Newbie lenses?

[Gazzle]

Hi All,

I've just bought a second hand S2 pro, and it's come with a "Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro Super AF Lens".

As I've never had an SLR camera before, I'm a little bit stumped about what lenses I need. After doing a bit of research I reckon I need a telephoto and wide angle lens to get the best out of the camera.

I'm on a budget (and I may lose interest with photography (god forbid!)), what lens should I buy to compliment the Sigma (I think the Sigma is a telephone lens - or does the macro bit mean it only does close ups?). If the sigma is a telephoto, what wide angle lens should I get?

Hope you can help...

Gary.

[GaryB]

I would just use the camera for a while with the lens that you have - it will soon be clear whether it fits your requirements or not.

I would say that 70-300 is definately a telephoto lens, and ay its maximum zoom a pretty big one. If you shoot sports or wildlife photography it should suit you just fine, but for landscapes rtc you will find that you can't get enough in!

The macro will just mean that it can focus on things that are very close to you - it will take "normal" subjects too

Hopefully some one more knowledgeable than me will jump in and give you more advice

Have fun with your S2 Pro!

Gary

[Swampy]

Yeah, What kind of shots do you plan on taking would be a must have answer to help you.

You going to Shoot sports? Nature? Landscapes? Everything under the sun and then some?

[Gazzle]

Thanks for the help.

I was planning to use the camera on holidays for doing landscapes and people shots. I got carried away on an auction site and bought a minolta a1 as well as the S2. (it seemed cheap (£305 for the Minolta and £315 for the S2 with lens, tripod and 256Mb card!).

I feel the Minolta is the camera I need, but if it gets into a hobby (or even freelance photography!), the Minolta may seem a lacking in features.

I've just bought Michael Freeman's "The Complete Guide to Digital Photography" for a few basics.

Thanks again!

[Swampy]

The S2 is the only camera you need! :D

If you're going to be doing candid's of people and landscapes, you'll be wanting a different lens for the S2 for sure. A wider angle lens to be more precise. While your current lens will be good for doing portraits of people and some limited landscapes, a lens around the range of 20-80mm zoom area will be what you're looking for for your holiday shots. I suggest you look at the photos posted in the lens test forum, but take a look at lenses such a the Sigma 24-70mm zoom and the Nikor 28-80mm zoom. After you get this lens, you'll find that your 70-300mm will hardly see any action.

Since you're on a budget, the Sigma 24-70 may be your ticket. But, shop around and look around at different lenses. There is no 20-80mm zoom out there that I'm aware of, but those are the areas that you'll want to concentrate on.

[smunky]

Um. Where did you get an S2 for so cheap?

[Steve P]

You took the words right ouy my mouth Smunky!

Gazzle, how on earth did you get one for so little. You won't need the Minolta..


Steve

[Gazzle]

I'm surprised you don't charge for giving top quality advice...

I'll try to get my hands on a Sigma 24-70mm. After reading http://www.dcviews.com/tutors.htm, I've learnt that a wide angle lens is below 50mm, and a telephoto is above 50mm. So the one you suggested does both... (it's like teaching one's grandmother to suck eggs).

Dunno if I'm allowed to post auction sites, but I bought the cameras from http://ukbestbuy.com. It redirects to www.ebid.co.uk. It's a little worrying sending money aboard and waiting up to 12 weeks for delivery, but it's worth the risk (I hope)!

Just hope I get the stuff before I go to Brussels in December...

[sandman]

'' seemed cheap'' if i'd got a S2 for £315 ,i'd have shot down the M6 as fast as i could before they'd realised they had missed a 1 of the price.
You can get a 24-70mm sigma for under £100 ,look in amateur photographer small ads, i sold one for £110 last year.
Take the advise offered here and learn with the lense you've got first, then when your happy you can build up your lense collection.
Keep the Minolta as a back up.

Brian

[Gazzle]

Last question (I promise)...

According to http://www.dpreview.com -

"The S2 Pro has a Nikon F lens mount, it can accept almost any Nikkor F mount lens. Full camera features are only available when you use G or D type AF Nikkor CPU lenses."

Is it important that I get a G or D type lens to get the best out of the camera?

[sandman]

the ''G'' lense has no aperture ring so the lense reads it from the camera settings. The ''D '' stands for distance so in all exposure modes it adds distance to the main focused subject to get the best exposure.
IMO the 'D' lense will suit you best , some of the older nikon lense's will only work in manual mode on the S2.

Brian

[Eddie the Gnat]

Hate to say it, but I'd be a little suspicious about buying a very expensive camera so cheaply from an auction site. Hope my suspicions are groundless. :)

Eddie

[Gazzle]

Hi Eddie,

I also hope your suspicions are groundless. I don't know what's worse, losing 300 quid, or being excited about getting a S2 and then having my hopes dashed.

Strange thing is, I'd rather pay £300 quid and not get the camera, rather than pay £800 and not get the camera. (Ofcourse, I'd rather not lose the money to begin with!)

[Eddie the Gnat]

Terribly sorry - I hope I haven't dampened your enthusiasm! If it does work out I know you'll be very, very happy.

The Sigma 24-70 would be a great lens to start with. With Nikon lenses, the G series is a budget series that is not as backwardly-compatible as the D lenses, but is fully functional on the s2.

Regards,

Eddie.