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Difference between Nikon lenses?

I have a D40 with the 18-55 DX lens that came with it and a 55-200 VR DX. I'm satisfied with the camera body as it does everything I need of it. However, I'd like for the images to be a bit sharper and I the sharpness issue is more of a lens issue than the pixel count. That said, how does one differentiate the cheap Nikon lenses and the really good ones? Most of the letter designations are similar between a $100 18-55 f 3.5 and a $800 17-55 f 2.8, so how does one tell them apart? And what are the differences in performance between the high dollar Nikon lenses and the cheap ones other than how fast they are? I know the cheap ones are plastic and made in Thailand or China, but I would expect the clarity, sharpness, etc is better on the good ones, or least it darn well better be. Thanks!

4 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer
  • 1 decade ago

    the main difference between the 100 dollar lens and the 800 dollar one is that 1. the 800 dollar one is a full frame lens ( but will still work on a cropped sensor camera, which u have). 2. the glass is a lot better quality(which will fix yur sharpness problem). 3. build is better. 4. it is, like u said, faster.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I think you should go with Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

    Ultra-compact 3x zoom lens designed exclusively for use with Nikon Digital SLR models

    18-55mm focal length

    f3.5-5.6 maximum aperture

    7 elements in 5 groups; 1 extra-low dispersion element and 1 hybrid aspherical element

    Silent Wave Motor

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    like numerous different answer pronounced, the f-end would be a huge distinction - yet you besides might are gazing the generally occurring of the optics. With the 50mm, you have table certain glass (for the main area) and purely a moving concentration. For the kit lens, you have moving glass and an prolonged "tube" - this might reason photos to not be extremely as sharp as with the standard 50mm. I very own the 50mm f1.8 and f1.4 as nicely as a results of fact the kit 18-55mm and gear 18-135mm lens. If I take comparable pictures with the three of them, readability is for the time of this order: 50mm f/one million.4 50mm f/one million.8 18-135mm 18-55mm desire that helps.

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