Which Nikon Lens????

[Soupcreek]

I am going to purchase a D5000 and need a little help. I am very new to the DSLR world and "quality" photography in general. I have what I think is a nice "point and shoot" (Panasonic Lumix 12x), but this will be my first DSLR.
Here is my dilema:
With the camera, I will be getting a 18-55mm lens and one other lens. The normal package contains a 55-200mm, but for an extra couple hundred bucks I can get a 70-300mm instead.
I want to be able to shoot good close up shots at kids sporting events, and also take great wildlife/landscape shots.
The 70-300mm is going to be better for the landscape stuff, but will it compromise what I can take at my kid's soccer games? Will it be better than the 55-200 at the soccer games?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks,
Soup

[Mark1616]

Hi Soup and welcome to Steve's.

Which 70-300 are you talking about, the Nikon 70-300mm VR?

As long as we are talking good daylight games then you will be OK with either lens, but the extra reach of the 300 will help. The only thing I'm not sure of, but something that is an important consideration is how fast these two lenses focus..... I think they are pretty good but being from the Canon camp I can't say for sure.

I'm sure someone else will chip in to help.

[TCav]

For kid's sports as well as wildlife shooting, 300mm is better than 200mm.

But as for image quality, the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G isn't as good as the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR, or even the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD 1:2. So check which lens you're getting as part of that deal.

I'll also add that, for sports/action/wildlife, the Nikon D5000 isn't necessarily the best choice. The Nikon D90 and the Canon T1i have better autofocus systems for that, and aren't very different in price.

[Soupcreek]

Thanks for the quick information. I am checking into which 70-300 it is, but I believe it is the AF-S VR. I think I am going to stick with the D5000 for my beginner camera, and upgrade as time and money permit/require.
I guess my question remains, am I going to be missing anything by not getting a 50-200mm lens?
After the purchases, I hope to have a 50mm f/1.8 AF for portraits, a 18-55VR lens (because it comes with the package) and the 70-300 AF-S VR for the landscape/wildlife/soccer games. With these 3 lenses, would I have any need for the 55-200mm?
Thanks again,
Soup

[TCav]

Originally Posted by Soupcreek

... With these 3 lenses, would I have any need for the 55-200mm?

No. Everything the 55-200 can do, the 70-300 VR can do better ... with the exception of the range from 55mm to 70mm, which is inconsequential.

[mtclimber]

Soup-

I also agree that the Nikon 70-300mmVR would trump the 55-200mmVR and offer you more long term flexibility.

Sarah Joyce

[gregg]

just purchased a d5000 myself as the price has dropped....bought a reburfished d5000/18-55mmvr for $525 from Adorama....then sold the lens with some other older equipment

for sports I agree with everyone 70-300 would definitely be a better way to go...I had to crop my photos on my d40 with my 18-200 OS....i wish I had at least 300mm length

for me it was finding a decent zoom on a very tight budget. I selected the quantaray (re-badged sigma) 18-200mm OS as i picked it up over a year ago on craigslist for $190....If you understand a lenses shortcommings, you can make it work well for you. In the bright florida sunshine I had no problem stepping down to f11 to improve sharpness...but I do want the nikon 70-300mm vr.




gregg

photos taken with older d40/sigma 18-200mm OS lens
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/nikon-lenses/161417-zoom-lens-reccomendation-nikon-d70.html#post1019240
Is the Quantaray 18-200mm OS DI f/3.5-6.3 lens any good?


_________________________________________________
nikon d5000 (just got it....couldn't pass up the deal I got..$525 refurbished with lens from adorama...I sold the 18-55mm lens)
zeikos grip (yes that's my camera and hand in my avatar)
nikon 18-70mm
sigma 18-200mm OS
sb-400
sb-600

[shoturtle]

Originally Posted by Soupcreek

Thanks for the quick information. I am checking into which 70-300 it is, but I believe it is the AF-S VR. I think I am going to stick with the D5000 for my beginner camera, and upgrade as time and money permit/require.
I guess my question remains, am I going to be missing anything by not getting a 50-200mm lens?
After the purchases, I hope to have a 50mm f/1.8 AF for portraits, a 18-55VR lens (because it comes with the package) and the 70-300 AF-S VR for the landscape/wildlife/soccer games. With these 3 lenses, would I have any need for the 55-200mm?
Thanks again,
Soup

well if you want to use the 50mm 1.8 AF, it will not work with auto focus on the D5000. Since that lens does not have a AF motor. You will need to spend 450-500 for the AF-s 50mm 1.4 or the sigma 50mm 1.4. With the D5000 you can only use AF-s and AF-i lenses. The other AF lenses do not work on the D5000.

[pbjunkiee]

Nikon came out 50mm with a 50mm 1.4 af-s
and a 35mm 1.8 af-s.

[shoturtle]

Yes they did but a 3 to 4 times the price.