Lenses

This is not an all inclusive list of lenses.  These are lenses that I own and have experience using firsthand.  If there is a lens that you wish to know more about or are considering buying,  please reference Nikons Imaging site for specifics.

Nikon 70-300 VR f/4-5.6

This lens is a great starter lens for any DSLR camera.  It is designed to work the DX sensor.  It has a good 4.3x telephoto zoom to get you decently close to the action and it has ED glass to assist in correcting chromatic aberration.  The VR (vibration reduction) works very well for assisting in stabilizing camera shake.  I found that it can get in tight to around 5 feet which give it a decent macro like feel.  The lens is not heavy at 1.03 pounds  and feels very balanced when attached to my Nikon D90.   It gives you a good f-stop range from f/4 to f/32 so you can really have creative control with your depth of field.   I takes a 67mm filter on the front element and it produces sharp images.   This is a good inexpensive lens that can be used for portraits, sports and wildlife.

Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

This ultra wide lens gives you a wonderful sweeping view of whatever it is your shooting.  It is very lightweight lens at only 16 ounces.  It has the M/A manual focus override and can focus as close as 24 cm.  It has a minimum aperture of f/22 and a maximum of f/3.5.  I have found this to be very sharp throughout the whole range of zooms.  This lens has been very sharp when shooting landscapes, groups of people and with interior shots of my house.  This lens has very good construction, not pro standards, but for the novice who takes care of his or her equipment, this is a good lens.  It has internal focusing eliminating the barrel protrusion.  It takes a 77m filter on the front element and I recommend you get one as the lens is domed and is vulnerable without protection.

Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6

This is one of my favorite lenses.  Its versatility with the 18 – 200 mm zoom makes this the first lens I grab when I travel.   This lens is heavy at 1.2 pounds and will add weight to your camera body when attached.  It  has the f/stop range from f/3.5 to f/22.  It has vibration reduction which helps reduce image blur when hand holding.  It has a very quick focusing capability making for sharp images.  Certain models of this lens have reported barrel creep, especially when pointed down, but I have not experienced this with mine.  It takes a 72 mm filter for the front element.  Without the lens hood on, I have seen mild vignetting, but shooting with the lens hood takes care of that aspect.  This is a good all purpose lens that allows for a broad range of uses.  This is always in my camera bag.

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8

This is the newest edition to my camera bag and I just have to say that this lens lives up to the billing and hype.  This is a prime lens and is tack sharp from edge to edge of a picture.  This lens is very heavy at 2 pounds, but that is expected given the professional grade construction.  Made with dust and moisture resistant materials, it is designed for field use.  It has and f/stop range from 2.8 to f/22.   It takes a 77 mm filter on the front element.  This lens come with a  very beefy lens hood and you will appreciate that as it protects that front element very well.   This lens produces great detail and will easily become a workhorse type of lens for you.  This lens in designed primarily for photojournalism and general photography.  I find myself reaching for this shooting landscapes, portraits and product photography the most.  This is not a cheap lens, but yo will appreciate the quality and versatility.

Nikon 50mm f/1.4

I love this little dynamo!  It has an ultra bright f/1.4 aperture and produces a really soft depth of field, yet renders the focal plane of the subject tack sharp.  This lens is very lightweight at only 6.6 ounces.  It has a non rotating  58 mm front element so it can be used with a polarizing filter if needed which is nice if you are shooting outdoors.  It is a prime lens with f/stops ranging from f/1.4 to f/16.  This lens is great for portraits and night photography.  This lens has allowed me to shoot where no flash is allowed with great success.  This will be a valuable addition to your camera bag.

Nikon 70-200mm VR f/2.8

This is the only long lens that I own and this is a very sharp lens.  This lens is prime f/2.8 lens that allows for a minimum aperture of f/22 if needed.  It is heavy at 3.2 pounds so a tripod or monopod is a must if shooting long durations.  You can hand hold this lens with great success as well due to the VR capability.    I love shooting wildlife and sports with this lens as it allows you to get close at around 5 feet.  I have that even at 100% crop, the images are still very sharp with little noise.  Given its sharpness throughout it zoom range, I have used this for portraiture with awesome results.  This lens will allow you to set focus on one area, leave to focus on another and with the one touch buttons on the end of the barrel, it allows you to return to sharp focus on the prior spot in an instance.  It also allow for super quick focusing with panning, as well as being compatible with Nikon’s line of teleconverters.  This lens is tack sharp and will not disappoint.