Travel Lens - Nikon D200 - HALP!

Pheebs · 29-10-2012, 20:43

Hey Guys!

More of a browser than a poster here but looking for some advice!

My partner and I are about to embark on Round the World Motorbike Trip for Charity (www.chasinghorizons.co.uk) and are trying to figure out our camera bag!

What we have:
Nikon D200 Base and standard 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

What we plan on taking piccies of:
Motorbike shots (many moving), landscape, portraits and some wildlife.
NB. we are camping around the world so potential for a fair few low light photos (we do have a compact tripod

)

What We Plan on Using Photos For:
We would like to make a decent photobook for our return. Although we're not professionals (me by far... Sam has much more past experience!) I'd certainly like to progress past amateur eventually and Sam would like to be producing some semi pro photos once he manages to recall his photography days! I have a rugged invincible Olympus TG1 for happy snaps too (tell you what.. mega camera. Super impressed so far)

Our Budget:
A total of £500 - £1000

Current Considerations:
Go for an All Rounder:
Nikkor 18-200mm
Keep Nikkor 18 - 55mm as back up

Pros:
One lens which does everything, reasonably priced, less to pack / carry about (not ideal to change lenses in the desert see!

)

Cons:
It's a jack of all trades and master on none. Good to Okay quality.

Drop the Zoom
Focus on finding something with a lower range (ie 18-120mm). Suggestions would be fab!
Keep Nikkor 18 - 55mm as back up

Pros:
Better quality photos, within budget, less to pack / carry about

Cons:
Loose our ability to shoot wildlife without being eaten.

Get Two New Lenses:
Go for two lenses - one for longer ranges (say 70-300mm) and then get an additional 18-55mm which is better than our current bog standard one

Pros:
More specialised photo ranges (so perhaps better quality... but with our budget maybe we could only afford two lenses which would produce the same as a decent Jack of all trades?)

Cons:
Have to faff about with two lenses, more to pack.

Any suggestions or thoughts or ideas?! We have read sooooo many reviews, my mind is about to go *pop*... so many are ancient so we don't know if we're missing out on any tricks or what!

Thanks guys and girls

Clare and Sam

Gaijin · 30-10-2012, 10:08

I've also been wondering this for my D3200.

I think the 18-200 is a great one-size-fits-all lense but a lot of sites say it suffers from several types of distortion due to the focal length. However I'm not overly fussy and so I'm sure the results would be fine for someone like me.

I suppose it depends on how often you think you'll be swapping lenses and whether you need/want the length that the 70-300mm provides.

I personally think I'll go with the 18-200mm once a cheap 2nd hand one comes along.

Mark · 31-10-2012, 09:43

I'd do the same. I'm sure you'll have enough to lug about already so save the space for something more important and don't get eaten!

29-10-2012, 20:43	#1
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Travel Lens - Nikon D200 - HALP! Hey Guys! More of a browser than a poster here but looking for some advice! My partner and I are about to embark on Round the World Motorbike Trip for Charity (www.chasinghorizons.co.uk) and are trying to figure out our camera bag! What we have: Nikon D200 Base and standard 18-55mm Nikkor Lens What we plan on taking piccies of: Motorbike shots (many moving), landscape, portraits and some wildlife. NB. we are camping around the world so potential for a fair few low light photos (we do have a compact tripod ) What We Plan on Using Photos For: We would like to make a decent photobook for our return. Although we're not professionals (me by far... Sam has much more past experience!) I'd certainly like to progress past amateur eventually and Sam would like to be producing some semi pro photos once he manages to recall his photography days! I have a rugged invincible Olympus TG1 for happy snaps too (tell you what.. mega camera. Super impressed so far) Our Budget: A total of £500 - £1000 Current Considerations: Go for an All Rounder: Nikkor 18-200mm Keep Nikkor 18 - 55mm as back up Pros: One lens which does everything, reasonably priced, less to pack / carry about (not ideal to change lenses in the desert see! ) Cons: It's a jack of all trades and master on none. Good to Okay quality. Drop the Zoom Focus on finding something with a lower range (ie 18-120mm). Suggestions would be fab! Keep Nikkor 18 - 55mm as back up Pros: Better quality photos, within budget, less to pack / carry about Cons: Loose our ability to shoot wildlife without being eaten. Get Two New Lenses: Go for two lenses - one for longer ranges (say 70-300mm) and then get an additional 18-55mm which is better than our current bog standard one Pros: More specialised photo ranges (so perhaps better quality... but with our budget maybe we could only afford two lenses which would produce the same as a decent Jack of all trades?) Cons: Have to faff about with two lenses, more to pack. Any suggestions or thoughts or ideas?! We have read sooooo many reviews, my mind is about to go pop... so many are ancient so we don't know if we're missing out on any tricks or what! Thanks guys and girls Clare and Sam __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

30-10-2012, 10:08	#2
Gaijin Columbian Coffee Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 99	I've also been wondering this for my D3200. I think the 18-200 is a great one-size-fits-all lense but a lot of sites say it suffers from several types of distortion due to the focal length. However I'm not overly fussy and so I'm sure the results would be fine for someone like me. I suppose it depends on how often you think you'll be swapping lenses and whether you need/want the length that the 70-300mm provides. I personally think I'll go with the 18-200mm once a cheap 2nd hand one comes along. __________________

31-10-2012, 09:43	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I'd do the same. I'm sure you'll have enough to lug about already so save the space for something more important and don't get eaten!