Technical > Digital Imaging Technology > [Help] Lens recommandation

[Help] Lens recommandation

Rusty -

Are there any scenes that you have found yourself unable to capture due to lens limitation? Coming up with a list (be it small or large) can help us help you.
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flickr | Of faith, power and glory

reply to rustypixel
I bought the D80 a few years ago and did OK with it. My favorite lenses are the Tokina 100mm macro and the Sigma 10-20 wide angle zoom. If you like landscapes, then a wide angle is very handy and also makes a good indoor lens because of the close focusing ability. Check out different reviews at Fred Miranda's & Ken Rockwell's websites. I also like and trust the user reviews at Amazon.com
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There are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. ~ W.S.

reply to rustypixel
You might want to consider going the other way as well. The current lens is probably good enough for the landscapes, so maybe a better lens for your daughter pics? A fast 50mm or 85mm would be great for that, and you'd see an immediate difference with the ability to use a shallower depth of field.

A 100mm f/2.8 macro lens could also do double duty here, giving you a lens better than what you have for portraits, and also something for good close up nature shots.

At the extremes you've got something like the 10-12mm mentioned, which will cover more area than your current lens. Or go the other way and pick up a long zoom lens.

Your budget, of course, will determine exactly what lenses are for you.

reply to rustypixel
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. To answer Drew, I haven't found any limitations to the lens I have for the simple reason that I haven't used the camera for more than pictures of my daughter. I'm looking to get a little more time with the camera and a few hiking trips I have planned for the spring/summer will be great opportunities to play some more with this.
Someone mentioned the possibility of maybe just having one better lens that covers the bases. I'd be willing to consider that as well. The one area that I might want to delve a little deeper in would be macro photography. Tax refund season is upon us and the budget isn't that low (this time) so I'd be willing to look into anything that is suggested. I'll continue to check here for any more suggestions.

Thanks again for all replies.
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Out of my mind and out of control!

If that's the case... Macro lens and a GOOD tripod.

reply to rustypixel
in the field, it's not a good idea to be changing lenses, cause of the dust and dirt etc. that get on the sensor. so ONE lens similar to the one you have might be useful, say an 18-200, or xx-300.

alternatives, for less money, are a teleconvertor (which though does require taking the lens off and allowing dust, and, for macros, the closeup filter sets for the front of your existing lens, that don't require removing the lens.

if you are thinking of wider wides, you might also consider stitching a few of your regular 18 mm lenses together in computer. to do that, set the camera on manual exposure and manual white balance, so the several images to be stitched are exposed the same.