# First dSLR camera lense upgrade
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic
**Created:** [January 31, 2008, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730 "2008-01-31T10:09:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/1 "2008-01-31T10:09:54Z")
I picked up a D40 kit over the holidays and I’m looking to get my first upgrade lense to add on to the 18-55 that came with it. Right now I’m leaning toward this one:
[http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2156](http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2156)
With the D40 I’m limited to AF-S lenses if I want to keep autofocus since the D40 doesn’t have a built in autofocus motor.
Basically looking for a lense that can zoom in better than the 18-55 for things like wakeboarding, nature shots etc.
The other option is the 70-300 nikkor but that’s almost twice as much $$$.
This is just a hobby for me and while I like taking pictures at no point will this turn into a career. So top-o-the-line stuff isn’t really needed or in my budget.
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### Author:  [@chino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/chino)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/2 "2008-01-31T10:12:25Z")
good choice, its the pretty common accompanying lens to the 18-55
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### Author:  [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/3 "2008-01-31T10:14:02Z")
Yeah, the 55-200 is really nice. Do you think you’d use the extra range? If so, it’s probably the best bet for you. Otherwise, there are a lot of options if you ditch the 18-55 and want to just go to one “walkaround” lens.
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### Author:  [@Paulo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Paulo)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/4 "2008-01-31T10:40:55Z")
> [@brent\_strong](#):
>
> Yeah, the 55-200 is really nice. Do you think you’d use the extra range? If so, it’s probably the best bet for you. Otherwise, there are a lot of options if you ditch the 18-55 and want to just go to one “walkaround” lens.
yeah 18-200 lenses get pretty damn expensive tho. It will eventually be something i’ll get because there are just so much easier to deal with when out on a random shoot.
Try Amazon and other online sites, you’ll find lenses for much cheaper.
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### Author:  [@walter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/walter)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/5 "2008-01-31T10:52:33Z")
Why not focus yourself? Its not a point and shoot? :shrug:
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### Author:  [@Paulo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Paulo)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/6 "2008-01-31T10:54:43Z")
> [@walter](#):
>
> Why not focus yourself? Its not a point and shoot? :shrug:
It’s hard to focus properly when you are trying to get a quick shot of something. The camera does it in a fraction of the time I ever could, and I’ve never had a problem. 95% of the time, I use AF. unless doing real close shots.
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### Author:  [@sureshot](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sureshot)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/7 "2008-01-31T10:56:16Z")
I like my 55-200 nikor.
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### Author:  [@sickboy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sickboy)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/8 "2008-01-31T10:59:29Z")
Make sure you get the VR if you can afford to, it’ll help with the longer focal lengths and vibration. Unless you use a tripod all the time, or put the camera on something to steady it, you will need VR at 200mm.
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### Author:  [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/9 "2008-01-31T10:59:43Z")
> [@walter](#):
>
> Why not focus yourself? Its not a point and shoot? :shrug:
You need good eyes and generally some modifications to the camera to make manual focusing efficient. The camera is designed to autofocus, so it works best when it can.
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### Author:  [@chino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/chino)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 11:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/10 "2008-01-31T11:05:13Z")
yea its pretty hard to manual focus on my D40x IMO, the autofocus always looks better.
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### Author:  [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/11 "2008-01-31T11:44:52Z")
I’ve done a few shots using manual focus, but generally only macro stuff where the AF motor starts to hunt. For what I’d want to use the longer lense on like fast motion wakeboarding/tubing manual would be a real pain. Not to mention it would be friends or my wife shooting me on the board so I need it to work like a point and shoot.
The 55-200 I’m looking at does have VR so that’s a plus.
Anyone have some 200mm dSLR shots they could upload and tell me the approximate range they were shooting from so I could get an idea what kind of zoom 200mm gets me?
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### Author:  [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/12 "2008-01-31T11:50:58Z")
![]( "Exif | \_DSC0865 - Version 2.jpg | Flickr - Photo Sharing!")
I was on the top row of stands on the front straight in Indy, that is pit lane. It’s slightly cropped, but the size is still very similar to the original.
Hard to estimate distance, but at least a couple hundred feet.
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### Author:  [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/13 "2008-01-31T12:12:40Z")
:tup: Looks like just what I’m looking for.
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### Author:  [@chino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/chino)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/14 "2008-01-31T12:47:25Z")
200mm is pretty decent distance… imo the 55-200mm is a great lens for walking around and shooting outdoors.
inside its pretty worthless though
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### Author:  [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/15 "2008-01-31T13:01:54Z")
> [@chino](#):
>
> 200mm is pretty decent distance… imo the 55-200mm is a great lens for walking around and shooting outdoors.
>
> inside its pretty worthless though
Yeah, I can’t imagine any reason not to use my 18-55 indoors.
I think I’m pretty much set on the 55-200.
Next question, where are some good places to buy? Web and local.
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### Author:  [@walter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/walter)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 1:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/16 "2008-01-31T13:04:24Z")
Good points. I was just wondering if it would give you a wider variety of lenses to select from w/out the cost going bonkers. Guess it doesn’t really fit the situation.
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### Author:  [@ryanmcell](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ryanmcell)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/17 "2008-01-31T17:33:17Z")
> [@JayS](#):
>
> Yeah, I can’t imagine any reason not to use my 18-55 indoors.
>
> I think I’m pretty much set on the 55-200.
>
> Next question, where are some good places to buy? Web and local.
B&H Photo 169.95
[http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/381797-USA/Nikon\_2156\_55\_200mm\_f\_4\_5\_6G\_ED\_AF\_S.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/381797-USA/Nikon_2156_55_200mm_f_4_5_6G_ED_AF_S.html)
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### Author:  [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/18 "2008-01-31T18:32:05Z")
> [@ryanmcell](#):
>
> B&H Photo 169.95
>
> [http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/381797-USA/Nikon\_2156\_55\_200mm\_f\_4\_5\_6G\_ED\_AF\_S.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/381797-USA/Nikon_2156_55_200mm_f_4_5_6G_ED_AF_S.html)
No VR there. To step up to the same lense with a US warranty and VR it’s 229.95 there.
[http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486717-USA/Nikon\_2166\_55\_200mm\_f\_4\_5\_6G\_ED\_AF\_S.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486717-USA/Nikon_2166_55_200mm_f_4_5_6G_ED_AF_S.html)
This place gets mentioned a lot on Flickr:
[http://www.adorama.com/NK55200VRU.html?searchinfo=55-200%20nikon&item\_no=25](http://www.adorama.com/NK55200VRU.html?searchinfo=55-200%20nikon&item_no=25)
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### Author:  [@evane](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/evane)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2008, 8:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/19 "2008-02-01T08:11:42Z")
> [@JayS](#):
>
> No VR there. To step up to the same lense with a US warranty and VR it’s 229.95 there.
> [http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486717-USA/Nikon\_2166\_55\_200mm\_f\_4\_5\_6G\_ED\_AF\_S.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486717-USA/Nikon_2166_55_200mm_f_4_5_6G_ED_AF_S.html)
>
> This place gets mentioned a lot on Flickr:
> [http://www.adorama.com/NK55200VRU.html?searchinfo=55-200%20nikon&item\_no=25](http://www.adorama.com/NK55200VRU.html?searchinfo=55-200%20nikon&item_no=25)
[http://www.ritzcamera.com/](http://www.ritzcamera.com/) i here good things about them people like BH photo video too that I know.
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### Author:  [@ryanmcell](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ryanmcell)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2008, 9:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/first-dslr-camera-lense-upgrade/42730/20 "2008-02-01T09:04:58Z")
B&H I’ve used before and no complaints. Never used Ritz or Adorama before but have heard good things about Ritz. Good luck and good choice!
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