Digital SLR camera & lenses: Who has the best lense for standard and telephoto? Also, best camera?

I looked at consumer reports - that rated the Nikon D40, D80 pretty highly. I like the 10 megapixels, but some people have been telling me its all about the lenses. Therefore, What lense to people recommend?

there are standard lenses that come with the nikon d40/80 but I looked at nikon.com and they have tons more to choose from. I'm not sure what I should do.

another more experienced photographer I know bought the sony alpha, and said he is going to use his old minolta lenses.

My price range for the total package body + lense is probably 1200-1500.
Any thoughts?

I shoot with the nikon D80, an awesome camera. I haven't had any problems with it. My lens collection includes the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, and 50mm f/1.8. The camera body, depending on where you buy it, will cost you around a grand. If you're looking for a good lens, I can tell you that for the price (about $150), the 50mm f/1.8 is the best I own. It is known as a normal or standard prime lens and is both fast and extremely sharp. My 70-300mm VR lens is not the fastest lens I own, but with vibration reduction, aperture speed is less of a concern for what it is used for at the longest focal length, which with my image sensor crop, translates to 450mm, equivalent to what is seen with a full frame camera. I usually keep it around f/8 when shooting outdoors and I get very sharp images. It set me back around $600, not cheap, but cheaper than the 18-200mm VR superzoom which I wouldn't mind buying to replace my third lens, the 18-135mm f3.5-5.6. That lens was kitted with my D80 when I bought it and really of no use to me unless I need a wide shot. I used it to shoot some sunsets, but I prefer my 70-300mm VR for walking around town, and 50mm for shooting portraits. Third party lens manufacturers like Sigma also make very good optics and less the VR, sigmas 70-200mm f/2.8 is said to be sharper than the nikon equivalent with VR and almost a grand cheaper. I have my eyes set on the sigma 70mm f/2.8 macro to use as a portrait lens. A macro is great for portraits for the detail they render along with being a full 1:1 macro lens, it runs about $420.

If you want to stick with your price range, and you don't need a super fast zoom lens, get the D80 and kit 18-135mm lens. If you don't need a zoom at all and would like to use a fast and economical prime lens, get the D80 body and the 50mm f/1.8. Primes are a little more tricky to work with because they force you to make better compositions, but in the end, you get the best optical quality. Get a telezoom lens when you can afford one later, because they are usually the most expensive. Fast apertures are great for low light and indoor shooting, but are more expensive. A f/3.5 lens is not terrible and usually have a focal length to aperture size range, are compact and light and all nikkor lenses have supurb optical quality, no matter their speed. Wide lenses, whether prime or zoom can also be quite expensive, especially given fast aperture, but are highly specialized lenses, as are macros. You'll know if you need one and plan to come out of you pocket some serious money.

Also, take some consideration in other photography related accessories like external flashes, memory cards, tripods, and camera bags as they will add to the final cost.

And one more thing, if you are serious about photography, DON'T buy a sony alpha. Don't even bother looking at it.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

If you stick with the big 2 (canon and nikon) you won't be disappointed.

Both have entry level to advanced and professional bodies in all price ranges.

Lenses are a whole other ball of wax. The lenses you buy should be based onthe type of photography you do.

I do a lot of outdoor and nature photography, so a fast lens is not always the first thing to look at. The best thing to look at is image clarity, and the lenses should be able to handle distortion and chromatic abberation well.

If you want to do portraits, a portrait lens is in order(usually something in the 80-150mm range with good bokeh).

If you cantell us a little more about the type of photography yu are wanting to do, then we can recommend some good glass to go with your body of choice.

Just FYI, I went with Nikon.

nikon and cannon users will rubish the Alpha but it is the only one with image stabliser built into the body (other systems you pay mega buck for lens with image sta..)


the advise you have had a good: spend it on lens

most will say get the D80, i say get the sony, buy some used minolta lens (sometime people sell "cameras" the body and lens real cheap cause they dont know the body is old but the lens is a peach.

also if you get the sony you and your mate can build a lens collection together, compare notes, learn the camera together

i have used all the cameras mentioned (im old school so always shot manual) for my purposes they are are all the same

i like Nikon and prefer their equipment. Naturally i would suggest Nikon. However i have herd that cannon lenses are very good as well. But i use Nikon and i am very happ with all their equipment. I have a D2x a 17-55 28-70 105 micro and an 80-400 all Nikon and it all works great. if 1500 is your max and you only expect to get one lense go with the D80 and learn to use all the features. youll love it. Also you may be able to find a d200 w/ lens at that price slim chance but possible. anyway the D80 would be your best choice with Nikon lenses.

Whoever told you that it was all about the lenses has no idea and has perhaps never used a camera. Some people just like to brag. The best cameras on the market are Nikons. Personally I love the D200. You just can't beat 10 meagpixels for the clairity and resolution. The photos make you think you're looking out a window. It's all about the resolution, that's where it's at. The type of camera really depends on what level of photography you want to jump to. If you want a camera that will last for years and will serve any purpose then I would highly recommend the D200. The lens, well that depends on what you want to do. I would recommend a Nikor 125 mm or even an 80 mm editorial lens. You will also need a good external flash. Hope that answers your question.

Nikon hands down, one of the best...with any body you can use any Nikon lenses even if they're from an old film camera...Go to B&H.com for some good prices. Cannon aslo has some pretty high quality gear...