Easy Exposure - Topic: Replacing Kit Lens

easyexposure on Replacing Kit Lens

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:05:16 -0700

The kit lens would not give you as great of the blur as more expensive fast lens with wider maximum aperture. Also your kit lens will give you better blur on the longer end of the lens, then on wide angle end. Remember my lesson about DoF? With fast more expensive lens you will have a wider aperture for more shallow DoF, but you will need to sacrifice a variety of focal length. I can tell you for sure that lens with wide aperture (like for example f2.8) with local length from 18-300mm doesn't exist. I would love to have one like this too, lol! The only solution to this is to have two cameras with two lenses (one with shorter length and one with longer).

Do you have any picture of sport events you took with your kit lens you can share with us? Can you also post the settings you used?

easyexposure on Replacing Kit Lens

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:00:08 -0700

Well, as I already said, it all depends what you want to use your new lens for and what is more important for you in the lens. What type of photography do you want to use it for?

If you are happy with your Nikon AF-S 70-300mm 1.4.5-5.6G and Nikon DX AF-S 18-135mm 1.3.5-5.6G ED and the only thing which is missing is a focal range without changing the lens, then go with NIKKOR AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5-5.6G ED VR.

If you need to use your lens in low light condition and want shallower DoF (lets say you are shooting events), the lenses above are better option. But in this case you need to sacrifice a focal range.

easyexposure on Replacing Kit Lens

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 22:30:22 -0700

It all depends what are you shooting and how much are you willing to spend.

If you want a real upgrade : Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED ($1800) are great pro lenses, but also very expensive. If you are upgrading, you want something with wider aperture, so it is better in low light.

Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED ($1400) is also a good one, but it is only for DX (Cropped sensor camera), so if one day you will want to upgrade to a FX (Full sensor) this lens would not work.

If you want something cheaper here some options from Sigma:

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS Lens ($600)
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Lens ($800)

or Tamron:

Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 VC ($650)
Tamron SP AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Asp IF Macro ($500)
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC ($1300)

This are your options I think. You can find tons of reviews online on those lenses. I will try to write an arctics compering all those lenses soon too.

35mm ($200) is a good sharp lens and very cheep.

Nikon D7000 is great.

Ashkan on Replacing Kit Lens

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:58:51 -0700

What do you shoot mostly? If you dont need a wide angle lens then sell the 18-135mm since you have 50mm and 70-300mm covered. Maybe you can get the 35mm f/1.8G. If you want a body, get the D7000.