Is the 55-200mm lens useful?

haleyjohnson · Nov 6, 2012

I am interested in buying a Nikon D5100. The Nikon D5100 is normally $580, but for $760 you also get a "Af-S Dx Vr 55-200mm F/4-5.6g" lens with it. How useful is this lens? For $580 you get the standard 18-55mm lens. Is there really such a difference between these two lenses that it is worth spending nearly 200 dollars more to get the second one?
For information, I am a beginner photographer but am learning and becoming more and more experienced. I like taking a variety of photos; outdoors, portraits, macro, etc.
What types of pictures will the second lens allow me to take that the first, basic one won't? I am also considering saving for a good macro lens. Is it more useful to not buy the second lens, buy the $580 camera, and use the saved money for a macro lens?

Thank you.

MLeeK · Nov 6, 2012

One is the wide view, one is the zoom. So, if you expect to have any zoom factor there, then you'll most definitely want both lenses.

jrizal · Nov 6, 2012

I have a D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens and the 55-200mm telephoto bundled. I will say the 55-200mm is VERY useful. It retails for $249 so you'll have a saving of $49. Though I must say the 55-300mm is the sweet spot for me. But at $399, it still way out of my budget.

sactown024 · Nov 6, 2012

I think its way to soft... once I shot the 70-200 I didnt want anything to do with my 55-200, matter fact, i have not taken it out of the bag since.

Designer · Nov 6, 2012

I got both in my kit, and IIRC, the total price was not that high. I use both, and I think they are o.k. for beginners. Eventually you will want to upgrade, but meanwhile you get to practice a lot with some fairly affordable lenses.

MLeeK · Nov 6, 2012

sactown024 said:
I think its way to soft... once I shot the 70-200 I didnt want anything to do with my 55-200, matter fact, i have not taken it out of the bag since.

Well, obviously it's not professional grade/quality, but for consumer lenses it's an excellent lens and makes a pretty complete kit.
If you want professional quality then don't buy either the zoom or the kit lens. They aren't going to add up. If you want a good, basic, complete kit then get both of them

MOREGONE · Nov 6, 2012

Not sure if you can buy the 5100 body only, but if you can, you might be able to pick up something like the 18-200 which is usually regarded as a great lens and the body for the cost of the kit with both lenses.

greybeard · Nov 6, 2012

It is a plastic mount kit lens but, Nikon manages to get amazing image quality out of their cheaper lenses. Mine does a good job in bright sunlight like at soccer matches etc. It's a f/5.6 at 200mm so it needs a lot of light for action.

nmasters · Nov 6, 2012

Neither! Buy the D5100 camera body only and then buy the Nikon 18-70 3.5-4.5, it's a better lens than 18-55, faster too.

orb9220 · Nov 7, 2012

I find my 55-200vr a stellar performer and a great walkabout lens. 2/3rds of my Getty Stock images selected by Getty editors is with that lens. Just today they ask for these I took this sunday.

Saturday Night High Heel Left Behind by Orbmiser, on Flickr

Brown Bus Glass Leaf by Orbmiser, on Flickr

So a great lens to start with and highly recommend as a mate to the 18-55.
.

coastalconn · Nov 7, 2012

It sounds like you are on a very limited budget. Have you considered a refurb? Cameta has great deals on the D5100 right now and they include a 1 year warranty.. Body only is $389, Body and 18-55 is only 440, add a 55-200 price is 550 or a 55-300 price is 650. Just a thought to give you more bang for the buck...

Derrel · Nov 7, 2012

MLeeK said:
One is the wide view, one is the zoom. So, if you expect to have any zoom factor there, then you'll most definitely want both lenses.

Diz-actly. You will WANT to have the telephoto zoom lens, the 55-200, for longer-range shots, candids shot outdoors, scenic shots, at the zoo, at the river, at sports events in decent light, and so on. If you want to be able to "zoom in on" things beyond 20 feet, you will DEFINITELY want something like the 55-200. Now, honestly, if you do NOT buy the kit with a 55-200, or the 70-300mm, or the 18-200mm lens options, then...you might just as well look into a smaller, lighter "mirrorless" type of camera, or even a higher-end compact camera...

The whole point of buying a d-slr like that model is so you can use interchangeable lenses. Buuut...the better mirrorless compacts...will give you pictures that are almost as good as the camera when it has ONLY the 18-55 zoom...so...

shadowlands · Nov 7, 2012

I've heard only great things about it. If you're concerned about owning a "plastic" mount lens, look at the 550-300 VR for it has a metal mount.
You can pick up a refurb for around $250.00 or just above that.

ffmedjoe · Nov 12, 2012

I just bought a referb 55-200 for 119 off of ebay with a warranty.

gryffinwings · Nov 12, 2012

I'm going to have to recommend the 55-300mm over the 55-200mm, if you go to the zoo, the 55-200mm is going to be a little short, it was for me.

Side Note:
Before you buy the D5100, have you had your hands on it? Your going to want to give it a try to see if you like how it feels, get a feel for it and compare with the D90 or D7000. Not saying the D5100 is a bad camera, I'm just saying, it's not for everyone, you may want a different camera that feels better in your hands.