If I can only buy one additional lens for my Nikon D40, which should it be?

Question

I got a Nikon D40 for a present with the standard 18-55 mm lens. I can afford to buy one other lens myself. Which should I get? Not interested in wide-angle.

Answer 1

If you are not interested in wide angle, then a telephoto, unless you are into macro photography.  It really depends on what you want to take photos of.  What I would buy might not be of any use to you.  Go to a good camera store and talk to someone there who can explain what would suit your needs.

Answer 2

You say you can afford another lens... Did you know lenses range from $100 - $2,000 and more.

I agree, the 18mm-200mm VR is a great lens I'd like to have but, it cost twice as much as your D40 kit. A slightly more affordable lens is the 28mm-200mm G. It still cost more than your D40 kit but not twice as much.

Consider getting a second hand lens. Significantly cheaper, as long as you can test it first. Also, figure out what you want to do with the lens first. What type of photography you like, then get the appropriate lens for it. No point getting a zoom lens if you like macro photography for example. If you like portraits, go look for good portrait lenses, Macro, go for macro, etc.

Go to www.kenrockwell.com He's got good gear reviews and techniques on photography.

Answer 3

There is not a single lens that does everything well. But the 18-200 VR comes pretty close. With the crop facter it gives you a view similar to a 27 to 300 and the VR lets you shoot in lower light and with fewer issues from lens shake when zoomed out.

I hope this helps

Answer 4

Get the fastest prime you can afford.  What do I mean by a fast prime? Prime lenses are lenses that don't zoom, they only have one focal length, say, 50mm.  Because they are simpler, they have better optics.  When I say fast, I'm talking about the lens' widest aperture.  That fastest zoom I've ever seen was f:2.8 (lower is faster) but with primes, you can pick up lenses that can be f:1.8 or f:1.4.  (I even have a Nikon lens from the 1970's that is f:1.2.)

You can probably find a Nikon 50mm f:1.8 lens for under a hundred dollars.  It should quickly become your favorite lens.  If that leaves you with some money left over, or you'd like to splurge a bit, try the Nikon 35mm f/2.0D AF for just under three hundred bucks. A 35 is a good choice for cameras with the APS sensor like the D40.

Both of these will be fantastic in low light, giving the best image quality you can get. Primes will also force you to use your feet to compose a shot, which will teach you some great shooting habits.

If you're thinking of a long telephoto, see if you can borrow or buy one from a  friend—they very often sit unused in closets.

Answer 5

The 55-200 VR is probably the most useful, cost effective choice.  See the link for lots of good information, specific to the D40 and Nikon in general.  You won't regret.