It depends on what do you want to shoot right? If you want a cheaper versatile lens alternative such as the 18-200mm Nikkor AF-S lens, you can opt for the Sigma 18-200 HSM lens.

Else you might just have to end up using manual focus or buy other lenses.

Nikkor:
AF-S DX 12-24mm 4.0G ED-IF
AF-S 17-35mm 2.8D ED-IF
AF-S DX 17-55mm 2.8G ED-IF
AF-S DX 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G
AF-S DX 18-70mm 3.5-4.5G ED-IF
AF-S DX 18-135mm 3.5-5.6 ED-IF
AF-S VR DX 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S 24-85mm 3.5-4.5G IF-ED
AF-S VR 24-120mm 3.5-5.6G ED-IF
AF-S 28-70mm 2,8 IF-ED
AF-S DX 55-200mm 4-5.6G ED
AF-S VR 55-200mm 4-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S VR 70-200mm 2.8G ED-IF
AF-S VR 70-300mm 4.5-5.6G
AF-S VR 105mm 2.8G
AF-S VR 200mm 2.0G ED-IF
AF-S VR 200-400mm 4.0G ED-IF
AF-I 300mm 2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 300mm 2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 300mm 4.0D ED-IF
AF-S VR 300mm 2.8 ED-IF
AF-I 400mm 2.8 D IF-ED
AF-S 400mm 2.8D ED-IF
AF-I 500mm 4.0D IF-ED
AF-S 500mm 4.0D ED-IF
AF-I 600mm 4.0D IF-ED
AF-S 600mm 4.0D ED-IF
AF-S 400mm f/2.8G ED VR,
AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S 600mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S 14-24 mm F2.8G ED
AF-S 24-70 mm F2.8G ED

Sigma:
18-50mm f3.5-5.6 DC HSM
55-200mm f4-5.6 DC HSM
17-70mm f2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM
18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM
18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC
12-24mm F4.5-5.6
17-35mm F2.8-4 DG
50-500mm F4-6.3 DG
APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM
70-200mm F2.8 DG MACRO
80-400mm F4.5-5.6
100-300mm F4 DG
120-300mm F2.8 DG
300-800mm F5.6 DG
14mm F2.8 EX
30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM
150mm F2.8 EX DG
180mm F3.5 EX DG
300mm EX DG
500mm EX DG
800mm f5.6 EX DG

Just curious, why the need for the 18-135mm lens?

But if you are interested, there are a lot of people selling their 18-135mm lens.

This post has been edited by Mavik: Sep 12 2007, 10:21 AM

So when are you getting that lens? Also all your other gear that you want in your siggy?

Yeah its definitely true in terms of build quality that Nikon seems to have an edge over Canon. The difference can so easily be told once you hold both of these cameras (canon and Nikon).

You would want a shallow DOF to create nice bokeh and get your subject to not be distracted by other items around.

---

Added on September 13, 2007, 11:50 pmLOL even the 85mm f/1.8 is already RM13xx. Kasi poison him with f/1.4 pulak....

This post has been edited by Mavik: Sep 13 2007, 11:50 PM

That is a very good deal Upload your photos mate!

Take a shot with the camera and see the EXIF data on the photo. You can either check it online (Just google "online exif data) or you can use Picture Project to check the EXIF data.

The first two lens will let you have autofocus. I don't think the 85mm prime lens will work with autofocus on the D40x.

I did that jump, D40 ---> D200.

Cannot afford it lor, I paid only half the price of the D300. Rather use the half amount saved to but lenses right?

Becareful that the f1.8 lens is sharp at f-stop 2 and above.

All the AF-S type lenses can autofocus with the D40 mate!

But that fella takes his photos all the studio. Hardly use the portable flash but they are using studio lighting already. Look at all the softboxes for the lights there. Their studio must be huge to put in a car! Keng!

Well basically you need to shoot with a shallow depth of field meaning you need to set that your f-stop value is a small number (e.g. 3.5 in your case with the D40 kit lens).

Or if you are using automatic mode, just stand close to her and focus on her.

Yeah the 50mm f1.4 will get a nicer blurred out background but the price difference is so much, almost 5 times more expensive compared to the f1.8 version.

Of course it can be tightened to prevent it from moving mate

The Nikon D40 can be bought for less than RM2k mate. Its way more expensive compared to other shops because it is in KLCC.

Definitely the D80 body. You have a wider range of lenses you can choose from which can autofocus.

Ok the best way to work with what you have is to try shooting most shots with the 18mm focal length (which is not too practical) because at that length, the aperture opening is the largest hence you wouldn't need too high of an ISO. Else then you might have to resort to ISO 800.

With the SB400, you might want to let the flash bounce off the roof if the ballroom is low but if it is a very high ceiling then I would suggest a home-made diffuser to reduce amount of light on the subject's face when using direct flash.