 Tammy L. Newcomb |
Advice Buying Lens on EBAY!!!!! Below is information on a lens I was considering on E-bay. I am very E-bay savy so I don't need advice on that issue. My question is???? The lens below, is it any good? I want to be able to do many types of photo situations. I cannot stand being limited in what shots to take. I really want to be able to take photos of my son playing football this coming fall but also a general photo if needed. I noticed with the higher end camera that my photos blur more frequently compared to my point and shoot camera. Any advice or feedback on this lens would be appreciated. Also what is the general cost of a lens like this one? The Nikon AF Zoom Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR II is an all-in-one 11.1x zoom lens, ideal for dedicated amateurs and professionals to use for countless situations and occasions, such as landscape, architecture, portrait, wedding, wildlife, holidays, expeditions and general travel photography. It is also ideal for news- and press photographers. This lens features the improved VR II (Vibration Reduction) system that allows handheld telephoto zoom shooting even in poorly lit conditions. The VR system minimizes image blur caused by camera shake, and offers the equivalent of shooting at a shutter speed 4 stops faster. Key Features DX lenses are exclusively designed for use with Digital SLR cameras with the smaller APS-C size chip; equivalent focal length in 35mm terms is 27-300mm.
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Mark Feldstein |
My advice Tammy is that you find a place where you can actually rent the lens or borrow one from a friend who already has one, try it for a couple of days and decide whether it suits your purposes, ergonomics, and would be useful to you. Personally, I don't shoot digital and I have a preference for using fixed focus lenses in all the formats I shoot including 35mm. So I can't speak to the quality of the lens itself although I shoot with analog Nikon gear from days gone by and the old stuff, made in Japan, is extremely durable and reliable. You can check out product reviews in various publications and see if its listed like at Shutterbug Magazine and in the product review section at Photo.net As far as pricing, I don't like demos because I think there are good ones and well-used ones, with and without warranties. The term "demo" is employed by dealers to imply "new" but it's really a used lens, either at the counter or maybe even as a loaner at times. How used depends on a lot and buying it sight unseen, IMHO, is a pretty risky proposition. Besides, usually the price difference between even a clean demo and a new lens is fairly minor depending on where you're shopping. For example, try a reputable place like BHphotovideo.com (my preference) or Adorama in NYC and see what they're charging for a new one with and without US warranties. Finally, consider the fact that a dealer who lists a demo for sale on e-bay procably couldn't sell it in their store and IMO, there's probably some good reason(s) for that. You could get stuck with a real clunker. Especially if a dealer buries the words "as is" somewhere in the sale. My suggestion is after you do some research, if you still want one of these, buy a new one unless you really know what info you need to make a fully informed decision and questions to ask the seller before you buy.
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Mark Feldstein |
BTW, the blurriness you notice in the shots taken with your higher end camera may be due to a lot of things including camera shake that you may not have in a lighter, point and shoot. It could also be focusing problems, mechanical or electronic or even your own eyesight is a possibility depending on how you're using the thing. Sports shots may require some form of camera support like a tripod or monopod or something to rest the camera on while you shoot. Even a faster shutter speed might help in that regard. In other words, the lens you're using may not be the source of the problem there and it might not be solved by changing to a different lens, especially one that's heavier than the one you're using now.
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
Hey thanks for the advice... You are so very consistant about answering people here. I am doing good to remember to come back and look at the advice I asked for....LOL... I have been looking at several galleries here that the VR lense is used and I have to say that I am impressed. I cannot stand the blur or a soft look. I do totally understand about the shake a person naturally has and yes that accounts for some of the problem. I adjusted to several settings and the camera just could not keep up. The response time was just to slow for action. Even when I put the camera on the automatic setting for action pictures it failed. My cheap camera did a hell of alot better in this respect. I am not sure what I am doing wrong other than the lense.... Tammy
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wildlifetrailphotography.com - Donald R. Curry Contact Donald R. Curry Donald R. Curry's Gallery |
Tammy, I purchased the Nikon 18-200 when I purchased my D200. I have been extremely pleased with this lens. It is my carry around lens, because it is so versatile. I seldom have to change lenses. I have other lenses, but I use it the most.
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Mark Feldstein |
Well Tammy, two easy things to try to eliminate a possible camera shake problem are increase your shutter speed to anything above say 1/125th or so and also shooting at a higher ISO that will coincidentally support a faster shutter speed. Yeah, sometimes older is better. I shoot sports with some very seasoned (very analog) Nikon F-2A's and Nikkor motor drives that can work at about 3 or 4 frames per second depending on the shutter speed and whether I have the mirrors locked up. Oh and yes, it works better if you come back to check your question for answers from time to time.
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
Donald C. You said you are extremely pleased with the Nikon 18-200 lens. The lens you are speaking of, is it the DX-VR Lens or just the regular lens? Tammy
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Raymond H. Kemp |
If memory serves me correctly that is the only lens Nikon has made in that specific focal range, so yes it would be a DX-VR lens. Ray
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
I am truly sorry I asked such a dumb question... I honestly did not know that information but I do now... Keep in mind I am a beginner compared to most of you here and there are things that I still need to learn. Well, I am excited and want to purchase that lens but I found out today that I have a radiator leak (Dodge Grand Caravan) so now my play money I had reserved will go to fix that which is the cost of that particular lens used.... My life is always full of wonderful un-expected surprises....yeah... how fun, I get to purchase a radiator...LOL....
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wildlifetrailphotography.com - Donald R. Curry Contact Donald R. Curry Donald R. Curry's Gallery |
Tammy, don't feel bad, I had to go get the lens to see what I have. I didn't know there wasn't an older version.
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
Well thanks to Ray I now learned something today and any day that something is learned is a blessing to me. I never want to stop learning....I survive in this life by being a positive person. I really want to lens...but can't fix the van and buy the lens. Anyways, to buy it new is 5-6 hundred dollars and that is a little much but from what I seen worth it... It seems I have an expensive hobby....
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