so ive had my camera for a couple months now

[Shaynethemom]

In June my husband bought me a D3000,I have been messing with it here and there , taking pics of the kids and other misc.. but I dont have any additional lenses for the camera, What would you suggest my first purchase be?

I would like something that would allow me to zoom in more , using the camera on manual settings I have learned that my best distance between me and my subject is between like 3-10 feet.....


before I really get into it , i'd like my next purchase to be around (better if under , 200$

 

[stepollard1]

Hiya ive just got a D3000 myself, and I am looking at gettin the Nikon 55-200mm as my next value for money lens...Apparently its a nice lens for the cash!

 

[Tbini87]

I personally love my 35mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8. I don't think the D3000 has the ability to auto focus without AF-S lenses so I guess that kills the 50mm option. Being able to get such a shallow DOF with a 1.8 lens is nice. However, you would have to move your feet a lot more to "Zoom".

 

[NikonNewbie]

Hiya ive just got a D3000 myself, and I am looking at gettin the Nikon 55-200mm as my next value for money lens...Apparently its a nice lens for the cash!

Ya...I got mine for 90 bucks, used non VR...you can def tell there is camera shake..but if you use a tripod (which I do) then the pictures come out perfect! also, you just gotta know how to wheel and deal (or have a husband who can )

Good luck!

 

[o hey tyler]

Since Nikon offers it, get the 35mm f/1.8 and don't look back. If Canon had a 35mm f/<2 I would have got it over the 50 f/1.4

 

[Stradawhovious]

I got my 55-200 AF-S VR for $189 factory refurbed, and highly recommend it. It worked great with my D3000.

FWIW.

 

[KmH]

I personally love my 35mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8. I don't think the D3000 has the ability to auto focus without AF-S lenses so I guess that kills the 50mm option. Being able to get such a shallow DOF with a 1.8 lens is nice. However, you would have to move your feet a lot more to "Zoom".

The D3000 can also auto focus with both AF-S and AF-I lenses, as can the D90.

Pages 157 - 159 in the D3000 users manual, pages 229 - 230 in the D90 users manual.

If you put a Nikon AF 50 mm f/1.8D (about $125, new) on your D3000, it will do all the auto focus functions, except moving the focus ring. You would need to do that by hand. The lens would still report focus information to the camera's CPU so the camera would light the in-focus indicator in the camera's viewfinder when focus had been manually achieved.

See page 49 of the D3000 users manual, page 60 of the D90 users manaual.

 

[bluetibby1]

KmH you are the manual king!! It's awesome not being sarcastic or anything
Blue

 

[Shaynethemom]

would you suggest this one?

Nikon - 55-200mm Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens for Nikon DX SLR Cameras - 55-200mm with VR

probably not from best buy but that lens?

 

[orb9220]

Yep the best bang for the buck is the VR version of the 55-200vr. Wouldn't touch the non VR.
.

 

[KmH]

For focal lengths under 200 mm, VR is highly over-rated, and mostly un-needed.

I don't own a lens under 200 mm that has VR.

As it is, VR should be turned off most of the time.

 

[Blake.Oney]

The non VR is fine if you actually learn how to shoot with a good stance that keeps you steady. Also use a shutter speed that is right for the focal length. The VR is nice, but there's nothing wrong with the non VR except people who need to learn how to shoot.

OP: I would suggest the the 55-200 VR since you are still learning. A much better lens would be the 35mm f1.8. It doesn't zoom, but the IQ will be much much better. The 35mm f1.8 is in my opinion the best bang for your bunch in the DX line.

 

[mrpink]

I would have to throw out the suggestion of a speedlight. The SB-600 was one of the best things I bought when I was first learning; well, still learning.

I had the 55-200 VR for a while. I found, that with kids, it was difficult to keep them far enough away for the use of that lens- I sold it and got a 18-250mm Sigma, you really need that versatility. I was constantly changing from 18-55 to 55-200 and then back, missing shots in between.

That being said. It is a good, fairly sharp lens. Not good for indoors though.


In regards to the 50mm 1.8 on the D3000. Manually focusing a prime lens is very simple and quick- don't let that scare you off from it if you find one for the right price, I got mine for 80 off craigslist.




p!nK

 

[Nikon_Dude]

I have the d5000 and have both the 35mm 1.8 and the 55-200mm VR. Both good for different jobs, and excellent bang for your buck.

The 35 is much sharper, and much better overall image quality, especially useful indoors. The zoom is great for outside when you're shooting something that's far away, but as soon as it starts getting dark becomes useless really quick unless you use a tripod with slow shutter speed.

If I were you I'd buy whichever one you think you'll use most first, and then get the second one, as they're both good lenses to have.

 

[bullie76]

I got my 55-200 AF-S VR for $189 factory refurbed, and highly recommend it. It worked great with my D3000.

FWIW.

I did the same thing only found it for a little less. No complaints what so ever.