Nikon AFS 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 G ED DX Zoom Lens

I use this lens since the first time I buy my D70s camera, and I found it very capable.

Don’t get fooled by its reputation as a kit lens, this lens is more than that. It can give you good quality image with quality like the more expensive lenses from Nikon. Its focuses fast (AFS) and the optics already applied with ED.
Though it doesn’t have the big f2.8 aperture like the premium class lens from nikkor, but it does have the image result quality…well landscaper don’t really bother about big aperture as long as we got good tripod with us right?.
Sometime the problem is that 18-70 mm is not wide enough for DX format, and not long enough for tele range…this is why now I bring my Tokina 12-24mm lens and 80-200mm f2.8 for my official lens. I would skip the 24 – 80 range, simply because my photography style (I keep my 50mm f1.4 though…just in case). In landscape photography, i prefer to shoot in wide angle or tele...i avoid normal focal range since it make the landscape flat (without 3D effect).
Normal range is better used on potrait or candid photo. So when you planned to take candid picture with your family or if you want to go lightweight this lens is a good choice to support you.
This lens gives its peak quality on f8 – f16…above that (like other lens in DX format) it will give diffraction in the image result.
Some links that give useful review:
http://www.bythom.com/1870lens.htm
http://www.photographyreview.com/mfr/nikon/35mm-zoom/PRD_298970_3128crx.aspx

Well if you still not confident with this lens, here is some image sample I’ve take with this lens:





example for architecture and landscape photography (in low light)



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human interest potrait also available:)















this is the sample for its nice bokeh on candid photography, nice for walkaround lens

slow shutter

Tokina AF 12-24mm ATX 124 f4: Super Wide Angle

Well what can I say, this lens is definitely the most useable lens for me…this is my favourite lens which I carry all the time.

Mostly because my photograph is about travel and landscape, so I often prefer to shoot wide angle because it can give me the “sense of place” I need.

I love wide angle also because of the 3 dimensional effects that it gives me by including the foreground in the frame.

Many reviews compare this lens with Sigma 10-20mm, Tamron SP AF 11-18mm, Nikon AFS DX 12-24mm f4, or even the new Tokina 11-16mm. I never try all this lenses, but what I know is that my lens has produce lot of nice photograph for me. It has nice contrast, color saturation and sharp…what else should I complain about? O yeah…there’s one thing that might bother you: purple fringing…when you point your lens to an object that have very high contrast difference, you’ll find this purple fringing there. But, I rarely shoot with this condition though, so it’s not a big problem for me.

You cannot expect more on the built quality...this lens is made of metal, very sturdy and rock solid. You can abuse it anyway you like (like what i did with mine hehehe...)

There are some review that may help you further (or even make you more confuse):
http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/nikkor-12-24mm/review.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/digital-wide-zooms/comparison.htm

This lens is whole lot of fun, and i take many picture with this lens, here is some of them:

Nice color with brilliant saturation and contrast

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Yeah...this picture shows you the purple fringing that happen when you shoot in high contrast















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Shooting in low light, during twilight in Chiang Mai

This lens is surely rock solid, the body is made from metal...making it sturdy but little bit heavy





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.Other sample image is available @: http://hyperfocals.blogspot.com/

Nikon AFD 80-200mm f2.8 TC Medium Tele

When you need a good quality tele at affordable price, this nice lens is your good choice. If you have a cheap tele before (like me...) you will soon know what is the meaning of "good optics" after buying this lens.

This lens used to be the top notch of nikkor medium tele lens, long before the AFS version and 70-200 vr released. So you don't have to worry about image quality:). The optical formula is more or less the same with the more expensive AFS...the difference is more on the autofocus speed.

There are several type of this popular zoom lens (80-200mm f2.8):

- Manual 1st generation
- Push Pull 2nd generation
- With tripod collar 3rd generation
- AF-S (individual motor) 4th generation

Mine is the 3rd generation (with Tripod Collar). I buy it second hand for only 6.5 mio IDR (compare to 8.5 mio IDR new) and I'm very satisfied with the performance, for me it's really value.

I love the bokeh, color saturation, nice contrasty image result, and cut your eyes sharp hehehe... When I need tele range, this lens is my first option...the result of this lens never let me down.

Really, when i look to the image result it's clear that the sharpness limitation is not on the lens, but on the camera...well my camera resolution is only 6mp nikon D70s.

The autofocus speed is depend on camera you use, since this lens doesn't have individual motor (AFS). And this make the beautiful lens cannot work on D40 and D60 which doesn't have servo motor inside the body. I'm using it on my D70s body, and the speed is excellent, not as fast as my 18-70 AFS, but good enough to focus on moving object.

Now he have a big brother: Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR which have AFS and vibration reduction ability; price: ~16 mio IDR, but for budget photographer like me, the additional autofocus speed and VR is just too expensive.

Here's some sample picture I take with this beautiful lens:

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Walahar Dam
...located in East Karawang around 30 minutes from the main road this old architectured dam has lot of nice spot for photography...

Nikon D70s - 80-200 f2.8
f/7.1 - 1/160 sec
exp compensation -1
ISO 400



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Exotic Padaung Lady in Chiang Mai

The famous Pattaya Ladyboy in Alcazar Show - Pattaya, Thailand

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Lotus flower
...I found this flower all around the pond in Mae Sa orchid garden - Thailand...

Nikon D70s - Nikon 80-200mm f2.8
f/5 - 1/1500
exp compensation -0.67
ISO 200

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Fisherman at Walahar Dam

You could find other picture sample on my gallery: http://hyperfocals.blogspot.com/

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