Noob Question - 2nd lenses for d70

IslandR

I have finished doing my research and decided that my first DSLR will be the Nikon D70s.

Instead of the kit lense I intend to get the AF-S VR DX 18 - 200mm f3.5-5.6 IF-ED , as it seems like a lense that will do it all for a beginner.

The problem arises when I was told that there is a 10 week wait for the lense. :dunno :uhoh

Do I get the kit lense and try and sell it after?

Is there a suggestion on a second lense to add to the 18-200mm ?

I know I haven't given much info on the kind of shooting I will be doing but as a newbie I am not entirely sure.

Mostly outdoor, nightime stuff looks cool, sports I am participating in and/or watching.

A lense tutorial is still something I feel I need: this is what I understand at this point

- small f-stop/aperature number means large hole - shallow depth of field
- large f-stop/aperature number means small hole - greater depth of field

Does a lense with a small f-stop value mean it is a "fast" lense because it will let lots of light in. (VR or IS can help compensate for no tripod)


Thanks for info and opinions

Bakat

Noob Response
I purchased the D50 and wish I had spent the extra money for the D70. The D70 has a few options that are nice and I wish I had now, namely "Comander Mode" to use with Nikon's Creative Lighting System.

HA HA you want an 18-200 VR get in line with the rest of us or be prepared to spend $1000-$1200 for it on eBay. Nobody has that lens in stock, (I know I'm on a dozen mailing lists waiting for it) it's like finding the Holy Grail.

My suggestion is get a cheap kit lens and use the time learning to use your camera. Unless there is something special that you will need a lens for that the 18-200 VR won't do. Like, I love doing Macro stuff so buying Sigmas 50mm Macro lens was an investment for me. But I know enough now to HATE my kit lens. I have the 24-120 VR and it's pretty awesome.

Congrats! on the soon to be arriving camera.
Kat

Mitchell

Welcome to DGrin!

I own a D70 with the kit lens (18-70mm). For the money, it's a fine lens for most applications. The only complaint is that it's not very fast (aperture wise). The lens you are considering is very tough to find and on backorder all around. It could be several months before you receive it.

At the present time, there a many kit lenses on the market and you may find it difficult to sell this item when the 18-200mm comes in. This lens is also not very fast, but VR does help some in that department.

You may want to consider buying an inexpensive Nikkor 50mm, f1.8 lens with your new body just so you have a lens while you wait for your zoom. You will also have a nice, fast, low light lens to use in the future.

dancorder

I've only just started myself so take my advice with a pinch of salt. But I have a D50 with the kit lens and I've ordered an 18-200 too. If I could have had the 18-200 straight off I wouldn't have bothered with the kit lens.

The only other lens I have at the moment is the 50mm f1.8 which is very cheap and pretty fast. I plan to keep that for low light people shots (VR won't stop them moving!) or shallow DOF pictures. I also plan to get a wide angle lens for landscapes, probably the Sigma 10-20. I figure that those three lenses will keep me going for quite a while and won't be too bulky to take on holidays etc.

Mitchell

I don't want to sound like a lens snob, but the kit lens for the D50 is no match for the kit lens for the D70.

I own a lot of Nikon glass, and for the money, you'd be hard pressed to find a better walkaround zoom than the 18-70mm D70 kit lens.

dancorder

You may well be right, I wasn't suggesting that he get either

IslandR

Thanks for the input, my name is on the wait list for the 18 - 200.

I was at the camera store yesterday and the salesman suggested a 50mm lense as well. The problem arises when there seems to no other alternative to the 18 - 200 as a do it all first lense, without losing money on any other temporary lense.

I have waited this long so I guess a little longer can't hurt before I get into the game.

Harryb

It all depends on what you want to shoot and how much you can spend. The 18-200 is a great lens to take when you want to travel light and not be bothered changing lenses. A couple of months ago I took my grandkids to Disney World and took my 18-70 & 70-200. That turned out to be a pain and convinced me to get a 18-200 for those type of days. However I would not want that to be my main lens.

There is distortion at the wide end and a loss of image quality at the long end. Also the lens slows down to 5.6 at 135mm and longer which would make low light shooting extremely tough at 135mm and beyond.