Did I rip myself off?

isewcute

I just purchased the Nikon D5200 and the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD lens. I paid 1300 for this lens. Upon further looking after my impulse buy of this expensive lens I see I probably could have gotten it at least $200 cheaper online instead of at the camera store. I also came across a Sigma 17-70 F/2.8 - 4 dc mACRO os HSM lens for 479. Can someone help me?

tcole1983

Nope. Looks like that is the going price from any reputable place I see on the net. I haven't heard tons of good about the Sigma lens. I would stay away from it especially if you are looking at the 24-70. I would look at the Sigma 17-50 instead of the 17-70...if you wanted something with a milder price and good performance.

The Tamron is new so it is still at a premium price and with no VR Nikon available it might stay that way for a bit still.

Gitzo

I just purchased the Nikon D5200 and the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD lens. I paid 1300 for this lens. Upon further looking after my impulse buy of this expensive lens I see I probably could have gotten it at least $200 cheaper online instead of at the camera store. I also came across a Sigma 17-70 F/2.8 - 4 dc mACRO os HSM lens for 479. Can someone help me?

isewcute;

You're asking about 4 different things here, all at one time, which will take a lot of "explaining" to do justice to what you're trying to find out; First the camera body; yeah, you can always buy a camera at a local camera store, where you can "hold it", "feel it", even snap a few frames with it; but you will always end up paying more at a local store; (stores have a LOT of "overhead" to pay before they even break even; guess who has to pay that overhead ?

Second; while I'm not saying that I would never buy a Tamron lens, I WOULD need to have a VERY specific "need" for a specific lens; ( and even then, I would probably go with a Tokina ); (not that Tamrons are "bad", just that I like Tokina better ); but in about 9 cases out of 10, I would usually go with a Nikon lens. You mentioned "impulse buying"; my best advice is...........NEVER, NEVER, NEVER "impulse buy" ANYTHING photographic !

I kinda doubt if there even IS a "best place" to buy a camera; we all have our "favorites"; what works for me, may not work for some one else; Actually, I think the "best place" is that camera dealer who will give you the exact camera you want, for either the "best " price, or close to the best price, AND, who has a GREAT return policy ! That last eliminates a lot of places! B&H Photo in NYC; you won't get the absolute "best" price, but you won't find a better return policy, or a more reliable source, I buy a lot from Amazon; I save S&H there, but there's more to know about doing it. Probably not the best bet for a novice. eBay is GREAT; (but ONLY if you REALLY know what you're doing!) The local "bricks and mortar" camera store? An experienced, knowledgeable buyer will find an occasional bargain at a local store, but it's seldom the best bet.

I hate to say it, but I think anyone buying very much camera equipment, needs to spend a whole bunch of time studying all of the options for buying, even before they start trying to put together a "kit" of camera gear.

How to say this without doing a book ?........when buying cameras, that's one thing; lenses are a whole different ball game; cameras are like cars.....they "go out of date" rapidly; VERY rapidly; you buy a camera today, there's always gonna be an "update" model tomorrow; but understand this; that camera you just bought......it will take GREAT pictures today, and it will also take just as great pictures 5 years from now, AFTER it's been "updated" 3 more times ! (think real hard about that) IMHO, NO ONE can tell "some one else" which camera model to buy; because EVERY ONE is in a different set of circumstances; only the guy (or gal) spending the bucks can determine how many of YOUR bucks you can afford to have "tied up" in something that "depreciates" rapidly, and costs a whole bunch of money to buy.

With lenses, the same thing happens, only somewhat more slowly. Right now, you just spent some money; now you realize you may have been able to end up with the same "stuff", and still HAVE some of that money; Frankly, I think it's 99 and 9/10 chance that that's exactly the case; who can help you do anything about that now ? maybe no one; maybe you can return the lens, get you money back.... I have no way of knowing that; all anyone here can do is advise you how to go about buying a camera and a lens differently "the next time"
Before I forget...........it's not that there's anything wrong with the Tamron lens; it will still take great pictures; but just like any other lens, Nikon or otherwise, YOU must learn the basics of photography and learn how to use the camera and lens properly before you're going to be seeing very many "great" pictures! It's just like building a house; Great houses aren't built by hammers and saws; they're built by experienced carpenters who have LEARNED to properly USE hammers and saws; taking pictures is the same way. I don't know of any short-cuts. (BTW.......I've been taking pictures for over 60 years now, and I'm STILL trying to "learn how"!)

JJ_SO

@isewcute: Never ask in a forum like this after a purchase "did I do something wrong", because a lot of people will tell you "yes, you should have..." and the rest "no it's fine, I have the same, but on a different camera" (which is not the same ) and the other rest keeps silence.

Your lens is for FX, the Sigma for DX (can be produced at lower costs) and would give you more wide angle. Go ahead, make your pictures, I think, they'll be great with both lenses because at the end of the day it's not the lens or camera who makes a nice shot, just the person behind. And ask in advance - even if there' are offers "one cannot resist", these offers tend to reappear after a while.

isewcute

Thanks guys. I know this is the camera I want. The lens, I think I will return because I feel overwhelmed. By the time I get a hang of this DSLR thing the lens or something comparable will most like be cheaper... I'm not trying to be a cheap-o and understand these lenses can get expensive. I think the best thing for me is to learn whats in the D5200 kit first before spending 1,300$ on the lens I know I will eventually need, right now. Just for yuks I was searching Ebay and came across this listing, for a Sigma EX 24-70mm F/2.8 DF DG Aspherical D Lens For Nikon for $99. I'm thinking about maybe getting it just to mess around with before I invest in some major glass. Plus, I'm reading a concert photography book and the author says he doesn't care to use the VR setting on his lens because of the delay. So , I think I can live without it too. Any input on the Sigma cheap lens?

Paperman

I wouldn't say 24-70mm is the range to go for in DX as a first lens. Start from sth wider like 17-18mm.

spraynpray

Paperman has it right. 24-70 isn't wide enough or long enough on a DX for most kinds of photography, and unless you shoot 99% portraits (and even then it isn't the best choice by a long way) it will be the same for you.

The 18-105VR kit lens is a great place to start - it is a Nikon, it has VR, it is wide enough for most landscapes and it is long enough for short telephoto shots. I suggest you get one and use it while you figure out what type of photography dings your bell then you can specialise with some high quality glass suited for that kind of photography.

My next camera will be a D800 (FX) so I would get a 24-70 right now, but only if one came up at a bargain price.

Gitzo

isewcute.....

I'll tell you what you can buy that's very inexpensive, that will help you more than anything right now, to "learn" your new camera; go on Amazon and order a copy of David Busch's "Nikon D 5200 Guide" Best camera guide book on the planet right now! (If you have to rely on that thing Nikon ships with the new camera, you'll need a looooong time to figure it out! You can also pick up a lot of free knowledge from Thom Hogan's website about "all things Nikon" (I paid Thom $40 for HIS D 300s guide book; David Busch's is 4 times as good as Thoms!)

TaoTeJared

Sigma EX 24-70mm F/2.8 DF DG Aspherical D Lens For Nikon for $99? Something is very wrong with it. Usually they are around $500 - 800.

I'm with everyone else, for DX I never liked a 24-70/85 range - never wide enough and the Tokina I have, sat on the shelf for the most part for years. But now I use it all the time on FX. I think you will find that you would enjoy a 17-50 range more. The Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 is a great lens. I have used both the VC and the Non-VC and either is a good deal. A lot of lens for your buck there. I don't trust Sigma zooms anymore- I have had too many that were just dogs.

Msmoto

Impulse buying...mmmm... I think this is the reason a lot of the folks here who do not make their living doing photography have the equipment they have. And, the return policy makes it even worse...

I try to play with the toys, then wait a week. It helps sometimes...

isewcute

Ok. So I decided to purchase a Nikkor 50mm prime lens. It should be here by Wednesday since they were out of stock at the store. I can't wait for D5200 books to come out. Back to watching YouTube videos for me. Thanks everyone for helping me. Sunday we are going to the Jelly Belly factory in WI. I hope that I can make some nice pictures. I figured a Prime lens would be a good start into learning.

spraynpray

If you want to learn - properly learn - set your camera to manual exposure, manual ISO and centre spot focusing, (use the focus and recompose method), matrix metering, fit any lens then go out and shoot. Leave your ISO alone at first, just shoot at ISO 100. Learn how to hold your camera and release the shutter without shaking it and learn to anticipate exposure problems and compensate for them using aperture or shutter speed as appropriate. All the other settings are distractions that will confuse you. You need to understand the basics like you understand breathing then the rest will come easily and - in the main - be seen as the frills they are.

Msmoto

@ spraynpray +1

And, I like to use a prime lens and find out the limits. Then we begin to understand the total "range" of a single focal length lens and how we must move to get the shot. Once we understand this, we can use a zoom and utilize the different focal lengths to create different effects.

adamz

and I though photography is such an easy thing to do

shawnino

Solid call on the 50mm. Almost everybody has occasion to use a 35 or a 50 (which one is a matter of personal preference) and as your images improve and improve, it'll be a reward for bettering your technique.

S-n-p has a very hard core suggestion and it may work for a lot of people. My suggestion would be to go in "A" mode, which stands for Aperture Priority. You set the Aperture, which controls depth of field, and let the camera do the rest. You should have more fun and more pictures worth keeping from the start.

Interestingly enough, I just got back from Antarctica--lots of pro photographers on the ship. Some were instructing guests like me; others were shooting to sell. A majority of the pros used Aperture Priority mode for a majority of their shots (with or without manual focus, usually compensating for exposure--snow).

spraynpray

The idea of using manual is that you have to choose to adjust your aperture or your shutter speed. With aperture priority, you only adjust your aperture. That takes a lot of the learning out of the equation - the people on the ship just want to get customers to take decent pics of their holiday, I aim to get people educated in photography from the ground up as it serves them better. Aperture and shutter priorities are auto modes after all is said and done...

KnockKnock

I'm curious about your photo background - it sounds like you're treating the D5200 like an old style 35mm camera in your lens choice. APS-C cameras like the d5200 require wider angle lenses than full-frame (35mm equivalent) lenses. So a standard lens would be 35mm. That's why the previous recommendations were for 18-50mm because it's roughly the equivalent angle of view as a 28-70 in 35mm terms. The 50mm is a great portrait-length lens, and I love mine on my APS-C camera, but it's a little tight for general use work. Anyway, disregard if you know what you're doing. I just got concerned. It's something many of us confused when getting our first DSLR.

spraynpray

@KnockKnock: If you read the thread, you will see that just about everything after turning the camera on has Isewcute confused. The problem is that he/she is looking for somebody to tell him/her where the magic button is that takes fabulous pictures or to say the magic words that will make everything clear. I have said those words, but it will take concentration and commitment to go that route. You can take it that Isewcute is a beginner.

Msmoto

Possibly the best advice we can give to someone who is new to the DSLR arena, or new to photography in general is to take a course at a local technical school. And, we all, pro, amateur, beginner or expert, take courses or engage in forums so we can learn. The difference is whether we are taking a "freshman" course or are at "graduate" level.

skyhawk3

I would recommend the Nikkor 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 G DX ED for the D5200. I have one and the spec. and quality is well up to your cameras potential. Even Thom Hogan recommends it !! The price is reasonable and in the USA a rebate is available it seems ! Unfortunately us in the UK do not get such great offers currently. In conclusion I think you have made a excellent choice in the D5200, as already mentioned get to know the camera before splashing out on expensive lenses.

tc88

I would suggest that you start with the P mode instead. The P, S, A modes are all same. You turn the dial, one value of shutter/aperture goes up, the other value goes down. Except in S mode, you specify your initial shutter value, in A mode, you specify your initial aperture value, and in P mode, you let the camera decide what's best to start and modify from there. The M mode is only useful if you want to override the camera's metering to under/over expose, and even that as a beginner, you can use exposure compensation to do that in a more reliable manner.

If it's me, I would start with zoom lens. If you want to stick to fixed lens, 35mm will be better than 50mm on DX though if you want to move to full frame later, you can reuse your 50mm while there will be some limitation on the 35mm.

Paulohn

Well. This is not really a beginner's lens. I would have considered the sigma version with HSM, which is cheaper. Or the Nikon version, more expensive, but, well, Nikon.
The usual kit lenses, 18-55mm or 18-105mm are useful for beginners, but despite the range being different, you have bought a larger aperture lens, with allows shalower dofs, which I believe to be one of the most appealing features when moving from P&S to dslr (I do not know if this is the case).
I have a 18-105mm, which I consider a very good lens. But I am considering a 24-70mm f/2.8. As for the range, as a "upper-level-amateur"/enthusiast, I believe I would not lose a lot in terms of range.
However, I would never encourage impulse shopping.

SquamishPhoto

Scored a brand new one of these for $899 today. Pretty psyched to use it for video,weddings and whatever else it suits being used for.