produces very sharp images. You just have to get over the plastic feel of it.