any help would be appreciated!

have just been given a Nikon d40x camera which came with a 18 to 55 lens, i want to get a zoom lens for when i go out shooting what would be a good option?

i would rather get the right lens now rather than get a cheapy and then get the urge for a bigger and better lens further down the line.

what impact does the max aperture setting have on zoom lenses, say a f2.8 compared to a f4.5?

would it be worth selling the lens it has to fund another?

A f4.5 lens is a much "slower" lens than a f2.8.
This means that you will either need more light or choose a higher ISO speed to compensate for that light loss of the slower lens. If you increase the ISO speed by all means shoot in RAW format to get the best image quality. The trade off is that the RAW file size will be huge so have plenty of cards on hand. I feel that small trade off is worth it. After all we are after the very best photo quality that we can get. Remember that things in nature don't always stand still so that we can photograph them. As far as lens go speed rules!

Look at Nikons 18-200 vr lens that has great wide angle and reasonable telephoto in a small package. Dr.C

thanks guys,

have narrowed it down to the 70-300mm lens.
being digital i can easily tweak the ISO for the slower lens.

is there much difference between Nikon lenses and sigma, is the quality and build integrity as far apart as their prices?

That is an excellent question. A little known secret regarding NIKON is that their top of the line ED-IF Lenses are terrific! I compare them favorably to the Hasselblad and Leica lenses. (Oh, well 90-95 percent.)

I submit a picture that I took today with my old 6 Meg D1X and the 17-35 F2.8 AF-S ED Nikkor:



I have since sold my HASSELBLAD 60mm system and use this equipment exclusively!

quote:

Originally posted by doccash:
Look at Nikons 18-200 vr lens that has great wide angle and reasonable telephoto in a small package. Dr.C

I have been using this lense with our Nikon D40X with great results.

The Nikon 18-200 VR is a great lens. Go for it, you won't regret it.

I don't need anything else for 90% of what I shoot, and haven't mounted my 18-55 and my 70-210 f/4 - 5.6 D since I bought it...

For animals in the bush, though, it just does not cut it. too many times too far when things are interesting... I doled the money out, and got a Nikon 80-400 VR. Gave a hard look at the Sigma 50-500 before, but went for the Nikon. Sigma is MUCH heavier, and no VR. I don't care for the price difference, good stuff is good stuff and feels good.

Only drawback that could be an issue on the 80-400, is the slow AF, but i can live with that.

Expensive lenses? Well, in a couple of years the D40 will be obsolete... And in ten years, a good lens will still be a good lens, probably mounted on a brand new D7700!!

thanks for the replies,

I have just ordered a 70-300 VR Nikon lens,
i think it will do for the time being,

it will be good to go and give me something to practice with!