zoom lens?

mom2nj

Senior Member
anyone have a recommendation for something that can get me more close up pics? That is my only real complaint about my camera, I feel I can't get close enough to really get some shots. I don't even know if all the 5300 comes with the same lens, so maybe I should look and see what I have?
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Yes. Let us know what you have. Also, give us an idea of the type of pictures you want to be able to take.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
There are a couple of different kits from Nikon, plus depending on where you got your camera you may have had other options as well. My "kit" came with both the 18-55mm and the 55-300mm lenses.

Having been shooting with the 35mm/f1.8 prime lens a lot lately, the 55-300 looks very soft to me, but depending on what you're using it for, it may do fine. Depending on what you already have, there may be better recommendations without overlapping what you have covered.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Ok, so the same kit lens that was boxed with my D5300 body. There are a couple options like my 55-300mm or 55-200mm. One of the better affordable lenses that I've heard of is the 70-300mm VR.

The real question then is what kind of shots are you finding the 18-55mm short on? Do you need something that reaches to 200-300mm, or just needing something a little longer than the 55mm? I know my challenge has been with getting hands on a lens so that I can get an idea for the difference in perspectives, since looking through a camera at Best Buy doesn't really simulate the shot(s) that I'm thinking of outside the store.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I'm going to suggest the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VRII as your first choice. I really like this lens over the other I'm going to suggest because of its longer reach, the metal mount (versus plastic on the 55-200mm), and the newer Vibration Reduction (VRII) that it offers. All that being said, the smaller, less expensive Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR is a very, very good lens that would complement your D5300 very well too and would save you a few bucks.

...
 

mom2nj

Senior Member
I am finding when I do landscape shots, or if I am trying to get a bird in a tree that i am not RIGHT next to, it's hard to get a good shot. I have taken so many pics and wished I had something that would bring me much more detail if I was closer... I take mostly nature and landscaping shots.
 

wev

Senior Member
Contributor
With some basic cropping and light/color adjustment, there is a good picture there. Sometimes, no matter the rig, you can't get the image you want right out of the camera. The 18-55, while a very good lens, is not designed to do what you want to do, so off to zoom land. I recently got the Tam 16-300 and have managed a few pretty good pictures, both at distance and close by.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
I have the Tamron 70-300mm VC USD lens and would recommend it to anyone. It is pretty much a match for the Nikkor equivalent and has excellent vibration reduction called VC on Tamron lens. It's more than £100 cheaper in the UK too.
 

mom2nj

Senior Member
Great suggestions everyone. Thank you. I agree about the cropping and lighting on that photo. I think it could be salvaged.. but I just see some things that I know if I could zoom in a bit more, it would be really great!
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
I am going to suggest the 55-300 vr also. This will allow you to pull a subject closer to you when you cannot get physically closer. And to save a few bucks a refurbished version would probably do you just fine.
 

hrstrat57

Senior Member
Hey mom Hunt Photo in Providence on N Main Street has 2 55-200 used kit zooms. Real friendly shop too - nothing better to help a your quest than a friendly LCS!

I just picked up a mint 18-55 VR there a few hours ago. I also recently picked up a Nikon 55-200 and it is plenty sharp fast focusing and easy to use.

i believe there is a Hunt Photo in Cambridge as well but I have no experience there. The Providence shop gets 5 stars from me. Worth a day trip. The product is there now.

Good luck!
 
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