We have decided on the Nikon D-50. The lense it will come with is the 18-55. We also have the option of getting the 55-200. Could someone tell me about this lense? What are the advantages to getting it or not?

Also...what 1 other lense would you reccommend?

The 18-55 won't get you in *that* close to your subject, so having a zoom lens (like the 50-200) would cover a very wide range for you and possibly be all you'd ever need. :) I'm not familar with particular Nikon lenses though so not sure if there are others that'd be better. Tamron makes an excellent 28-75mm f/2.8 which is great if you plan to do a lot of shooting in natural light (large aperture).

i've got both the nikkor 18-55 and the nikkor 55-200 you are describing. i only got them yesterday so i don't have a lot of usage feedback but i can say that i appreciate the range the two lenses give me.

the one thing i wish the 55-200 had is macro (super duper close up) but i can make do w/o it (or use my film SLR for which i have a macro lens.)

the 55-200 would be good for things farther away from you or for action shots. probably not pro-action like a pro would take but your kids soccer game? absolutely. in fact that's what i use that range of lens for here, more than anything else.

if you get the 55-200 (or any lens in that range or longer) you may want to consider a tripod at some point bc the longer lenses are more sensitive to shake, making it more critical to hold the camera steady.


i can't rec any other lenses though, simply bc i've only had the camera for a day and a half myself. i'd suggest looking carefully at your usage style (the type of pics you generally take, most often) and find a lens that would tailor to that. any photo store worth it's cameras will have staff available to help you analyze what lens would be best for you and your needs.

i have one for sale Zoom Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G Autofocus Lens - Black (http://www.amitymama.com/vb/talk-photography/293489-fs-zoom-telephoto-af-zoom-nikkor-70-300mm-f-4-5-6g-autofocus-lens-black.html)

My absolute favorite lens is the 50 mm 1.8. It takes super sharp pics and it's cheap! You can find it for right around $100. I rarely take it off of my camera.