Greetings from the Isle of Man

Deleted

Senior Member
Hi

I was a keen amateur but slowly dropped out about 25 years ago. My last camera was a Canon A1 35mm - which I still have in the loft somewhere. Apart from dallying with a Canon IXUS & the iPhone camera (cough), I've not got much experience with digital photography. Recently, I've caught the bug & feel inspired to start again. I've spent the past week or so on the digital learning-curve & would appreciate any advice I can get. I'd like to aim this time around for a Nikon camera & glass, budget around GBP 2k (US$ 3k) - so that's a DX. :)

After playing with the D3300 & D5300 in my local Currys chain store (i.e. no advice), I think that the D7100 best matches my requirements & budget. I'm prepared to wait until September in case a D7200 is announced & review the specs on that. There is nowhere locally where I can go to try anything "higher" than a D5300, so I'm relying on Internet advice. :eek: Interests are landscapes, wildlife, macro & general walkabout. Maybe a bit of sports - motorbikes, cycling, also possibly some outdoor character portrait work - "fisherman on boat" type of thing.

So here's my kit thoughts after a week of homework:
Nikon D7100
Landscapes: 10-24mm zoom
Wildlife/Portrait/General: 18-200mm zoom
Macro: 85mm micro
To take me over budget:
Maybe a 4th lightweight wandering around lens: 18-55mm or 35mm prime
Manfrotto lightweight compact tripod

Any & all advice is welcome! :D
 
Last edited:

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
First off, howdy and welcome to Nikonites!

Your setup sounds pretty solid to me ... the only lens I don't know much about is the 18-200mm, but I'm heard great things about the 18-140mm so if it's anything like that it should be up for the task.

With the 10-24mm ... you may want to check out the Tokina 11-16mm as an option. It'll save you enough money to pick up that 35mm/f1.8 prime without having any impact on your budget, plus leave you some money to spare.
 

Deleted

Senior Member
Thanks for your replies, Charlie & Roy.

Charlie, I appreciate your advice & note that you also have the 18-55mm. :) My inclination is to stick with Nikon glass for the moment, although I realise that I am paying higher for this. Regarding the 18-200, Ken Rockwell seems to rate this lens - replacing pretty much his whole dream team. DX Dream Team Lenses It's a heavy lens though.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
The 18-55mm was the kit lens that came with my D5300. Overall, I've been pretty happy with it. I also have the Nikon 10-24mm but haven't explored that lens enough to make any recommendations there. I'm also hoping that I can get my hands on a Tokina 11-16mm to do a side-by-side comparison, but so far that Tokina has been elusive. There are a couple of threads here that debate/compare between the 11-16mm and the 10-24mm ... most seem to like the sharpness of the Tokina, but the Nikon lens also has it's pro's.

Did some quick searching after my initial post and it looks like that 18-200mm is a pretty impressive lens after all.

But I gotta ask ... do you like motorcycles at all? :D
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I'm embarrassed to admit that the IOMTT is the sole source for any knowledge I have about the Isle. That said, there's some beautiful landscapes that most of the racers don't have enough time to enjoy while they do what I like to call ... "speed reading in the country side". :)

I'm hoping to get some shutter time with the 10-24mm this Saturday, so I'll keep you posted.
 

Deleted

Senior Member
Ahh, I just saw the bikes in your gallery! :) We have a few people from the US popping over for the racing each year.

Your thoughts on the 10-24mm would be very interesting. Also, do you find that your 18-55mm is a good walk-around lens, or maybe it's a bit too short? I'm wondering how often you feel the need to swap for your 55-300mm?
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum,i would rethink the 18-200 for wildlife,it may be great for the other two options but not long enough for birds ect
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I'm happy with the image quality of the 18-55mm, but I do find myself swapping lenses more frequently than I'd like. I've been looking for an alternative, and really leaning towards the 18-140mm for a walk around lens. That would also allow me to replace the 55-300mm with something a little more solid for reaching out to wildlife.
 

Deleted

Senior Member
Thanks Mike.

What size lens would you suggest for wildlife (eg birds, seals etc)?

Edit: Ouch I just checked some prices, a longer lens may have to wait for phase 2!
 
Last edited:

Deleted

Senior Member
Hi Charlie

I was comparing the 18-55mm against the 18-105mm & 18-140mm - all useful walk-arounds. However I felt that with the additional weight of the two longer lenses, I may as well stick with the 18-200mm.
 
Last edited:

wornish

Senior Member
welcome.gif
 

§am

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum.

Your initial setup brings you to ~£2400 (+£150 if you add a prime = £2550)

Consider the following setup too;
D7100 + 18-105mm lens (covers your walkabout/general needs) - £940
70-300mm for your wildlife needs - £420
11-16mm (Tokina) for your landscapes - £600
85mm Micro - £370
35mm or 50mm prime - £150

TOTAL = £2480

A mere £80 over your initial setup and you've got all the lenses you wanted, and still £70 cheaper than doing your 2 step process to get the additional prime :D
 
Last edited:

Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Welcome!

I have the 18-200mm and unless the wildlife is close, you're gonna want more. It is a great walkabout lens though. I also have the 55-300mm which I love for wildlife.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
So here's my kit thoughts after a week of homework:
Nikon D7100
Landscapes: 10-24mm zoom
Wildlife/Portrait/General: 18-200mm zoom
Macro: 85mm micro
To take me over budget:
Maybe a 4th lightweight wandering around lens: 18-55mm or 35mm prime
Manfrotto lightweight compact tripod

Any & all advice is welcome! :D

Welcome to the forum.

If I was the one starting all over again with DX in mind, this is what I would buy for my set-up.

D7100 body only.
Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 (for low light and general lens)
Nikon SB700 or SB 910.

Optional: D7100 grip
Optional: (when funds are available) Long telephoto lens i.e. Nikon 70-200mm f4 VRII
Camera bag
Done.

Don't get caught up with KR website. His suggestions are not updated. Also, don't get caught up that you need all sorts of lenses. You really don't need the rest if you stick with this plan.
 
Top