Lens / filter for Nikon D3100

[xxdrakexx]

so ill be getting a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens in about 3 weeks just wondering what lenses, filters would be compatible? i like to shoot landscapes portraits macro and id like to try astro.

[Film Street]

You'll be able to do a lot with the 18-55. It's a capable lens but a little fragile. Handle it carefully and learn it for a while. After a few months perhaps examine your photos for possible trends. eg: shooting close al the time or at 18mm quite often.
Your history will then guide you into what you want next.

[xxdrakexx]

You'll be able to do a lot with the 18-55. It's a capable lens but a little fragile. Handle it carefully and learn it for a while. After a few months perhaps examine your photos for possible trends. eg: shooting close al the time or at 18mm quite often.
Your history will then guide you into what you want next.

will the 18-55mm be able to handle macro hopefully better they my point and shoot dose lol

[arthurking83]

OK, you'll struggle to capture really good portraits with that kit lens.
In another thread I'm sure I mentioned the 18-105VR lens .. it has 'an ability' to do OK portraits, and would be the minimum I'd get as a one lens fits all purpose.

But that's past now and you will have this kit lens to play with.

Filter! Polariser. That's it. It will help to capture nice landscapes in some instances.

For portraits, get either a 35/1.8 lens or the 50/1.8 lens. If you have a spare $200 to play with.

35/1.8 is a better all rounder + portrait lens, whereas the 50/1.8 will be a better portrait + other uses type lens.

IF you wanted something more interesting, then look for an old(manual focus) 50mm from last century!!
any lens, ai, ais, or pre ai will do. they'll all fit .. then you're cooking!! :th3:
They're manual everything only tho and so you will have to learn to focus. So it's only recommended if you really want to learn to shoot for starters.
But then you have a reversible lens which you could use to do some extreme closeup shots too.
With one of these really old lenses you need a $5 adapter for reversing the lens onto the camera and you can shoot macro shots.

in terms of pricing ais lenses are quite cheap, ai lenses slightly cheaper and pre ai lenses are dirt cheap .. but watch out with old lenses for defects and problems such as misaligned lens elements(knocked lens bodies) or fungus!!!
pre ai lenses can be very cheap because they don't fit the vast majority of Nikon bodies .. but they fit all of the AF motorless type cameras .. from D40 right up to the D5100.
If in doubt about any lens, just ask.

[xxdrakexx]

ok lenses just got more confusing lol thanks :)

- - - Updated - - -

ok just wondering iv seen these Macro Close Up Lenses
http://auih.merchantrunglobal.com/ImageHosting/ViewImage.aspx?GlobalID=1004&MerchantID=10329&ImageID=29612&DisplaySize=-1

Quote "Every camera has a limitation of the minimum distan for shooting the picture. That means you cannot go closer to the object more than the distance ecommended by the manufacturer.These close up lenses enable you to get much closer than the minimum focus of a standard camera lens - mere inches from the subject!"


would these atuly work?

[arthurking83]

when you see these(always on ebay, and sometimes in online shops) .. it's like going to the casino and playing the big money wheel(whatever that's called) .. ie. pure luck with respect to the probability that you will get a good product.
They can, and mostly do, provide a function and that is to produce close in macro type shots. But the quality of the image may not be something you'd want to get excited about.

If they cost something like a couple of bucks, then as always ... it's not a lot of moolah to worry about.
But if they cost more like $20, 30 .. $50 even!! .. forget it! You can get some interesting lenses for less than $50.

[Film Street]

will the 18-55mm be able to handle macro hopefully better they my point and shoot dose lol

Point and shoot cameras can be very capable for macro use because of their small sized sensors. The 18-55 does focus quite close. Those screw on magnifiers you are looking at are a cheap compromise. They will get you closer with a resulting loss of sharpness and possibly the addition of flaring and aberrations.

Possibly the cheapest and most useful tool for getting closer is a reversing ring. Reversing rings work best on the 18-55 lens. When using a reversed 18-55 lens at 55mm you have a slightly closer magnification than a 1:1 macro lens. If you use it at 18mm, it will get you about 4 times closer than a macro lens.

You will need to use the camera in manual mode with a reversed lens, and again that will help with your learning.

[xxdrakexx]

The ones I seen we're $17 I'm etill not sure moght just spend a cople more dollers and get a fish eye lol

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[J.davis]

Save your dollars and get a sigma 10-20 hsm and after that sigma 24-70 hsm. These will last you forever no matter what you want to shoot close by.

[AVALANCHE]

Hi drake,

To answer your question, you are getting the 18-55mm which is great, so I guess the only two lenses you may ever need then are the 55-200mm VR (about $200 or less) and the 35mm 1.8 (about $260). That has your focal range covered from 18-200mm for daylight shooting (or sunrises/dusk/night on a tripod for landscapes) and the 35mm 1.8 will be your lowlight lens.

I think though, the next lens you should consider is the 35mm 1.8 as with the small format cameras crop, it is equal to 52mm instead so it's going to be close to what the eye sees. Alternatively you could set your 18-55mm at the 35mm mark or any other point you wish with a little bit of tape to hold the zoom ring in place for sunny/overcast days. The great thing about fast prime lenses (the 35mm in this case) is they force you to physically move to compose your image and actually look within your viewfinder properly to see if it is indeed the image you want.

Then again, you have to ask yourself if you really need any other lenses for now? You have the landscape capability at 18mm, people at 35mm and 50mm....it's just a matter of taking a few steps back or forward for the shot. :)

Good luck mate and have fun. The D3100 looks like an awesome fun camera.