first camera for a newbie

deafguy87

Senior Member
You are on Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls is maybe an hour away. You have unlimited beautiful landscapes and water shots to shoot
Yes that is true but I just don't often go down there

I know I have to get macro len no matter what... based on research it seems like the top 3 lenses are..

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di MACRO 1:1 VC
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS Macro

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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I can't really do landscape much because where I live there aren't a lot of like mountainous, waterfalls, big open greenery.. probably do like walking trails through the forest, seasonal weather of the fall and winter

I found this guy on flickr ... he got D7100 and use 35mm 1.8... look good

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tornasol11/20524030005/in/album-72157634865896588/

I like close up/macro/bokeh... mother nature/animals, food (because I'm a pastry chef) and interesting things to have a close up on

I like your "welcome to the machine part II" photo @horoscopefish

street photography ... I don't mean taking pictures of people on the street, not my type ... more like pictures of an alley, or graffiti arts, or something appealing of the street and taking pictures in a clever way with depth (some will have close ups) and/or unique perspective and angle of the photos... and if people in my camera view then they are in it lol... i guess you can say street landscape in a way

I don't want to do astro, birds, and portrait

am I still a jack of all trades? too broad?
Based on all the posts you've made on this thread I'm going to stick my neck out a little bit and suggest you might be happiest with prime lenses. That's not an iron-clad sort of thing, I'm not saying you won't find joy in a zoom lens but I get the impression you are going to find you're a Primes Guy.

Some of my favorite primes for the D7100 are the Sigma Art Series lenses (35mm f/1.4 & 50mm f/1.4) but these are eight or nine-hundred dollar lenses. Still, they're magnificent and once you've tasted them, nothing else will satisfy.

The Nikon 35mm, 50mm and 85mm f/1.8 G series of lenses are all very, very good and cost much less. You could also use the older "D" variants of the 35mm or 50mm and probably save a few bucks. I would steer you toward the 35mm f/1.8G or the 35mm f/2 D for your first prime. Others will suggest the 50mm which is also a very solid choice (the 35mm vs 50mm prime is a ongoing debate a la Ford vs. Chevy). I don't have a strong opinion on this particular issue, but given my druthers I will say I prefer the 35mm over the 50mm because I can always crop to the smaller, 50mm field of view, but I can't widen a 50mm shot to match the 35mm field of view. Other than that, I'd say these two are equally matched.

Another awesome prime that won't break the bank is the previously mentioned Nikon 85mm f/1.8G; this is just a great, general purpose sort of lens to have in the bag.

Oh, and thank you for the compliment on "Welcome to the Machine, Part II". :)
 

Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
Yes that is true but I just don't often go down there

I know I have to get macro len no matter what... based on research it seems like the top 3 lenses are..

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di MACRO 1:1 VC
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS Macro

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

You may also want to consider the Tokina AF 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 Pro D Macro
 

deafguy87

Senior Member
Based on all the posts you've made on this thread I'm going to stick my neck out a little bit and suggest you might be happiest with prime lenses. That's not an iron-clad sort of thing, I'm not saying you won't find joy in a zoom lens but I get the impression you are going to find you're a Primes Guy.

Some of my favorite primes for the D7100 are the Sigma Art Series lenses (35mm f/1.4 & 50mm f/1.4) but these are eight or nine-hundred dollar lenses. Still, they're magnificent and once you've tasted them, nothing else will satisfy.

The Nikon 35mm, 50mm and 85mm f/1.8 G series of lenses are all very, very good and cost much less. You could also use the older "D" variants of the 35mm or 50mm and probably save a few bucks. I would steer you toward the 35mm f/1.8G or the 35mm f/2 D for your first prime. Others will suggest the 50mm which is also a very solid choice (the 35mm vs 50mm prime is a ongoing debate a la Ford vs. Chevy). I don't have a strong opinion on this particular issue, but given my druthers I will say I prefer the 35mm over the 50mm because I can always crop to the smaller, 50mm field of view, but I can't widen a 50mm shot to match the 35mm field of view. Other than that, I'd say these two are equally matched.

Another awesome prime that won't break the bank is the previously mentioned Nikon 85mm f/1.8G; this is just a great, general purpose sort of lens to have in the bag.

Oh, and thank you for the compliment on "Welcome to the Machine, Part II". :)
Lol why do you think im a prime guy?

I like the 35mm based on people photos ... isn't 50mm for portrait which I am not interested in though

Why sigma cost like 3 or 4 times as nikon... is the image quality really that great?

Tokina 100 mm is cheaper than the rest... how is it comparing to the rest for image quality?

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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Lol why do you think im a prime guy?
A lot, actually, but I'm going to fall back on gut instinct.


... isn't 50mm for portrait which I am not interested in though
No, it's not for portraits; not for "head and shoulder portraits anyway, and I'd I'll call it a relatively poor choice for portraiture in general because there are so many, much better, options.


Why sigma cost like 3 or 4 times as nikon... is the image quality really that great?
In short, yes; it is.


Tokina 100 mm is cheaper than the rest... how is it comparing to the rest for image quality?
I don't really "do" macro, so I'll happily defer to the opinion's of those around here who know far more about this than I do.
 

Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
The sum of all the tests/reviews I have seen of image quality is that all of the near 100mm macro lens (Tokina, Tamron, Nikon, Sigma) have great image quality. I own the Tokina and it is a great lens. Also, for what it is worth, I have yet to be disappointed by a Nikon or Tokina lens. I can't say the same for Sigma and Tamron.
 

Danno_RIP

Senior Member
Hope you pick a starting point soon. This exercise is all hypothetical till you start taking photos and learn what you really enjoy.

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deafguy87

Senior Member
ahhh I didn't get my D7100 today... got stuck moving for a family member, a couple people didn't show up so it took longer for me to finish and the stores were already closed since it sunday. I won't be getting it until Thursday, Friday or Saturday because of my job finish late and I won't make it to the store in time before 6pm... got a bit annoyed today because I was hoping to read up the manual and fiddle with it for the day :(

35mm

Nikon 35mm 1.8g - cheapest, great image
Sigma 35mm 1.4 - expensive, better image quality than nikon 1.8G, best in low light
Sigma 18-35mm - expensive, versatile length

Can I use sigma 18-35mm as a wide angle zoom and sigma 35mm 1.4 into one len?.. two birds, one stone?

wide angle

sigma 18-35mm, nikkor 18-35mm, tokina 11-16mm, tokina 12-24mm

standard

I was just wondering if I should get nikon 17-55mm or something similar to pair up with D7100 body that would be better for walk around than the 18-140mm kit and if I want longer zoom then I will get something else that is up to 200mm
 
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RobV

Senior Member
Why sigma cost like 3 or 4 times as nikon... is the image quality really that great?

Sigma's Art lenses are competing with Nikon's top glass, in this case, the AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G, at $1700 retail.
So it is a bargain.

Nikon's 1.8 lens is for the masses.
 

Danno_RIP

Senior Member
35mm

Nikon 35mm 1.8g - cheapest, great image
Sigma 35mm 1.4 - expensive, better image quality than nikon 1.8G, best in low light
Sigma 18-35mm - expensive, versatile length

Can I use sigma 18-35mm as a wide angle zoom and sigma 35mm 1.4 into one len?.. two birds, one stone?

wide angle

sigma 18-35mm, nikkor 18-35mm, tokina 11-16mm, tokina 12-24mm

I am glad you are getting your camera this week. I do like that 18-35 lens you are looking at. It is a top rated DX lens, but it will not give double as a wide angle lens. It is not bad, but it will not give you the effect like an 10-20 or 11-16. I took this shot this morning at 10-20 Sigma 3.5 and the 18 mm end of the 18-35 will not give you this kind of width or height.

You can download the manual from Nikon. That is a good thing to do anyway. It is easier to find things in the electronic version...

Sunrise and Clouds-2135-Edit.jpg
 

deafguy87

Senior Member
Ohhh didn't realized there is nikkor 1.4g ... the whole time I thought there is just nikkor 1.8g

Wow 1.4g for $1700... now I see why sigma 1.4g is good value lol

Oh cool ... will check out the simulation later

Should I post a new thread in d7100 forum about len recommendation?

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deafguy87

Senior Member
Update!

I didn't get the D7100... my mother would not let me get one because she think it too expensive for a first camera. Lol :(

So I will be picking one of these two options.

1. D3300 18-55 kit ($520) plus 35mm 1.8G ($229)
2. D3200 18-55mm kit ($469.55) plus 35mm 1.8G ($229)

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Update!

I didn't get the D7100... my mother would not let me get one because she think it too expensive for a first camera. Lol :(

So I will be picking one of these two options.

1. D3300 18-55 kit ($520) plus 35mm 1.8G ($229)
2. D3200 18-55mm kit ($469.55) plus 35mm 1.8G ($229)

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk


Either one of this will be a good start
 

aroy

Senior Member
Update!

I didn't get the D7100... my mother would not let me get one because she think it too expensive for a first camera. Lol :(

So I will be picking one of these two options.

1. D3300 18-55 kit ($520) plus 35mm 1.8G ($229)
2. D3200 18-55mm kit ($469.55) plus 35mm 1.8G ($229)

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

I agree that D7100 is bit overkill for some one who is just starting. The images from D3300 are as good.

I would suggest the D3300 as
. It has no low pass filter hence the images will be sharper
. It has a faster processor, hence FPS and Video is faster
. It has better battery life
. It is marginally lighter

So the difference of $50 is worth it. And, yes do get the 35mm F1.8G DX. It is a fantastic lens.
 

Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
You might want to wait a few days. Nikon is scheduled to announce the new D3400 tomorrow (Aug 17). You may want this camera instead of the D3300, or this announcement may lower the prices of the D3300 and D3200.
 

deafguy87

Senior Member
You might want to wait a few days. Nikon is scheduled to announce the new D3400 tomorrow (Aug 17). You may want this camera instead of the D3300, or this announcement may lower the prices of the D3300 and D3200.
Oh sweet ... good timing

Do you know anything about the D3400?

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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Nothing exciting unless people want snapbridge... other than that...Seem to be the same as D3300
No one really knows what the specs will be since Nikon has not yet announced them. I would expect to see some significant improvements "under the hood" since the inclusion of Snapbridge wouldn't be enough to warrant a new model on its own. I would guess the new model will get more focus points at least, and probably an upgraded AF-system overall. I'm not familiar with Snapbridge but I assume it uses WiFi or Bluetooth? So there will be that. Continuous shooting (FPS) will probably get a boost, things like that.

Improvements in the consumer line DO tend to be more incremental but the D3300 is due for some fluffing and buffing.
 
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