but is it worth paying more for a 300mm but with a small aperture??

although it's small aperture, with the vr function, i can shoot sharper pictures during low light compare with my 80-200mm f2.8.

and 70-300vr definately worth to buy if you have budget, 55-200 very plastic feel.

my comment to you is since you so young, and you don't target on birding or nature life, 55-200vr is enough, if you think 200mm can't reach the object, i would say, sometimes 50-500mm also can't reach. Teleconverter definately not compatible with these 2 lenses, AF will be out.

if you don't mind, buy second hand 55-200vr + a new flash, at least you can sell it off without big lost when you have bored with it and change to 70-300vr or 70-200 f2.8 vr + teleconverter

another strong recommendation is to buy 18-200vr or 18-200os (if there is hsm)

This post has been edited by jameslow: Oct 24 2007, 11:29 AM

55-200mm VR is a good lens with sharp optical although it feel so light and plastic. But no doubt 70-300mm VR is much more inferior than it but cost 2 times more. I think you should get a used copy of 55-200mm first, snap few pics and then from there, see if you need a longer reach of 300mm or just 200mm will do for you. Just my 2 cent!

yea..I'm getting the D40 this week (it's a good noobie camera right)..
but normally 2nd hand lens like the 55-200 cost like how much??
which flash is good?? sb400 seems to be a lil' weak...sb600 or sb800??

This post has been edited by Victor3010: Oct 24 2007, 08:54 PM

Congrates to you in getting the D40, do snap lots of pics and share with us, ok!
New Nikkor 55-200mm cost around RM850, so a used one should cost about RM700+ gua.

For flash light, if you have the budget, obviously go for the best, sb800. You can use it for CLS setup later since the D40 din have the commander mode. If you want a light camera, just normal family and friends' picture snapping, sb400 will do well for you too. Well, that'll leave the sb600 in between with better GN than sb400 and lesser functions that wont matter much compared to sb800. Just my 2 cent!

what's the lesser function in sb 600 and 800?? is it the wireless commander only?Creative lighting system?
u gt a good website comparison between sb600 and 800?the kenrockwell didn't really give a good comparison im my opinion

No much different lah, just the commander mode, stroboscopic light, lesser GN and the extra battery compartment, that's it, I think. You try search online, you can find a lot forum discussing bout this matter, comparing sb600 and sb800.

ok...but i think sb600 is adi enough..sb800 looks better XD

Yeah, sb600 is basically very enough. But if you have the bullets, go straight for sb800, so you wont be tempted by it again!

sb600 falsh can coverup 1000 ISO
sb800 flash cover 1600 ISO ..

no worries bout noise and stuff if u shoot in low light condition

icic....new knowledge for me about flash though...tks bro

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Added on October 27, 2007, 7:53 pmI bought the 55-200mm VR..thread closed...tks for u guys advice

This post has been edited by Victor3010: Oct 27 2007, 07:53 PM