I think most people who have a travel blog or a fashion blog should invest a little bit on their Camera. Why? because you can see a real different one how beautiful photos can impact the popularity of your site. Let say if you want to take clear photos of the outfit you are wearing or show people photos of a country attraction. Do you think people will like to see blurry photos? I guess not.
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikon Lens
If you have follow me through Google+, Twitter or Facebook, you will know I had a Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera with Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikon Lens. It is a decent len for portrait and everyday photos. So, if you want to take outfit photos or lifestyle photos, I highly recommend this lens.However, recently I discover a problem with this “Mass produced” len by Nikon. See the diagram below.
My len was made in Thailand and I am NOT saying things made in Thailand is NOT as good as Japan. BUT I have seen review saying that things made in Japan are really better. Recently, the I discover the filter ring got losen and fell off after a few days later. I WAS SHOCKED…really! How can an expensive len fell apart JUST LIKE THAT! The first things I did was removed the rubber ring which covered the screw and screwed back all the loosen screws! I though I have fixed the problem! But then some expert told me the len might not be focusing properly if the first len elements didn’t align properly by adjusting the screws too tight or lose! After hearing him said that I was FURIOUS! I spent >$800 for this len and now this len might jeopardized the photos I am gonna take during my 2012-2013 Trans-Africa Trip!! I did some research on the internet and some said that it might work just fine. And I did tested the auto focus of my len that was set to 200mm and still it seem to autofocus properly. Hoever, people still suggest me to send it back to NIKON for repair. I ring up Nikon and they said it might take up to 3 weeks or more to repair the lens and I do not have the time. I am leaving on October 25th 2012!!! Anyway, what I will try to do is to go back to B&H store and try to get an exchange. I know I have got the len for 6 months but I am just a small consumer. They are big store and should have bear this cost more than me!! Afterall they have made enough money from us consumer. Anyone agree with me?? I will keep you guys posted.
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for my Nikon D90 SLR Cameras
I recently also have purchased a Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for my Nikon D90 SLR Cameras. What is the reason for that? Because I believe a wide-angle zoom is a must for landscape photos, esp for my 2012-2013 Trans-Africa Trip!!! Check out the test photos I took 2 days ago! I know it’s NOT landscape photos but it really show what a wide angle len can do!
The reason I choose this Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens is because of the price and reasonably great quality! I have made some purchase to secure my gears-like a Kensington K64684US WordLock Portable Combination Laptop Computer Lock and a Retrak/Emerge Retractable Cable Lock With Alarm. But still, I just have a feeling that ALL MY GEARS WILL BE GONE at some point during my 2012-2013 Trans-Africa Trip. For this price, the quality and result are satisfying:) Check out the spare bedroom photos I made during a glommy day! There’s a slight distortion which most wide angle len have and I believe Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikon Wide-Angle Zoom Lens will have less distortion. But I just cannot bear the price is 2 times more expensive than the Sigma 10-20mm Lens!!!
Above photo is wide angle and below is not.
A Wide angle lens is certainly extremely useful in travel photography, especially when taking shots not of sweeping vistas, but instead shots in close quarters, such as tight streets, small alleys and places where you can not stand back because of crowding.
A wide angle allows you to get very close to a subject and still have plenty of field of view.
A wide angle lens is good for Fashion Imagine like below(clip from the internet)-
What len best suit you for Travel or Fashion Photos?
My suggestion: look at your current images. Go into your local town and take images in similar (ok maybe less interesting) places you might consider if you were traveling or taking fashion photos. Then review the images and see what focal length you used the most. If you find most of your images were at 18mm, and you came away dissatisfied with the results, then its a good bet you would enjoy a wider angle. However, if you find most of your shots are 50-55, then perhaps a wide angle isn’t what you need after all.
At the end, I want show you the photo from my outside window. I was selected to do a WINDOW CHALLENGE from Beautiful Demi Mist and here it is:)))
What did you guys think? I used my Sigma 10-20mm wide angle Lens and did do a little cropping but still it captured more than with my Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikon Lens!
I know this is a Very Long post but still I hope you guys enjoy it. Cheers everyone:) Stay tune for my post regarding my packing list for long term travel 🙂
Hi Tammy!!! 🙂
I hope you´re well!!! you made a very interesting post again!!
Thanks for your nice comment, dear <3
xoxo Lola
Love your wide angle photos! I’m saving for a proper camera, but don’t really know which one to go for. Canon or Nikon? I like photos of details but as well of landscapes, so I probably should be doing some more research 😉 Can’t wait to see your photos of your trip! Have a great day! PS I also think you should go back to the store: it’s ridiculous that a lense falls off just like that: good luck!
Michelle @ The World is a Book recently posted..My ABC: I is van Inspiration
I am the luckiest girl in the world..ahahhaah, will post about this later regarding the exchange of the lens:P
I love the look of wide angle photos!
I wish I could get amazing quality photos without having to carry around a huge camera though lol..I have a DSLR but so lazy to carry it everywhere :s You are so right though – photo quality really impacts blog quality!
Tiffany recently posted..280. London | Notting Hill
I know, DSLR is big and heavy..but sometimes you just got to do it:P..just get used to the camera and you will be fine!! Don’t be lazy!!
so interesting post!
the camera we used is very important thing!
🙂
http://talkingaboutf.blogspot.gr/
evi mili recently posted..MY STYLE #15
love it!!! thank you for taking the time to explain it
Jennifer Peterson recently posted..Bridges
So interesting post..kissse
Hi Tammy, thanks for this post dear, you know one of the first things I have to improve on my blog are the photos. They arent as good as I would love to, so will sign your tip for sure:) Hope you are having a nice day! big kiss!:*
Perfectly agree with what you said, I think it’s very important to buy the right camera ! I use Canon EOS 60 D with tamron lens . thanks for your precious comment about chinese language on my blog 😉 xoxo
Alessia
thechilicool recently posted..Rome VFNO 2012: Pennyblack
That’s an awesome camera too!! and I need to ck out how to add chinese translation on my blog!!ahaha:)
Hi sweety, thanks for this very informative post, I am quite unfamiliar with the different types and workings of cameras. I need to invest in a Nikon. Thanks for your lovely comment as well, please do let me know when you are here.
Sam recently posted..London Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part 2
Hey I will..probably next year though:P
I have a very good Nikon! But I’m a mess! I don’t know how to use it!! Thank you so much for all your advices!
http://cravingforbarneys.com
CRAVING FOR BARNEYS recently posted..My style 63
it take time..don’t worry, I am no expert also:P
Hi Tammy, I use the Nikon DSLR 5100 with the 18 to 55 mm lense. I agree that a blogger has to invest in a good camera to post better and beautiful pictures. I agree for you to return to the store to exchange the defective lens. Hopefully, they will accommodate your request. I love your wide angle photos but then do you want to photograph all of your travel photos wide angled? Thanks for all the info. You must be excited about your upcoming travel adventure. I am excited for you.
Pamela RG recently posted..Bellagio: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
hmm..I don’t think I will use wide angle all the time, I think 18-200mm is more of an everyday lens:)..however, I do like to use wide angle for city , cus you know it’s really hard to take good photos of a street:) wide angle make this perfect..I think:P
and yea, super excite:)..yea!!
After reading your post I feel like a camera analphabet!!!
Amazing post! Thanks for all the information, I never knew this much or even nothing much about photography and cameras.
I think I need to take a course and also invest in a good camera as soon as I get a job. I still use my point and shot for all my pictures and I can see the differences from a very good SLR and Lens.
Can’t wait for more post dear.
Kisses
Adeola Naomi recently posted..OOTD: Am still a kid and its still summer
I would like to buy a camera like that very soon! I’m saving up for it, but also for my travelling plans (maybe NY in June). The photo’s are so much better, so it’s definitely worth it!
Foodloveandhappiness recently posted..Proef Eet 2012
I believe if you know what you are doing, point and shot can work very well, it’s just DSLR you can play with more stuff, and it’s faster:)
This is a very informative post! I’ve been planning to buy my first DSLR very soon so this gave me kind of an idea of what to look out for. I, too, have heard that items that are made in Japan are very good quality. From my experience, items that are made in China tend to not always be that great of quality and so I was hoping to find a DSLR that wasn’t made there…but I’m not sure if that’s possible. Will have to keep searching, I guess!
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Nikon and canon mostly are made in Japan, sometimes Thailand, never seen anything make in China Accessories are mostly made in China though, just got a Flash made in China and I think it work just fine:P…but body and len you need to be really careful:) ..research online and read more review..cus I am NO EXPERT:P
You got me very interested in wide angle lens! Cool photos and very useful post!
LA By Diana Live Magazine
Diana Marks recently posted..In a Mood for Fall
I am so in love with the wide angle…so much fun:P
amazing post!
Ioana recently posted..Soldier style
Thanks for your post. I love the wide angle photos.
I’m a little embarrassed to say that i use my iPhone most of the time for my blog (as you can problably see by the quality of the photos 😉 ), but i have a Nikon D80 also. Maybe i have to use it more.
My Scrambled Style recently posted..Outfit | Basic colors
wow…you have a D 80 and you need to use it dear..it’s great fun to play with a camera and I am sure you will enjoy it. Also, I think there’s nth wrong to use an iphone to take photo..it really depend on what kind of photo you are taking!! just pure outfit photo I think it work just fine:)
Hi Tammy, this is really great review! All the infos are so useful, I ´m thinking about new camera lately, so this post is just perfect for me:)
kisses chris
WOw, that’s a lot of info, thank you so much for sharing this!
Just got a 55mm-200mm, I guess I am a long lens freak!!! xxx
Street Fashion Paris recently posted..Smoke gets in your eyes
long len work perfect for me to capture far away landscape and ANIMALS! Just got a 18-250mm:P
Great post Tammy! I’m in between cameras and though I’m more of a Canon kind of girl this post is great since I seem to have forgotten lens details and terminology! Great reminder for me so thanks! And I hope you get a new lens – that’s really disappointing that it just fell apart seamlessly. Good luck!
Sonia recently posted..guest post: very uk
Canon!! ahaha, research more and read more review! I used to have a CanonTI…but I like Nikon more:P
hi dear! great and very interesting post. I love to take pictures. and an overview of the camera is very useful. I hope you visit my blog at the new address. Thank you!
Love the wide angel pictures! Great post, love all the details that you mentioned about your camera. I am a Nikon fan too 🙂
Manases Andrea recently posted..Rain drops on my nails
Very informative, thank you for all the tips.
xoxo
Paula
blush-paula.blogspot.com
This is a sweet post! I definitely agree about the importance of photography in a blog so I have decided to take some photography courses this semester!
EMA recently posted..Fashionable Night Out
me too…I would love to take photography class later..but I think practice make perfect also:)
Indeed a very interesting and important topic. In fact, few people care about the quality of their photos. After all, this is the most important form of expression on the fashion blog. I think that the best suited here fixed focal length lens. My personal favorite is the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens. Love its bokeh. Distortion is also minimal, contrary to other lenses I’ve tried. And the colors! In certain situations I use the Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, but only for landscapes or in confined spaces. It pays to buy an additional guarantee to not have to worry about accidentally damaging the lens. In such cases, you can exchange broken lens with no questions asked. Post processing is also very important. A lot of people ignoring this step, which is wrong. I’m not talking about big corrections in Photoshop, just the basic adjustments. Lightroom or Aperture is what you are looking for.
Respect your readers and happy blogging!!! 😀
Greetings from Berlin
http://www.clothierin.blogspot.com
Clothierin recently posted..Amore Tragico – Verona
I Agree fix focal length is good for most fashion photos(for blogging purposes)….but it really depend on what kind of photos you want. You know one time I want to take photos from the inside of the car, the distance for me to take photo is limited and I really want to shot everything from the inside of the car! I think if you do not have a wide angle, it’s impossible to do that. But for most portraits photos, a fix focal length lens is fine. That’s why I said 18-200mm is an EVERYDAY lens….for portraits, for lifestyle photos, food, everything:))) cus I used zoom all the time:) And I do not want to buy a fix lens then a zoom len separately, so 18-200mm work perfect. I think 18-300mm is the best for me but it’s $300 more expensive!!!ahhhhh!!!Also, I need this zoom for taking animal photos:)))
Taking photo is easy, take great photos is NOT. I am no expert and I am still learning, Hope we can all learn together:)
So bad i have a Canon… but i can turn this post to my dad, he has a Nikon so he’d love these tips!
very interesting and accurate post dear!
xxx
S
http://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.it
S recently posted..Surfer style: beyond floral prints
nice post! 😉
Gracias por tus consejos son geniales, gracias por tu comentario un besazo fuerte
gloria recently posted..Sarah Jessica Parker
Interesting post!
Beauty Follower recently posted..Coat Stand
I have a Pentax (not that expensive) and i must say that it works really well. But NIKON is the top of the tops when it come to photography!!
Best Regards
Miss Margaret Cruzemark
miss Margaret Cruzemark recently posted..Tips for gentlemen only
I have a Canon and I really like it, but I’ve been wanting to try out a Nikon for a while now.
Oh to Be a Muse recently posted..Inspiring Style: Fall 2012 Wishlist
I really need to invest more in my camera. I have a really cheap Fuji camera right now, it seems to work but I would like a better one.
Bree recently posted..Contrast
This is a great post! And I definitely agree, a good camera makes a huge difference! 🙂
xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
Always Maylee recently posted..Simplicity
Great post!
I’m following you now with bloglovin! Follow back 🙂
x
Thanks dear for your kind words in the comments to my blog! I am very pleased and happy! I am very grateful! I follow you in bloglovin! +1!
DianaDaron recently posted..Vintage jacket in oriental style
hi tammy !!
reading this post i understand thai i definetely need to know more about cameras 😉
mine is a “compact” so little!!
you see m very expert and i like to learn from you!!!
kissses, amy
THE FASHIONAMY ★ ★ ★♥♥♥♥♥♥ BLOG
amanda marzolini recently posted..Giovani, Divertimento, Libertà e Radici Italiane con 55 DSL
I think nikon camere are the beste!
tatty recently posted..FIRST DAY
this ..I really have no answer of which brand is the best..it all depend.:)..cus sometime a great len with mal-function..like mine..might affect a personal experience:P..I believe Canon is very good too. I have a TI previously but it’s a beginner range type of camera, ofcourse I love my mid-range D90 better:P I wish I can have a change to switch back to a more profesional Canon Camera later:P
Those are amazing lens.
OMG this are fab shoots! but is not just the camera, is also de photographer 😛
Maria Bastida recently posted..J.CREW SPRING 2013
wow..thanks for the kind word:)
thank you so much honey!
I love your travel 😀
kisses 🙂
Nikon is the best.I’m super happy and satisfied with it!
Xx
Alexandra
Alexandra recently posted..LFW: Burberry Prorsum S/S13
im in love with the sigma lens! i love that wide angle capture!
i have a d40, which is a good cam, but not as wonderfull as i would like… i’m thinking about investing in some other cam, mostly to take pictures of looks… what do you think i should buy?
The Red Lil’ Shoes Blog
Liz Albuquerque recently posted..Sorteio da Romwe pelo Facebook! Sorteio de 5 Vestidos por dia!
id you have D40 body, I suggest you keep it and try to invest on lens!! There’s some places that can let you rent out different lens…ck your area!!! You can get a feel of all different lens and know what you are looking for by playing around with that!!!
Great post !! 🙂
I’m sure I have commented under this post, but maybe I forgot to press the button to publish it because I can’t see it now.
I agree with you that the camera is so important. That’s why I haven’t posted any makeup looks lately. I don’t like the result, the photos don’t reflect the real colours. I need a new camera too, but I don’t know how much I should afford on that.
I’m sorry to hear you had problems with the other len.
Thank you for the photo challenge. Your photo is great!
You can take photos of me in a few days!
yup.camera did make a different, but so as the skill:P..Just get a not so expensive one to try first:)..I am no expert but practice make perfect:)
ah..I cannot wait to meet up with you:)
It is a very long post but I red it all! Very, very very useful post. I have Nikon d3100 and I have bought it with 18-55 mm but shortly I was unsatisfef of it and I purchased 50 mm f.1.8. My error was to buy a 50 mm lens with no autofocus. Later I bough 35 mm (1.8) with autofocus and I am ok so far. It happend one to see Rumi’s blog and I fell obsses of landsape photos. Since that moment I dream for a wide angle lens. But they are very exp, like min 800€. I hope that sigma that you talking about is not that expensive. Anyway I going right away to check out this lens. Thank you infinitely for your information!!!
Nicole
Nicoleta recently posted..Caleidos
My sigma wide angle only cost $475!! Great bargain and I must said the quality is beyond my expectation:)..I also suggest lens with autofocus is better..I will try to post more regarding my experience later:)
love your wide angle!!
sveva recently posted..LFW Street Style
the Sigma lens are quite nice. I don’t have the means to invest in a proper camera yet, but I like taking pictures and I learn a lot just looking at yours <3
lalipops recently posted..Hello Kitty love
Interesting post, have a good camera is a very important thing to take good photos 🙂
xx
losaway recently posted..Navajo top
I just got a canon rebel t3 and I love it! The pictures are so great and clear!
Francesca recently posted..Birthday Wishes
wonderful photos, kisses
<
I virtually know nothing about cameras, so this is seriously one of the most informative posts I have ever read. Love it! 🙂
Cafe Fashionista recently posted..Hi, I Adore You…
Amazing photos!
girlavantgarde.com
Courtney recently posted..Date Night
Hi tammy, I appreciate these posts, because I am not very familiar with anything camera related and I always learn so much from you! Hope you’re doing well!
Sam recently posted..The Sexiest Shoes of 2012
Having a good camera is definitely essential for me especially when traveling, thanks for sharing your tips!
http://fashion-gourmet.blogspot.com/
M.E recently posted..Beautiful Cambodia
Actually for me, I tend to use my DSLR for holiday travelling, For most blog photos I typically use my Cannon, It’s much smaller & not a pain to carryon when I do work travel. Great post!
Awesome take and awesome pic. For me, both are great. Wish I can have even at least one 🙂
Hello! I’ve been following your blog for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney
Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the good work!
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