[liljj323]

just bought a new d40, (which i love) and i was thinking that the nikkor55-200 vr should be the next lense on my list, correct?

or should i turn my attention to something else?

[stepheno]

Nice camera What lens(es) do you currently have and what do you want the new lens for?

[Dabhand16]

It might be worth you holding back before buying a new lens. I suspect you have the 18-55 kit lens, so are thinking that the 55-200 is the logical next lens to buy, but perhaps an 18-200 would be better - they are generally considered to be the best all-in-one walkabout lens.

If you have any particular type of photography that you do more of than any other, you would be better off getting a lens to suit your need rather than trying to fill any percieved gaps in focal length range.

For instance a 70-300 might be a better bet if you are doing wildlife or sport, or the fantastic value for money Nikkor 50mm f1.8 if you take a lot of portraits.
I would rate my Sigma 10-20 as the next one to get, but, of course, I don't know if it would suit your photography!

It is always going to be a personal choice, but after staying with my 18-70 kit lens for over a year, I now have a Sigma 10-20, the Nikkor 18-70, a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and the Nikkor 50mm f1.8. I find these lenses suit me just fine for what I do, but the lens I use most at the moment is probably the 10-20.

[liljj323]

i shoot watever i can find really, the 55-200 just caught my eye b/c its relativaly cheap and get me to 200mm.(and yes i do have the 18-55 now)

[Dabhand16]

Your reply has confirmed my feeling that you should wait before getting another lens if your only reason is 'to get to 200mm'. I wonder why you are not saying you want to get to 10mm?

When you have used the camera for a while, you will find that you are having difficulty in getting some shots. This might be macro, or it might be sport or wildlife. This is when you will know what lens you NEED, not one to 'get to 200mm'.

You might find that you need to get a 300mm lens, so what good will the ability to have 200 be?

Don't be too hasty.

[Photoman7mc]

An interesting discussion and to add to it I bought a D40X body (for travelling) as I have two Sigma lenses which I intended to use. However Neither will Auto focus (My Error) and would agree that the 18-200 is the ideal general purpose lens. I am looking at the 55-200 DC HSM for the D40X and will be trading in my two lenses to get two new ones the 10-20 is on my list as I can use it on my D70 paired with an older 29-300.
Life is full of choices

[slinkysteve]

I've got a d40 and the 55-200. To be honest I find 200mm not close enough so I'm going to buy the 70-300mm VR soon but in the mean time I'm going to be pinching my dads one

The 70-300 is a very very good lens, heard lots of good things about the 18-200mm vr but 550 quid is too much for my liking

[liljj323]

i just find that i cant get close enough, and i dont have a lot of money, i had to finance the $600 to get the camera. the 55-200 has vr and will do the same that the 18-200 will do with more lense changing. im 16 and the money is tight, id rather stick to the basics rather than the luxuries of the 18-200.

i rarly ever need to get wider than 18mm, and when i do i am usually able to step back.

i am an amatuer photographer and im still figuring out what i want/like to shoot. 18-55/55-200 just seems like a good stater kit w/o spending tons of money

[Dabhand16]

How much is the Sigma 70 - 300 APO in comparison? I think this range would be more useful than 55 - 200. VR, although a useful feature is by no means essential. I've been into photography for over 50 years now, and still do not possess a VR lens or body.

If you are on a budget, a used lens can be the way forward.

[liljj323]

i dont think the 70-300 apo will AF on the d40, will it?

wont i prob miss those 15 mm between 55 and 70, or no?

[Dabhand16]

I don't think you will miss the 15mm between 55 and 70. Think about the photographers that only use prime lenses. They will have 'gaps' between all of their lenses, and some 'gaps' might be as much as (or even more than) 100mm. It is not necessary to have a continuous range of focal lengths. I have cameras that I used to use years ago that have not only fixed focal length lenses, but they are not interchangeable either. So I had to use one lens with one focal length for everything.

Any Nikon mount lens will fit. The D40 is different to other Nikons in its focussing system. Because of this, there are not so many lenses to choose from that will auto focus.

Nikon do two 70 - 300 lenses one is a VR, I don't know if either will be compatible with the D40 focussing system. The Sigma is worth checking out too.

[liljj323]

ok i got ya, i think im gonna look for a used nikkor 70-300vr, maby i can find one for less than $400

[Dabhand16]

Good luck - and don't forget to check out the auto focus thing!