I am so confused by lens numbers. I want to get an SLR camera and then plan to take a community college course on photography.<br><br>What my main photo use will be family gatherings, around the town snaps, and most important capturing birds, quick shots, rapid shots on film [storage ].<br><br>So if I get the D60 body can I get all the above with one lens, and which one would that be?<br><br>Thanks.<br><br>My old camera is not too shabby, but this extra money is burning a hole in my pocket and I love bird pictures to share with my family and friends.<br><br>Good Grief, fella, use your napkin!<br><br><br><br><br><br>

Not being familiar with the Nikon lenses... all I can say is it sounds like you need a mid-range zoom. Not too wide... not too long. Something like this..<br>http://www.nikonimaging.com/global/products/lens/af/zoom/af-s_zoom24-70mmf_28g/index.htm<br><br>Your camera doesn't have a focus motor built in ( I think) so you need one of the AF-S lenses.<br><br>

That 24-70 lens is a bit pricey!<br><br>I think the 18-200mm VR lens is probably just want she needs.<br><br>my photos

Hey Kate,<br>Not sure where you plan on buying your camera, but B&H is one of the better places and it's cheap!<br><br>You can get the Nikon D60 SLR Digital Camera Kit with 18-55mm G AF-S VR DX & 55-200mm G AF-S VR DX AF Lenses here at B&H for $979<br><br><br><br><br>my photos

I don't know much about cameras, but I just wanted to say what a great picture that is! The composition is good and I like the way the background is blurry. <br><br>

Yikes! I was just looking at lens types... not prices. <br><br>The only issue with the 18-200 is weight.. that's a 3 lb lens. Not much for me... but for Kate that could be a bit heavy. Maybe not... she's tough.<br><br>

Another factor is.. how close are you to these birds. Do you get within 20 feet?<br><br>This may be better... 1.2 lbs and longer than my first suggestion... $500.00<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by NucleusG4 on 03/20/08 08:58 PM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>

I've been reading reviews on all the lens you guys suggested. Here is one:<br><br><blockquote>Nikkor 18-200mm verdict <br><br>First things first: by delivering a focal range equivalent to 27-300mm, all three of the zooms on test are extremely flexible lenses. Their massive 11.1x zoom range allow you to capture both wide landscape shots and decent close-ups of distant subjects such as wildlife without worrying about carrying additional lenses.<br><br>Unsurprisingly a lens with this kind of focal range is rarely going to perform as well as one with a shorter range, but we were impressed overall by the results possible. Certainly unless you're into extreme wide or telephoto work, or demand the ultimate quality, you could really be very happy with one of these lenses. Indeed many photographers could happily fit one and never take it off again - and that's not only highly convenient but also greatly reduces the potential for dust to enter the camera body.</blockquote><br><br>That appears to be the answer to what I've requested of a lens. Seems like a lot of money <br><br>http://tinyurl.com/2bnufu<br><br>At PriceGrabber site / reviews, one caught my eye especially, as I don't understand what the rubber band was doing. What is creeping zoom?<br><blockquote>18-200 Nikkor VR Zoom<br>Strengths: Owned less than 1 week. Giving it a good trial & found nothing to complain about.<br>Weaknesses: The creeping zoom I SOLVED THE PROBLEM - IT'S VERY SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br>Summary: Slide a rubber band over the lens barrel bridging the revolving ring with the 18--200 numbers with the area behind ( NIKON------DX ) My band - triffle less than 1/4 in width - about 2 7/8 in long (flat). The rubber band is stretched over the lens barrel, causing drag that virtually eliminates the creep. I intend to blacken my blue rubber band with a Sharpie permanent marker.</blockquote><br><br>The rest of the reviews were all in high praise of the lens as one that would do all, if you're not too critical, etc.<br><br>I'm still checking other lens mentioned in the thread. Thanks guys. <br><br>I thought maybe MrB might chime in or Mississauga, The 'Oldbie' ha <br><br><br><br><br>

Donna, thanks. I don't know anything about composition or fixing up photos for web posting. I use ImageWell to resize them and then make them so modem users don't have to wait 24 hours for them to load. Sometimes I use the other settings in IW to adjust brightness, contrast and saturation.<br><br>The photograph experts here are kind enough to not tell me how I've screwed up a picture rather than increase the quality. Like you, I want to go back to school and learn something, so I'm choosing photography. One of the classes Chemeketa* offers is digital photo manipulation. They have others but that is a good place for me to start.<br><br>My family and friends complement me on the photos so that encourages me to do more.<br><br>*Community College. <blockquote>Chemeketa Community College chose the name Chemeketa, a Kalapuya word meaning "place of peace" or "place of running water," 35 years ago. But the school never asked local tribes what they thought.<br><br>On the school's anniversary, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde embraced the name. Kalapuya descendants live among the Grande Ronde.</blockquote><br><br><br><br><br>

For a long while, that was the hottest lens for Nikon consumer line. Very hard to get ahold of. I don't have it but my brother does and he likes it.<br><br>Creeping zoom is where if you held your camera with the lens facing towards the ground, the lens would extend slowly on it's own. It's not the only lens that does it. Usually the cheaper lenses are affected by this. It's no big deal.<br><br>my photos