D40 picture taking question

[wilson44512]

i just got my D40 and would like to know if any one has any setting tips. they can share? what i plan on doing is taking pictures of birds in flight. and planes. and some sports shooting. thanks for any help

[TheWengler]

Do you have a long lens to do all of that?

[wilson44512]

no i just have the lens that came with it. so im going to need one for doing that? i guess its time to start saving. because there expensive.:( do you know were to get a good lens at a good price?

[Daily Mik]

I'm assuming that you have the 18-55 which will suit you for every day shots, but not the ones you mentioned. For that you will need a telephoto lens. There are a few options available to you, but mostly I will recommend the 55-200mm VR which can be had for under $200 on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-55-200mm-4-5-6G-AF-S-Nikkor/dp/B000O161X0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1198346633&sr=8-1). It will complement your 18-55 nicely and comes with Nikon's vibration reduction technology to help you with camera shake at the longer focal lenghts, and not break your bank too badly.

As far as settings go, just shoot pictures until your arms fall off. Photography is an art form, and like with any other art, gets better with practice.

[coldrain]

You did not pick the best option in the D40 for what you planned to use it for... Was it a spur of the moment buy?

[Rooz]

no i just have the lens that came with it. so im going to need one for doing that? i guess its time to start saving. because there expensive.:( do you know were to get a good lens at a good price?

we can all wish we had the money to afford better gear. to try and help with your lens issue though...

if you have ample light:
nikon 55-200VR
nikon 70-300VR

both lens' are cheap for what they are.

if you need a faster lens for less light:
sigma 50-150 f2.8
sigma 70-200 f2.8

these ones are the lower prices of the fast zooms. if you want something better you need to pay. :eek::p:)

[wilson44512]

You did not pick the best option in the D40 for what you planned to use it for... Was it a spur of the moment buy?

well kinda circiut city had it on sale for $487 and i wanted a SLR so i got it.

i never ordered any thing off of amazon before. is it trust worthy.

[TheWengler]

Amazon is usually fine. I guess it depends on who you buy from though. Are the sports you mentioned indoors or outdoors? Keep in mind that if you get a Nikon lens then it will need to be AF-S to auto focus and if you get a Sigma it will need to be HSM to auto focus on the D40.

[wilson44512]

i go to a view basket ball games. and im going to use it for my girlfriends daughter soccer games. the nature shots are going to be in the summer. so maybe i can save enough up until then to get one of them 55-200mm VR.

[TheWengler]

for indoor sports you should consider f/2.8 a minimum. for outdoor the 55-200mm might be alright but longer is better, especially for wildlife.

[fionndruinne]

Basically the 55-200mm VR or the 70-300mm VR will do for the plane shots, and will be passable for birding (the 55-200mm VR is half the price, by the way). For sports, you will do much better with a fast-aperture lens, the least costly being the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 at a little over $600.

Settings-wise? Read your camera manual. It's a good one, and you need to know what various settings like aperture and ISO will do in real-life photos. So practice. And step out of auto to P mode as soon as may be. A mode is even better. Play with other settings too, like autofocus points (I like to manually pick the point), exposure compensation, and metering types.

[scupking]

You did not pick the best option in the D40 for what you planned to use it for... Was it a spur of the moment buy?

I wouldn't say that. The D40 is a great camera and he shouldn't have problmes doing what he wants to do. I will be picking up a 18-200 VR this summer for airshows.

[bobc4d]

i go to a view basket ball games. and im going to use it for my girlfriends daughter soccer games. the nature shots are going to be in the summer. so maybe i can save enough up until then to get one of them 55-200mm VR.

I have the D40 with the 55-200 VR and for daytime soccer games this is a great set up, but for night time games, even with good field lights, the VR just doesn't have the speed to get action shots. as mentioned you'll need something fast F2.8 or better.

oh, and don't use the flash at soccer games at night :eek:

[wilson44512]

i was just wondering do i really need a VR lens. if i use a tripod or a monopod?

[pas49ras]

i was just wondering do i really need a VR lens. if i use a tripod or a monopod?
For the kind of shooting that you will be doing, a VR lens won't do you much good. VR will help with slower shutter speeds but sports really require a lens with a large aperture to allow a faster, motion freezing shutter speed.Using a tripod will steady the camera but won't help with slow shutter speeds of sports/motion shots as well,it has the same affect as VR..

[TheWengler]

I have the D40 with the 55-200 VR and for daytime soccer games this is a great set up, but for night time games, even with good field lights, the VR just doesn't have the speed to get action shots. as mentioned you'll need something fast F2.8 or better.

VR doesn't stop action. Shutter speed stops action.

[wilson44512]

the reason i'm asking is because circuit city has this one. for $249.00

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Nikon-Nikkor-55-200mm-f-4-5-6G-ED-AF-S-DX-Zoom-Lens-55200MMLENS/sem/rpsm/oid/130294/catOid/-13085/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[bobc4d]

VR doesn't stop action. Shutter speed stops action.

true, but at F4 - 5.6 it doesn't have the f-stop speed to do night time soccer game pictures, I know I've tried even with a well lit soccer field.

[Spookonthe8ball]

the reason i'm asking is because circuit city has this one. for $249.00

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Nikon-Nikkor-55-200mm-f-4-5-6G-ED-AF-S-DX-Zoom-Lens-55200MMLENS/sem/rpsm/oid/130294/catOid/-13085/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I just checked Amazon.com and they have that lens for 149.00, so do some checking around for prices.
Spook

[wilson44512]

I just checked Amazon.com and they have that lens for 149.00, so do some checking around for prices.
Spook

i never ordered any thing from there. im always worried that i order the wrong stuff. or i wonder how good is the warrenty on them. thats why i like to buy things. near home.

[Rooz]

149 sounds way too cheap. theres smething up there. i think the best i;ve seen it at is around 229, but mostly it goes for 249. its a steal even at that price. great little lens.