Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

Cheers Jambo!

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

I know nothing about photography so I wont comment , but your dog is lovely....

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

LOL! Thanks! He's one of 6!

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

Good,

it was down to your advice that set me on the 3100 for a start, and i really am more than happy with it, just need to get a better lens to go with it now.

I didn't get the chance to upload last night (obveously!) so will try again over the weekend!

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

Stick to the lens you have until you know exactly what its faults are, what it's not doing for you, what other lens you want, and why do you want it. ;)

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

i am happy ATM with the lens i have (18-55 kit) and i think the results that i am getting are great, but i need something with a longer focal point(i think that is the right wording!) i.e. i wasnt a longer zoom, more so to take sporting shots (surfing in particular) wildlife shots etc, so its not that i want to replace the current lens, i just want another to complement it. i would like a 70-300 but i think i will settle for a 55-200 due to price, (i know is wont be as good a lens, but i can always upgrade again in the future.

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

The correct wording is focal length :)
I started out pretty much the same as you did, with a D60 (the D3100 spiritual predecessor - the body is still pretty much the same) and a 18-55 VR kit lens, then went out and got the 55-200 VR to complement it. They make a very good combo as they are very similar, both in specs and performance. IMHO, they're both a lot better than their price point would suggest, especially now you can get the 55-200 VR for peanuts if you shop around.

The 70-300 VR is a lot more lens, but then again it's a lot more money...

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

Just to chip in on the telephoto lens debate - the Tamron 70-300 is dirt cheap, and reputedly very cheerful for the money - my only complaint is that it can be a bit soft at 270mm+ but for what I paid it's worth it by far, what you lose in detail can be made up for by having another 100mm to play with over a X-200mm lens

The Nikkor 70-300 lens is undoubtedly better, but it's 3x the cash, if you only plan to use it occasionally is it really worth it?...


This was taken with my D5000 and the Tamron:

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/r...y/DSC_0472.jpg

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

Ah close but no cigar!! :)

that is what i was thinking, and i can always get another lens when i have the money in the future.

When it comes to it, another question if you don't mind.

I am currently just playing around, using different exposures, apertures, ISO etc, and having read a lot i am feeling quite confident around what it all means, and what to use/change, when. however i know that i a lot more to learn around this point along with everything else to do with photography.

So i was thinking that going on a workshop or something like that might be a good idea, a 2 day thing or something like that, to be able to have someone actually point me in the right direction etc to let my skills grow.

Do you have any experience with this? and any suggestion i.e. is it worth it!?

Re: Proper play with new camera!!
 

Can't really beat that price, the only lens I can think of that comes close (in range, quality and price) is Nikon's own 70-300G f/4-5.6 (not the VR version), but that won't auto-focus on the D3100 / D5000. I bought one shortly after I got the D90, but the optical flaws were driving me nuts so I ended up getting the VR version... but then again I tend to use telephotos quite a bit, if it was just something I use once or twice a year it might have been different.