[xanda]

Hi, i am an A-Level student and currently have a 4mp Fuji s5500 zoom but i am finding it a bit limiting for the things i want to do and the 4mp is too low for any cropping/ post-processing. After looking around i am pretty positive that i want to buy a Nikon D80, and also pretty sure that i want to get a 18-200mm lens as this gives me more versatility.

At the moment i am thinking of getting the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens as from looking at other forums including this one it seems to be the most reliable and the safest bet compared to sigma or tamron. However, i am also very interested in Macro photography of insects etc. so am looking for a good value for money macro lens...here are my questions if you can answer them:

-Is the 18-200mm lens a good first lens and is the Nikon the best make to buy from?
-Would it be better to get perhaps a 18-55mm lens and also a larger zoom lens? say 70-300mm instead of the single 18-200mm lens?
-Is it a good idea to also buy a 30 or 50mm lens for more general photography if i got the 18-200mm?
-How good is the 18-200mm Nikon lens at taking Macro shots?
-I have screw on magnification lenses for my current camera. Are these available for the 18-200mm lens and is this a good idea?
-What sort of macro lens should i be looking at if i want one which can focus very closeup from quite a reasonable distance (as to not scare the insect etc. away) please suggest models/makes and gives links

i know i have asked way too many questions but i would be so grateful if you could help me out here Thanks!

[stepheno]

Originally Posted by xanda

-Is the 18-200mm lens a good first lens and is the Nikon the best make to buy from?

-Would it be better to get perhaps a 18-55mm lens and also a larger zoom lens? say 70-300mm instead of the single 18-200mm lens?

-Is it a good idea to also buy a 30 or 50mm lens for more general photography if i got the 18-200mm?

-How good is the 18-200mm Nikon lens at taking Macro shots?

-I have screw on magnification lenses for my current camera. Are these available for the 18-200mm lens and is this a good idea?

-What sort of macro lens should i be looking at if i want one which can focus very closeup from quite a reasonable distance (as to not scare the insect etc. away) please suggest models/makes and gives links

WOW - what a question . Well, I'll have a go. Firstly - if you are buying a D80 (good camera) then Nikon lenses are best for compatibility, after all they were designed with Nikon cameras in mind. As to the questions

1 the 18-200 is an excellent walkabout lens. Have a look at the specs and a short review here. As said this lens will get you going straight away and will cover most situations from wide angle to some zoom, plus it's got VR.

2 depends if you really want/need the extra 100mm. If you must have it then go that route. But when I got my first DSLR I got an 18-200 so that I could shoot most things on a good budget.

3 if you get the 18-200 then i would consider having a 50mm 1.8 for portrait work. They are a seriously good lens for the money.

4 the only lenses that are good at taking macros shots are macro lenses. The others that call themselves macro are really only close-up. If you want good macro get a macro lens.

5 if you mean teleconverters (1.4x, 2x etc) there be some that will fit the 18-200. If you Google for Kenko, they are an excellent third party supplier.

6 a macro lens is the best option for that kind of work but they are specialist although can produce good portraits. If you want macro from a distance then you need to go for 90/100 mm (Tamron and Canon) or 150mm (Sigma). The Canon 100mm macro is best as it has internal focusing so the lens doesn't extend and frighten the bugs (plus excellent build quality). Tamron 90mm gives excellent IQ but build is less. Sigma 150 is rated excellent if you don't mind carrying it around with you (very heavy).

Hope that all helps or maybe it confuses . I think the 18-200 will be an excellent all-round lens which will give you time to decide what you need next.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by xanda

-Is the 18-200mm lens a good first lens and is the Nikon the best make to buy from?
-Would it be better to get perhaps a 18-55mm lens and also a larger zoom lens? say 70-300mm instead of the single 18-200mm lens?
-Is it a good idea to also buy a 30 or 50mm lens for more general photography if i got the 18-200mm?
-How good is the 18-200mm Nikon lens at taking Macro shots?
-I have screw on magnification lenses for my current camera. Are these available for the 18-200mm lens and is this a good idea?
-What sort of macro lens should i be looking at if i want one which can focus very closeup from quite a reasonable distance (as to not scare the insect etc. away) please suggest models/makes and gives links

- The Nikon 18-200 is a quality lens which is perfect if you want a single lens to cover such a range
- All according to if you want to carry multiple lenses around vs just one, plus type of photography you take that might need longer telephoto...eg. 300mm vs 200mm limit.
- Re macro lens, a dedicated macro lens is always better if you can justify the cost. The Sigma 105mm Macro is highly regarded :- Sigma 105mm Macro recommended at Cheltenham Camera Club ...try also seraching for "macro" on these forums for further reading

Let us know what you choose

[Hacker]

Hi xanda, I can only echo what the others have already said about the 18-200mm, I have spoken to a couple of people who use this on a D80 and they are very pleased with it as it covers a huge focal range and the VR gives you the equivalent of a couple of extra stops for low light situations.

For true macro (1:1) you will need a dedicated macro lens, the Sigma as mentioned is very good but you might to want to also look at the Nikon 105mm VR as it can double up as a portrait lens (plus you have VR).

Either option is expensive so you might want to have a look at a close-up diopter (which could go on the front of the 18-200mm) or extension tubes which will give you an introduction to macro without breaking the bank. I wrote a quick article about this a few months ago: A beginners guide to macro

Hope this helps.

[xanda]

thanks everyone i'll check those links out