Nikon D50 help please.

[Janieb]

I have recently upgraded to a Nikon D50 in the hope of getting some decent bird photos. I have a Sigma 135-400mm lens. As a real novice I am finding the equipment a little overwhelming but I'm sure with practice I will improve. I feel I need a lenns more suited to "everyday" photos. Could anyone recommend one please? Also as I am struggling to keep the camera steady, can anyone recommend a suitable tripod?
Jane :stuck:

[Leif]

I have recently upgraded to a Nikon D50 in the hope of getting some decent bird photos. I have a Sigma 135-400mm lens. As a real novice I am finding the equipment a little overwhelming but I'm sure with practice I will improve. I feel I need a lenns more suited to "everyday" photos. Could anyone recommend one please? Also as I am struggling to keep the camera steady, can anyone recommend a suitable tripod?
Jane :stuck:

Jane: What do you mean by 'everyday'. Do you mean shapshots of family, pictures of places visited etc? If so, then check out the Nikon 24-85 AFS at Warehouse Express. Normally about £300, they do it for £150. A bargain. Also the Nikon 18-70 standard zoom is very good value for about £190 new and is perhaps the better choice if you intend to use in on a DSLR only. See www.bythom.com and Bjorn Rorslett's site for reviews of both lenses. I happen to think that the old 75-150 F3.5 lens is excellent and will cost about £70 used. But you will have no metering, so you will have to guess and check afterwards on the LCD.

Tripod wise, the Velbon 630 is about £130 at WE (again) and is very good value. You will need a suitable head. (Don't we all!)

Leif

[Janieb]

Jane: What do you mean by 'everyday'. Do you mean shapshots of family, pictures of places visited etc? If so, then check out the Nikon 24-85 AFS at Warehouse Express. Normally about £300, they do it for £150. A bargain. Also the Nikon 18-70 standard zoom is very good value for about £190 new and is perhaps the better choice if you intend to use in on a DSLR only. See www.bythom.com and Bjorn Rorslett's site for reviews of both lenses. I happen to think that the old 75-150 F3.5 lens is excellent and will cost about £70 used. But you will have no metering, so you will have to guess and check afterwards on the LCD.

Tripod wise, the Velbon 630 is about £130 at WE (again) and is very good value. You will need a suitable head. (Don't we all!)

Leif

Thanks Leif, for your suggestions. You have given me plenty to think about!
Jane

[greypoint]

I used a 135-400mm all last summer and if you persevere i think you'll find it's a pretty easy lens to use and hold as long as you keep the shutter speeds up. If you want something you can use for everyday/walkaround and the odd bird shot I can recommend the latest Tamron 28-300mm xr di. Surprisingly good quality results for such a wide ranging lens. Having used older 28-300 models this latest one seems a real improvement.

[Janieb]

I used a 135-400mm all last summer and if you persevere i think you'll find it's a pretty easy lens to use and hold as long as you keep the shutter speeds up. If you want something you can use for everyday/walkaround and the odd bird shot I can recommend the latest Tamron 28-300mm xr di. Surprisingly good quality results for such a wide ranging lens. Having used older 28-300 models this latest one seems a real improvement.

Thanks, Greypoint ,for taking the time to reply. I'll take a look at the Tamron lenses.

[Pavel_D]

How much are you looking to spend and what do you want to shoot with this "everyday " lens? I think that several primes are worthy of consideration due to the size/weight advantage and the generally better speed for the buck.
The 50 f1.8 is so inexpensive that it's a shame to not have it. The only down side is poor mechanical quality but the optics are sharp, the focus very fast and the speed of f 1.8 can be a great compliment to what you already have.

Then for a bit more the 85 f 1.8 gives you more reach and is a great portrait length on digital - and very,very sharp.
Macro of some sort, perhaps a sigma 105 or 150 would be my last bit of advice to round out what's in your bag.

Good luck.

[Janieb]

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

[rezMole]

Thanks, Greypoint ,for taking the time to reply. I'll take a look at the Tamron lenses.

I too would recommend the Tamron 28-300. It's not the fastest lens around, but the quality is pretty good for a zoom, and at not much over £200, it's good value. It is also very small and even at 300mm is easy to use.
When out photographing birds i usually have the Tamron 200-500 stuck on my D70, but the 28-300 gets a lot of use when i just go out walking or taking shapshots of family.

[Janieb]

Thanks rezMole for your help.
Jane