How good is the zoom on a 55-200 mm lens (Nikon D60)?

Question

Can you please compare it to an optical zoom.

Answer 1

The 55-200mm is an "optical zoom".



There are two versions of the Nikkor 55-200mm lens.



AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED.



This lens does not have Nikon's "Vibration Reduction" (VR) and does not have "Internal Focusing" (IF). VR is good to have when shooting at slower shutter speeds like 1/60 or 1/30 sec. Using a polarizer filter is more difficult when a lens doesn't have IF because the front element rotates as you focus. $229.95 @ B&H.



AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6G IF-ED.



This lens has Nikon's VR and is an IF lens. It would be the better choice of the two. $589.95 @ B&H.



Both lenses are designed for the "cropped sensor" of your D60. They can be used on a full-frame sensor DSLR like the Nikon D700, D3 and D3x but the image will be the same size as it is on your D60.



Both lenses have a variable aperture which means when you're shooting "wide open" (f4 @ 55mm) and zoom to 200mm (f5.6) you lose a full stop and your shutter speed will decrease. If your shutter speed at 55mm @ f4 is 1/100 sec. and you zoom to 200mm @ f5.6 your shutter speed will be 1/50 sec. This is why you'll want the VR.



In my opinion, if you have the money, the AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8G VR II IF ED lens would be far superior to either of the 55-200mm lenses. Since its not a "DX" lens you can use it on a D700 or D3 or D3x and get the full benefit of the full-frame sensor. More importantly, its a full stop faster at 70mm than the 55mm (f2.8 vs f4) and two full stops faster at 200mm (f2.8 vs f5.6). So if your shutter speed with the 55-200mm lens is 1/100 sec. at f4, your shutter speed at 70mm at f2.8 will be 1/200 sec. - and it will be 1/200 sec. when you zoom to 200mm. $1,899.95 @ B&H.



B&H - http://www.bhphotovideo.com



If the 70-200mm f2.8 is out of your budget, then choose the 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR IF-ED lens.



There is no such thing as "digital zoom" on a DSLR. With an editing program you can crop and enlarge a section of your image file but that isn't anything like the "digital zoom" of a compact digicam.

Answer 2

Cheesy, like cutting butter with a warm butter knife, not as easy like when you use a samurai and not as hard like when you use the handle of a spoon. I'd say the zoom feels just right.



Now, if you were talking about zoom X's, it's about 3.63X. A 55mm lens on a 1.5X factor digital sensor would perform as a short telephoto and the 200mm will go shoot as a long telephoto. This means that the lens has a great ability to pull objects closer to you if that is what you are after. If you want to pull the moon, I suggest you go for a 1000mm lens.



Optical zoom? The 3.63X zoom factor of the 55-200mm lens is already optical. Lens = optical, get it? If you are looking for digital zoom on the D60, it would be easier to just increase the picture's dimensions through software in the computer. The only limit then would be your computer's memory size.

Answer 3

Nikon 55-200

Answer 4

usually you're able to multiply the mm #'s via one million.6 to get what their 35mm equivalent stages could be. To get the finished zoom, divide the better extensive form via the smaller extensive form interior the variety.