Lens for D3200?

[FakYoGooby]

Sup? Im getting my first 'real' camera this month and it'll be the D3200! I've heard that the kit lens (18-55 VR II) isn't that good so im considering if i should get a separate lens?! Im such a noob when talking about cameras (i do know some stuff but not more advanced stuff) so maaan... I really wanna take photos on stars and maybe sum auroras (doesnt happen that often)..! Can i use the same lens (the one for the stars) to other things like sunsets and a lil' bit of everything or should i use the 18-55 lens for that? I really need some advice and i dont wanna reach over 200$ ..! Thenkzzz

 

[Tailgunner]

The standard 18-55mm kit lens works decently. Some of my favorite earlier photos was taking using that lens and a D3100. Now with that said, you probably could capture some stars with it, I would still highly recommend a faster lens. Faster meaning 2.8, 1.8, 0r 1.4 aperture. These lens work great for low light conditions. The next thing would be something wide angle for capture more of the sky as we. Now wide angle fast glass can run into some coin. Example would be a 12-24mm 2.8 which runs about $2,000. There are some cheaper alternatives though. One would be the Nikon 17-55mm 2.8. This is a super nice lens. They run around $1,300 new but you can pick them up used or refurbished around $600. Another would be a third party lens by Sigma or Tamron which run around $300-500. Another option would be an ultra wide lens (the nikon 12-24 is an ultra wide). As mentioned earlier, these can run big bucks through Nikon. So a goo third party lens would be a Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 (newer) which runs around $400-500.

 

[sashbar]

Nikon kit 18-55 is a very good lense

 

[sashbar]

The standard 18-55mm kit lens works decently. Some of my favorite earlier photos was taking using that lens and a D3100. Now with that said, you probably could capture some stars with it, I would still highly recommend a faster lens. Faster meaning 2.8, 1.8, 0r 1.4 aperture. These lens work great for low light conditions. The next thing would be something wide angle for capture more of the sky as we. Now wide angle fast glass can run into some coin. Example would be a 12-24mm 2.8 which runs about $2,000. There are some cheaper alternatives though. One would be the Nikon 17-55mm 2.8. This is a super nice lens. They run around $1,300 new but you can pick them up used or refurbished around $600. Another would be a third party lens by Sigma or Tamron which run around $300-500. Another option would be an ultra wide lens (the nikon 12-24 is an ultra wide). As mentioned earlier, these can run big bucks through Nikon. So a goo third party lens would be a Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 (newer) which runs around $400-500.

If I still remember maths correctly, $600 is slightly over the OP limit of $200.

 

[Tailgunner]

The standard 18-55mm kit lens works decently. Some of my favorite earlier photos was taking using that lens and a D3100. Now with that said, you probably could capture some stars with it, I would still highly recommend a faster lens. Faster meaning 2.8, 1.8, 0r 1.4 aperture. These lens work great for low light conditions. The next thing would be something wide angle for capture more of the sky as we. Now wide angle fast glass can run into some coin. Example would be a 12-24mm 2.8 which runs about $2,000. There are some cheaper alternatives though. One would be the Nikon 17-55mm 2.8. This is a super nice lens. They run around $1,300 new but you can pick them up used or refurbished around $600. Another would be a third party lens by Sigma or Tamron which run around $300-500. Another option would be an ultra wide lens (the nikon 12-24 is an ultra wide). As mentioned earlier, these can run big bucks through Nikon. So a goo third party lens would be a Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 (newer) which runs around $400-500.

If I still remember maths correctly, $600 is slightly over the OP limit of $200.

Couldn't find anything in that price range, I'll keep looking though.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Anything below 24 mm is considered a wide angle. You may find yourself limited by a super/ultra wide angle as suggested, n terms of versatility. If you're only starting I would go with the 18 55, you can use a 18 55 kit for anything, stars, sunsets, whatever, just for convince sake and you can always go and get more specialised stuff later on

 

[goodguy]

Nikon kit 18-55 is a very good lense

Yup, nothing wrong with this lens, for the price its a good buy.
Sharp, small, light weight.
Want better glass then you will have to pay for it, MUCH more!
Beter get it, use it and when you have more money then get good glass.

 

[SquarePeg]

Have to say that between the name of the OP and the way that post was written, I assumed this was a bored TPF regular trolling.

 

[FakYoGooby]

Have to say that between the name of the OP and the way that post was written, I assumed this was a bored TPF regular trolling.

Hahaha dude wtf no?! Im not trolling bro..

 

[FakYoGooby]

Nikon kit 18-55 is a very good lense

Yup, nothing wrong with this lens, for the price its a good buy.
Sharp, small, light weight.
Want better glass then you will have to pay for it, MUCH more!
Beter get it, use it and when you have more money then get good glass.

Sure but 300$ is absolute max dude! All i get is a monthly penny by my parents so i need money for other things too! Can i get ANYTHING better for 300 bucks?

 

[SquarePeg]

Sorry Spicoli.

 

[goodguy]

New for 300$ ?
Dont think so but if you are willing to go used then you might consider Nikon 18-105mm or Nikon 18-140mm
Those lenses will give you roughly same IQ but better focal range.

 

[ruifo]

These are the traditional options to go with your first DX DSLR:

Zoom-Kit and Ultra-Zoom DX lenses (they are the most affordable, with some compromise on quality, and still capable of delivering amazing results as your very first lens):

• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II DX Lens [$246.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II Lens [$346.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens [$396.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens [$396.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens [$496.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Lens [$596.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens [$996.95]

Prime-Kit and High-Quality lenses (they allow much more light in the camera's sensor (low f/#) and because of that they will deliver higher image quality for you brand new D3200, some of them don't zoom to achieve this quality, or they have limited zoom, or they are really pricy):

• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX Lens [$196.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens [$216.95]
  
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Lens [$496.95]
  
• Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Lens for Nikon [$799.00]
  
• Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Lens [$1,399.00]
• Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Zoom Lens for Nikon [$1,499.00]
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR Lens [$1,996.95]

So you can realize that this is an expensive (but worthy) hobby. Lens are always more important than the camera. You will eventually change your camera in time, but keep your lenses with you. Many many of us did the following:

1. Bought the first DSLR with a zoom kit lens (like the '18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR', sometime complemented with a '55-200mm or 55-300mm f/4-5.6G ' for added zoom range) and used it/them to exaution.
2. Always with one thing in mind: expand your shooting skills to the maximum. With photographic skills, you will see that these lenses are much more capable than what one can think of them. The photographer's skill will always be more important than the lens he/she uses.
3. Save money to start building your kit of lenses, adding more lenses to the family later, after some months or a year of your initial purchase.
4. Always have fun, and don't stop shooting!

So do not be afraid of the 18-55mm kit lens at all.

For more info, see this article (and its internal links): Best lenses for the 24-MPix Nikon D3200: Concise overview