An 18-55mm lens is a zoom, a 300mm is a telescopic, 200-1400mm is a zoom but is also a telescopic. Zoom means it covers a range of focal lengths, telescopic means it has a longer focal length than a normal one.

Next, according to theory, should be a 55-200mm zoom, which will give you an adequate zoom capability. You might want to stretch that to a 55-300mm to give a bit extra length though.

Another option that you should get is an X2 lens. Cheaper than a telephoto it will double the focal length of any lens you attach to it, thus your standard 18-55mm would become a 36-110mm but you would go down an f-stop too.

The X2 with a 55-300mm zoom would give you most of what you want for wildlife and photographing planes and such.

For most I would advise against going wide angle unless you really need it. Usually you can step back and it saves you some dosh not having one. This would be different for a professional who would consider it an investment and for a specific purpose.

For macro see what your camera is capable of with the present lens, you might be pleasantly surprised. IF not get a cheap lens and try going reverse

Oh and you dont get if you dont ask. Its worth being grumpy about it too

your mate has given you some good advice. Especially about the length of the macro. I use a Tamron 90mm with a 2x converter to give me 180mm F5. This allows me to fill the frame with a butterfly from around a meter away. Absolutely invaluable. Also worth noting is that while the camera brand Macros are technically better, you seriously wont be able to tell at any sensible magnification. Macro lenses as a breed are unbelievably sharp, a bad one is almost unheard of, so save your pennies and buy the Sigma 105 HSM.

Dont forget though, your D40 cannot autofocus lenses which dont have Silent Wave motors. This means it can only auto focus Nikon AF-S lenses and Sigma HSM lenses.

No Tamron or Tokina lens has Silent wave or an equivalent at this time.

I presume with these lenses on a D40 you can still focus manually and use the lens that way, but its something to keep in mind when picking lenses.


PS also Serious made a slight error above, you go down 2 F stops with a 2x converter, not one. Double the focal length, double the F number, so a usable 70-300 F4.5-5.6 zoom becomes a 140-600 F9-11 monster. Not unusable, but dark and hard to focus. Also no AF system on the market will work at that aperture.

Thanks for your assistance chaps!  

Here is a great site to have a read of.

http://kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

The D40 is a great camera, my other 1/2 has the D40x which is pretty much the same other than its 10MP.

As for lenses then Id go for the sigma 105mm macro and a 55-200mm.

Ive got the 70-300mm nikor which is a great lens for the money (got it for 75quid new off ebay).

Great photos btw, composition is spot on.

24negs... 10,000 positives... id go for it

Im considering investing in a DSLR as Ive always had a compact camera so this is all new to me. Ive actually considered the Nikon D60 but being I take it from all the positive comments a D40 would probably be enough? I travel quite a bit and Im annoyed at the poor night shots from my Sony N1 on my recent travels. The photos I took at the Aquarium were really bad too.

Im going to Canada and New York soon so Im looking at getting something soon. I have relatives in the US so Im wondering if itd be worth getting over there instead, they could purchase it for me beforehand so I have it ready to use when Im there.

Im going to Canada and New York soon so Im looking at getting something soon. I have relatives in the US so Im wondering if itd be worth getting over there instead, they could purchase it for me beforehand so I have it ready to use when Im there.

Word of warning if you do, you camera would be classed as a grey import, it would have a US warranty and youd be in the UK so Nikon/Cannon/Whoevers UK branch might not actually honour the warranty.  But if something was to happen you could be able to send it back to your relatives and get them to send it to get repaired.

That being said go for it if you can, with the current exchange rate youd be stupid not to get something when your over there.  Quick check on Amazon.com and they have the Nikon D60 with 18-55 VR Kit Lens for $649.95, which works out at about £330, Amazon.co.uk have it for £419.99.

As for which one to go for, from what I understand they are both very similar but the D60 comes with the Vibration Reduction version of the 18-55mm lens, which is a big help.

And travellings fairly easy with a DSLR as long as you get a decent bag, and remember that you dont have to take every lens youve got, I went to Madeira last year with my D50 with a 18-200mm VR and 50mm F1.8 Lens along with spare batteries, filters cleaning stuff and a mini tripod in a Crumpler Pretty Boy.  Had enough space for my MP3 player, a book, few other odds nsods too and it was never any bother.