Nikon D3100 Zoom help

Zero-Cool

My gf got the Nikon D3100 but I just wanted to check something on the Zoom. The lens is the 18-55mm VR lens. We can turn this to zoom in but it doesn't zoom very far. We are both DSLR noobs but surely there is a way to zoom further? I thought this would replace our previous Digital camera but the zoom is just crap. If it turns out I need a different lens, can anyone recommend what I should be looking for?

Thanks!

dirtyghettokid

you need a different lens. you could always sell that 18-55 on adverts and look for the 18-105mm kit lenses that are on there second hand. they have a much further reach! otherwise you can keep what you have, and look for a 70-300mm perhaps.

Zero-Cool

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

you need a different lens. you could always sell that 18-55 on adverts and look for the 18-105mm kit lenses that are on there second hand. they have a much further reach! otherwise you can keep what you have, and look for a 70-300mm perhaps.

Cool thanks man will do!

oceanfroggie

sheehy83 wrote: »

My gf got the Nikon D3100 but I just wanted to check something on the Zoom. The lens is the 18-55mm VR lens. We can turn this to zoom in but it doesn't zoom very far. We are both DSLR noobs but surely there is a way to zoom further? I thought this would replace our previous Digital camera but the zoom is just crap. If it turns out I need a different lens, can anyone recommend what I should be looking for?

Thanks!

The first thing is the D3100 is an interchangeable lens camera, and a good one. The 18-55 is a good general walk about lens. You have to decide do you want only one lens that can cover everything, or a pair of lenses to cover the same range.

Options:

1. Stick with the 18-55 (one lens no changing)
2. Trade it for an 18-105 AF-S VR (one lens no changing)
3. Buy a 55-200 AF-S VR (great value lens) combined with the 18-55 gives you an effective range of 18-200 but optically better and less expensive than an 18-200 telephoto zoom.

Bear in mind the D3100 is a DX crop sensor camera (ie APS-C size sensor 24mm) which means your 18-55 is the equivalent of an 26-85mm lens on a 35mm film SLR camera or a full frame DSLR. 18-200mm on the D3100 is the same zoom range as a 26-300mm on 35mm film or FX body. Enjoy the D3100, its a really decent compact DSLR.

Zero-Cool

Thanks, just wasn't expecting our old digital camera to have 5 or 10 times the zoom of this. Will look up those lenses.

oceanfroggie

sheehy83 wrote: »

Thanks, just wasn't expecting our old digital camera to have 5 or 10 times the zoom of this. Will look up those lenses.

Well many pocket compact digital cameras have 6x, 10x, 20x zoom lenses due to their tiny sensor the lens optics are very compressed. Your 18-55 is a 3x lens, the 55-200 is a 4x. Generally the less zoom range the better the quality of the optics but at the cost of convenience (ie having to change lens). Where your D3100 makes a difference is low light use, indoor use without needing a flash, great image quality and the ability to mount different lenses. I use an 18-105 most of the time as it reduces the amount of times I change the lens. But it has nothing like the reach of my old little fuji compact with its 30x zoom albeit with some optical compromises.

WayneScott

Excuse me jumping in

oceanfroggie wrote: »

Buy a 55-200 AF-S VR (great value lens) combined with the 18-55 gives you an effective range of 18-200 but optically better and less expensive than an 18-200 telephoto zoom.

Can you explain how it is optically better and less expensive than an 18-200 telephoto zoom

Bear in mind the D3100 is a DX crop sensor camera (ie APS-C size sensor 24mm) which means your 18-55 is the equivalent of an 26-85mm lens on a 35mm film SLR camera or a full frame DSLR. 18-200mm on the D3100 is the same zoom range as a 26-300mm on 35mm film or FX body. Enjoy the D3100, its a really decent compact DSLR.

Is this good. Does it mean better zoom

poundhound

As a D3100 owner, my advice would be to keep the 18-55 kit lens + buy the 55-300 zoom lens as well.

The 55-300mm lens is very reasonably priced on amazon and will give you the reach you were expecting.

You should drop into any camera store in town with the camera and ask to try it out.