Suggestions for lens?

[auphigam]

I have:

- Nikon DX AF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6GII ED
- Nikon DX AF-S 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G ED

I am looking to get a 300mm and a fish eye lens. Want the best for my money but not wanting to pay top dollar. Would love some suggestions on whats best for my buck for both of these? or if anyone has any suggests on some other choice of lens that would expand my collection?

Thanks and this is also my first post of many

[Axle]

Welcome to the forums! A couple questions before we start tossing out suggestions to you.

1) What camera do you use?
2) What sort of things do you shoot the most.

With these answers we can better help you!

[auphigam]

I have a D40 and mostly landscape, action sports and such. I am young and travel alot so there isnt really one thing I shoot more than anything. thanks for the help

[Axle]

Great! Okay, with the D40 if you want Auto Focus abilities you'll need the AF-S line of lenses, as there's no built into the camera body itself, you can still use the older D and G style lenses but you won't have Auto Focus.

Third party lenses such as Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina will give you decent results at less cost and have a range of ultra-wide to telephotos.

[Axle]

Yes, there is something to be said for dropping $1000.00+ on a lens, the quality is top notch, and I wouldn't trade my three f/2.8 Nikkor lenses (14-24, 17-55, 70-200) for anything!

However, he is saying he doesn't want to drop that kind of money, and I can understand completely.

In the Sigma Line (I used a couple sigma lenses before going Nikkor again...and I liked the results), and yes, Sigma has a line of lenses that have HSM (Hyper Silent Motor, same as Nikon's AF-S so they'll work on your D40)

Fish Eye - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...2_8_EX_DC.html

For the 300mm+ lens...lets see here
Sigma 120-400mm - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...5_6_DG_OS.html

Yes, Sigma has a 300mm fixed lens, but it's close to $3000.00. Both these lenses are under a grand.

[Franglais]

A 300mm and a fisheye are both pretty specialised lenses that I personally have bought, tried out a bit then not used any more.

I would look at two other types of lenses, much more useful in my opinion:

- an available-light prime The 35mm f1.8 DX is the obvious choice. Experiment with the limited depth of focus that comes with an aperture greater than f2.8
- a real wideangle zoom like the Nikon 10-24 DX. Experiment with the vast depth of field and wideangle view (without the distortion of a fisheye)

[Frog]

Also, do you really want a 'fish eye' or do you want a wide angle lens?
Fisheyes are ultra-wide angle and give all the distortion of looking through a bubble. Useful if you want that look.
A good wide angle will give wide shots with much less distortion and when a photographer looks for one, they usually want as little distortion as possible. These usually run in the 10-12 at wide end and the zoom ones go from about 16 to 24.
I have a Tokina 12-24 that I love for its sharpness and would love to have a Tokina 11-16 with its f/2.8 aperture. Sigma makes a 10-22. Both can be had for much less than the Nikon wide angle.