What’s my next lens ? I have a Nikon D3200 and use the 18-55mm kit lens it came with. I enjoy shooting landscapes, but like other subjects, so what should I upgrade to?
My goodness, Beryl… This is such a big question that I could fill an entire issue with it! But let’s at least try to break it down for you, in a way that means you can work out which lens you should buy next.
For starters, upgrading is a good idea because kit lenses aren’t usually the best optically, so you will get better quality with a new lens. But before you even start, you need to decide on your budget. Good lenses aren’t cheap – but if they’re looked after, they should last you a lifetime and continue to be used if you eventually decide to upgrade your camera body.
So always buy the best you can afford. Your kit lens is actually pretty good, so it might be better to opt for a new focal length to give yourself some additional creative options, rather than just buy a similar focal length lens of a better optical quality.
I’d suggest you look to fill the next gap with a zoom that takes you from 55mm up to 200mm, or Compact and mirrorless cameras use the SD or SDXC card, while SLRs use CF or SD. You typically require one type of card, although some SLRs allow you to use CF and SD cards simultaneously. If you are buying a camera, it’s best to check with the retailer and get a couple of cards at the time of purchase. No, they are not equal in speed or capacity – and this can have an effect answerePAhdovtiosor your questions d even 300mm. This would be good for portraiture, telephoto landscapes and even wildlife if you fancy giving that a go. This way, you will have all the bases covered.
Looking at the Nikon line-up, I’d probably opt for the longest zoom length I could get, so that means investing in a lens such as the AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6. On your camera with its crop sensor, this will give you an effective focal length of 105-450mm. With your kit lens and this lens, you have all focal lengths covered from wide to telephoto, so at least you won’t need to spend any more in the foreseeable future – unless you suddenly getting a craving to try macro!
The big question is: what will this set you back? Well, it’ll make a dent in your bank account of about £450, but shop about and you’ll certainly get it cheaper than that. There are pricier lenses with a similar focal length that I could have suggested, so I’ve tried to keep the budget under control. Looked after carefully, there is no reason why your memory card can’t last for a long time. However, they will begin to wear out from the moment you start to put them in and out of your camera or card reader, and will also be susceptible to damage from dust and dirt if left to roll around in a pocket or bottom of a camera bag.
That said, tests have shown that cards are quite robust and can even cope with an accidental spin in the washing machine if left to dry out afterwards – although it’s not recommended! It’s best to store cards carefully in a wallet to prevent damage. Always have a spare handy, just in case one goes wrong.