Usage of 55-200mm lens

[takeshi.lum]

I have been monitoring this thread for quite sometime now, and I guess we have much in common.

I'm using D40 + kit lens 18-55mm + 55-200mm non-VR + Sigma 70-300mm APO DG macro + 50mm AIs f/1.4

I've bought the refurbished 55-200mm via vPost USA for < 200 SGD and I've no complaints - yet. In fact whats there to complain, since I've been "forcing" myself to use what I got, rather than to keep thinking other lens would do me good. Thats how I curb my BBB virus, at least for now; esp there are more important things in mind. While I've been using the kit lens a lot - abusing it rather - I would somedays just attach my 55-200 and get shots out of it. Make the lens to work with the surrounding; not the other way round; thats how I learn to fully maximise the lens. About changing lens, there's no issue at all. Can always take my time, if there's a missed chance, there's always another in the wait.

My kit lens been used mainly for landscapes, i would only change to my 55-200 when I've enough of the big picture. There is always enough time, whats the rush for?

hmm.. the rush for me is during events and where there are movements. i dun mind swapping them during still shots. sometimes in events, there is only one chance to get the participants expressions. like when u gave them a surprise and they get stunned. they wun get stun for the 2nd round cos they knew wats in the box.

how abt sharing wat are the smaller pictures u take with ur 55-200mm?

 

[cheguthamrin]

Sure; my pleasure

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More in here

 

[cheguthamrin]

hmm.. the rush for me is during events and where there are movements. i dun mind swapping them during still shots. sometimes in events, there is only one chance to get the participants expressions. like when u gave them a surprise and they get stunned. they wun get stun for the 2nd round cos they knew wats in the box.

how abt sharing wat are the smaller pictures u take with ur 55-200mm?

Hmmmm, I get what you mean, my arguement is that how often do we get to go to events? If you are, then I think its more cool to be seen as a pro with 2 camera bodies of different lens as suggested hehe...

Someone ever pointed out that kit lens are even good enough for events, provided we move around; being a photographer thats our ticket to mix with the crowd and make ourselves known and excuse to get closer to anyone. 55-200 may not be used widely here, but again, it all depends on what kinda events we're working on.

 

[takeshi.lum]

Sure; my pleasure

More in here

thanks!

:think: i seldom take photos for these events.. maybe i can venture into nature photography?

 

[takeshi.lum]

Hmmmm, I get what you mean, my arguement is that how often do we get to go to events? If you are, then I think its more cool to be seen as a pro with 2 camera bodies of different lens as suggested hehe...

Someone ever pointed out that kit lens are even good enough for events, provided we move around; being a photographer thats our ticket to mix with the crowd and make ourselves known and excuse to get closer to anyone. 55-200 may not be used widely here, but again, it all depends on what kinda events we're working on.

sometimes i find the kit lens (18-55mm) not quite enough for me especially when there are water activites.. we wun wanna risk our cameras with those water right? sometimes they noe u r there and aiming the camera at them, they wun wanna face u cos they are camera shy :dunno: so i need to snap at a further distance so they wun notice me (hope so :angel and its a trouble to swap the lens (at least for me )

i m covering a camp for my fren next week. most of the events, i dun think i would need to touch on the 55-200mm ba.. :think:

 

[cheguthamrin]

sometimes i find the kit lens (18-55mm) not quite enough for me especially when there are water activites.. we wun wanna risk our cameras with those water right? sometimes they noe u r there and aiming the camera at them, they wun wanna face u cos they are camera shy :dunno: so i need to snap at a further distance so they wun notice me (hope so :angel and its a trouble to swap the lens (at least for me )

i m covering a camp for my fren next week. most of the events, i dun think i would need to touch on the 55-200mm ba.. :think:

my 2 cents worth;

plan what you wanna take; at least have something in mind of what to take at the camp. Portraits? Bigger picture? Action? Group shots?

Then follow accordingly, maybe can use the wider lens first to get around the area, then change to 55-200mm when there's break to focus only to individual / portraits; then back to group shots using the kit lens. We have to be organised ourselves according to the itenary. Camp activites are such there'll be repetitions and we cant be at every event at any one time.

I would myself have a PnS camera as a back up for the in between shots; nothing to be shamed ma...

 

[cheguthamrin]

As for nature shots; I have these to share; also using my 55-200mm

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[takeshi.lum]

As for nature shots; I have these to share; also using my 55-200mm

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nice pics! the organisers havnt give me their program list yet. i wanna take group shots during activities and the participants' expressions during the activities. :think:

 

[takeshi.lum]

i have the 18-55, 5-200, 18-105. if i wanna let go of 1 lens, which should it be?

 

[lsisaxon]

i have the 18-55, 5-200, 18-105. if i wanna let go of 1 lens, which should it be?

Do your 18-55 and 55-200 have VR? 18-105 is definitely convenient but it overlaps the entire range of 18-55 and a large part of 55-200.

So you can either let go both the 18-55 and 55-200 and later get a 70-300VR if you need the length, or let go of the 18-105VR since it's still new. The 18-55 is useful if you want to travel light. It is also good for reverse macro if you know how to use it.

If you turn the question around and say you want to keep only one lens, then the choice is clear.. keep the 18-105VR.

 

[whkoh]

Well what range do you want to shoot at?

Practically speaking, 18-55 because you don't lose its range, and 18-105 mm would be more useful than it.

 

[lsisaxon]

hmm.. the rush for me is during events and where there are movements. i dun mind swapping them during still shots. sometimes in events, there is only one chance to get the participants expressions. like when u gave them a surprise and they get stunned. they wun get stun for the 2nd round cos they knew wats in the box.

how abt sharing wat are the smaller pictures u take with ur 55-200mm?

In this case, the 18-200VR is really good. I use this lens very intensively because it's so versatile.

 

[lsisaxon]

hmm... i've just got the 18-105mm VR lens.. would this be nice for portraits as well?

edit: i dun really do portraits leh

How much did you pay for it?

 

[takeshi.lum]

Do your 18-55 and 55-200 have VR? 18-105 is definitely convenient but it overlaps the entire range of 18-55 and a large part of 55-200.

So you can either let go both the 18-55 and 55-200 and later get a 70-300VR if you need the length, or let go of the 18-105VR since it's still new. The 18-55 is useful if you want to travel light. It is also good for reverse macro if you know how to use it.

If you turn the question around and say you want to keep only one lens, then the choice is clear.. keep the 18-105VR.

since the 18-105mm VR covers the range of 18-55mm (non-VR, D40 kit lens) then its pretty much not in use now. but i do note that if i wanna travel light then i have to depend on it cos the 18-105mm VR is heavy.

 

[takeshi.lum]

In this case, the 18-200VR is really good. I use this lens very intensively because it's so versatile.

but its very costly as well :cry:

 

[takeshi.lum]

How much did you pay for it?

i got it at $385 frm a good CS-er

 

[Daedalus Trent]

but its very costly as well :cry:

haha, yea :sweat:


$385? Thats a good price! :think:

 

[takeshi.lum]

definately a good price. i wanna thank the CS-er who gave me this good deal THANKS!

 

[lsisaxon]

i got it at $385 frm a good CS-er

Win-win situation. I would be willing to do something like that too rather than waiting for the D90 body only if I get the approval for D90.