06-03-2007, 05:03 AM

Hey Everybody

I am on a tight budget but am always looking to expand my equipment where possible. If you visit www.jemdna.co.uk you can get an idea of what sort of photography I do. My current rig consists of:

Camera: Nikon D50

Lens: Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED

What would you recommend I purchase next? Im thinking perhaps a longer zoom lens? Or perhaps a flash gun such as the SB600? Im really not sure what path i should take, so feedback is genuinly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

~~ TS ~~

06-03-2007, 06:29 PM

looks like you're doing okay with the lighting from your site. i assume you only use natural lighting? if you are interested in strobes and lighting stuff you can invest in stuff like this guy: http://www.houston-imports.com/forum...d.php?t=389081

not sure if you can view the forum or not.

06-03-2007, 06:38 PM

i have the nikon d50 camera

its very niiice.

06-03-2007, 07:25 PM

A lens and some alien bees.

06-04-2007, 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by disboifan

looks like you're doing okay with the lighting from your site. i assume you only use natural lighting? if you are interested in strobes and lighting stuff you can invest in stuff like this guy: http://www.houston-imports.com/forum...d.php?t=389081

not sure if you can view the forum or not.

I had a look through thanks and yes i do only use natural lighting (or lighting from built in flash)

Originally Posted by s4turbodub

i have the nikon d50 camera

its very niiice.

Yes I do love my Nikon D50 although not many people in the UK seem to stock it now since the D40 has taken over.

Originally Posted by cjay

A lens and some alien bees.

Alien bees are not available in the UK without importing and then sorting out the voltages which seems a bit OTT for me.

As for the lens, what sort of lens should i be looking at?

~~ TS ~~

06-04-2007, 02:52 AM

A decent telephoto would probably be nice for ya to have. Somewhere around a 70-200 or so. In my opinion one of the essential lenses. Or you could go with a Macro lens for flowers/insects/portraits

06-04-2007, 02:58 AM

Heya OSURico112

I had a quick look around, and unless im going mad, a 70-200mm for my nikon is going to cost lots!

Sigma (Nikon Fit) 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG Macro (77mm) - £678.99

Nikon - 70-200mm f/2.8G AF VR (77mm) - £1148

~~ TS ~~

06-04-2007, 03:05 AM

No you're not going mad. I don't shoot Nikon so I don't really know the Nikon lenses. But for a 70-200 I was talking about an f/4 lens. When you get down to a f/2.8 at 70-200 the price skyrockets. The canon 70-200 f/4 runs about $550, I'll search for a Nikon equivalent.


This is a fantastic site for lens reviews and some great photography forums. FredMirandaReviews

What kind of price range are you looking at?

06-04-2007, 03:08 AM

Thanks a lot for your continued help OSURico112, genuinly appreciate it

I'll be honest and say I didnt look around for long, It was a quick glance around the place i shop most often (warehouse express)

~~ TS ~~

06-04-2007, 03:11 AM

Check out B&H Photography. They are one of the most respected online photography stores often considered the "New Egg" of photography stores.

06-04-2007, 03:17 AM

Cheers for the link OSURico112

Have to look into how much cheaper they will be once i consider the money i would have to pay getting whatever i buy over here.

~~ TS ~~

06-04-2007, 03:34 AM

Ok ive been looking around a little more, how do these look?

First one

Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR IF ED (72mm) - £485

Second one

Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S DX ED Black - £139

Third one

Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR IF(67mm) - £330

Ive also found some Sigma ones around the same price range

~~ TS ~~

06-04-2007, 03:50 AM

If you buy the 1st one, you can sell the lens you already have. I heard the 18-200mm is very nice. Plus, it has VR which is nice.

If you want a longer zoom, you can always use a tele-converter. However, the aperture will be reduced to two full stops.

06-04-2007, 07:50 AM

Well, the 70-200 f/2.8 VR lens is tough to beat in quality.

I really cannot give you any European sites to shop from, but I strongly suggest trying to find a site like KEH camera that buys and sells used equipment and looking at some of the used gear.

Prime Lenses take a bit of getting used too if you have never used them, you have to move your feet to change composition instead of zooming in or out...but photo quality is generally better. You can pick up used 50mm f/1.4 lenses for under $300US and will not be disappointed, allowing lower light photography and better images overall.

With Lenses, you do get what you pay for.

06-04-2007, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by TenderSurrender

Cheers for the link OSURico112

Have to look into how much cheaper they will be once i consider the money i would have to pay getting whatever i buy over here.

~~ TS ~~

personally i dont think its worth buying a lens from US unless they can guarantee an no VAT charge. i also looked at buying from BH-photo and importing to UK, however after 6.9% charge for importing lenses, plus 17.5% for VAT adds up, its about the same as UK prices in shops.

if i was you - look on ebay. there are quite a few shops from Hong Kong who have a good reputation + guarantee no charges. i bought my lens for £375 from one of the shops whereas it was £490 from UK stores