Camera Labs

Hi everyone, great job on the site!!!

I'm making the move from p&s to DSLR. I have no lenses, and leaning towards Nikon. I'm considering the Nikon D80 and the 18-70mm Nikkor lens as a start. The majority of use includes landscapes and wide angle underwater scenes, with some family gathering pics. I heard alot about the 18-200mm VR lense, but will it suffer at wide angle compared to the 18-70? I don't see my self using zoom all that often, so I'd rather spend the money saved on the housing/strobes. Thanks, Jason
oh yeah, do ya think the D200 price will drop into D80 range soon?

Here's some pics from Key Largo with my P&S and Picasa2 editing...

http://www.imagestation.com/8687456/3892237905

Sealife DC500 (5mp) with wide angle attachment and digital strobe

The 18-70 has a picture angle of 76° - 22°50' and the VR 18-200 has a picture angle of 76° - 8°. So you get exactly the same "wide" angle at 18 mm.

Make sure you read Gordon's comparison here. Also, you can see Nikon's site for their technical data on the 18-70 and the VR 18-200.

I don't know the first thing about housing for underwater photo, but be aware that the VR 18-200 extends to about twice its size, when zoomed all the way to 200mm. The 18-70 also extends when zoomed, although very little.

Also, be aware that the VR 18-200 will change its focal length by itself (i.e. the barrel will extend/retract), if you operate it at an angle, because of its weight, possibly causing it to loose focus. This will be a problem if you put the camera inside a housing and have no means to physically restrain the lens barrel.

For the underwater shots - and only for those - maybe you would be better off with a prime, such as a 50mm or an 85mm?

PS: Gordon, where are those primes reviews you promised a while ago?

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Nikon D90 + MB-D80 + SB-600 + AF-S VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 + AF-S 35mm f/1.8 + AF 85mm f/1.8 | My photos on Flickr.

Fret not, Luis, help is on the way: Zorro has bought a Nikkor 50mm/f1.8 and I will receive shortly a 50mm/f1.4. We will certainly report on the usefulness and qualities of these lenses (at least on cropped-sensor Nikons )

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Thanks Thomas! Yeah Luis, you may have noticed I've been mucking around with some new DSLRs recently...!