Please help me with Lenes

[kokopelli]

I recieved a Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D for Chirstmas. I mainly want to take pictures of: 1. Actions sports shots. My son's soccer games (he is the keeper) and his basketball games.
2. When I go hiking, nature shots, flowers, cactus blooms, birds, snakes.
I have no clue what kind of lens I should look into. I have been on e-bay and found the brand Tamron 100-300mm to be a good price. I want to be able to take pictures accross the soccer field. I don't know what the difference between wide angle, macro, telephoto.......All I know is the lens that came with the camera 18-70mm is not enough for sports shots I want to take. I have not taken the camera hiking yet I imagine the lens it came with with work.
Thanks

[ktixx]

Telephoto - Long lens as you described for sports (one that will magnify a good deal)
Macro - Lens used for making small objects fill the frame (shooting bugs, leafs, textures, etc.) these lenses can usually be used for both normal shooting and macro as the macro signification only designates that the lens can focus while being placed very close to the object.
Wide Angle - Lens used for shooting a lot of a picture, you can be very close to an object and this allows you to get a very wide field of view.

When purchasing a lens pay attention to the f/number. The smaller the number (or numbers) the better the lens will be for low light shooting. An example of a good low light lens would be f/1.8 (for primes ie: non zooming lenses) or f/2.8 for zoom lenses. If you will be shooting mostly outdoors it may not be necessary for you to get an f/2.8 lens. The reason I say "may not be necessary" is because the lower the f/number the more expensive the lens.

Maybe someone with KM equipment will be able to help you more with a specific lens.
Good Luck
Ken

[kokopelli]

Thank you, that is GREAT information to me.

[TWD]

You can see my lenses in my signature and I like them all and recomend each.

But the highest priority is one that covers the most frequently used range. IE, my 24-105 lens. I almost never take this lens off!

Do be sure to get the Maxxum "D" lenses. The "D" rating means that the more advance ADI flash metering can be used instead of the more standard TTL flash metering.

Sigma and Tamron do make lenses compatible with the "D" rating so you don't need to buy only Maxxum lenses.

And I echo the concern about the F number. I just wish I had a Constant Aperture telephoto zoom...:o But they cost Money!

You might look into a Sigma 18-125 or 18-200 mm lens. I have heard pretty good results from those lenses.