Very simple question for you experts. I am about to buy D40 Kit2 which has 18-55 & 55-200 and 1gb memory card. I want to shoot sports, especially soccer. Would the 55-200 be ok or is the reac too small.

you will only get close up shots of players when they are on the quarter of the field that is closest to you. I will definitely work, but you might feel a little bit limited. If you get the 55-200, spend the extra cash for the VR version, it is well worth the $50

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Daniel
My Gallery

Someone must have an idea what lens I should buy that would let me take action shots on a soccer or football field. Want to be able to zoom to opposite sideline. I was told the 55-200mm would not do well at long distances like this.

The Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 AFs VR is the best for sports.

Alternatively try the Sigma 50-150mm 2.8

Nikkor 300mm f/4 AFs is a good medium range telephoto.

The 55-200mm VR or non-VR are a little too slow at the long end. Same goes for my 70-300mm VR.

You need at least f/4 and preferably f/2.8 for sports under flood lit conditions. Otherwise even at ISO 1600 your shutter speeds are going to be too slow to catch the action.

Hi,I'm new here but I do have the D40 with kit lens and the 55-200VR.
The 55-200 is a good lens but if you want some good action shots at that range,I'd go for the 70-300VR,thats what I'm going to do anyway as I have tried shooting across a soccer pitch with the 55-200VR but it doesn't get me close enough,I have had some good pics by cropping and blowing it up.

I will keep my 55-200 though.

Tony

Hope you have a large budget if you want to be able to get close action shots on the opposite side of the field. I'm not sure that even 300mm would be enough for that. If the photos will be taken at night, you have an additional complicating factor and that's the light. You will need a fairly fast shutterspeed, like 1/250 minimum which means you will also need a fairly fast lens, like f/2.8. The Nikon 200-400 f/4 VR would probably work, but expect to spend several thousand dollars.

Gerry Rhoades
www.montanapens.com
My Nikonians Gallery

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Everybody has to work within their budget. A 70-200VR costs more than 5 times what I paid for my 55-200VR and it's still only a 200mm at the long end so it's not going to get you any closer to the action.
I have used my 55-200VR for the last (southern hemisphere) Soccer season for my son and I've been very pleased with the results on a value for money basis.
There is such a thing as cropping and I find using that is handy.
This image was taken from probably 50 metres away at 175mm focal length.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1077321163&context=set-72157601052760844&size=l

The 70-300VR will get you a bit closer and if that is what you want to do then it's probably the better solution but I'm very happy with the 55-200VR so far. Remember that when the action comes close to you the 70mm is going to be a problem unless you are happy with shots of people from the waist down.

Nikon just announced a new kit lens -- 18-55 VR at about the same price as the old 18-55 II kit lens.

ledmun

Your picture seems to be private, Richard.

Chris

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>Your picture seems to be private, Richard.
>
>Chris

It shouldn't be. I just checked and there is no restrictions on it from my end.

If you really want to see it go to my Flickr stream

www.flickr.com/photos/rreeve

and search for photo DSC_1641