[ooheadsoo]

I just purchased a nikon d40 body used - don't have a lens yet.  I'm thinking about the 18-55 VR, and that will stretch my budget by a good amount, already.  I don't have the money for $500 lenses, but I'd like a wider angle than the 18mm afforded by the 18-55 VR.  Are wide angle teleconverters viable?  There seems to be converters available from $20 all the way to $200+, and while I know I certainly can't afford a $200 teleconverter, what about the cheap ones in the $20-50 ballpark?  Obviously I'm not expecting quality like I would get from a real super wide from tamron or tokina, or even sigma, but it does cost less than 10% of the cost of those lenses.  Can I assume that the quality will not be 10% that of the $500 ultra wide lenses?

[JohnR]

What's your lens budget?

[jcpix]

Stick to the real lens.  Converters and off brands will just disappoint and you will be looking to upgrade in 6 months.

[SET Man]

Stick to the real lens.  Converters and off brands will just disappoint and you will be looking to upgrade in 6 months.

Hey!
   
   Yup, agreed on this.

   You will likely be disappointed with those on the front of the lens converter, especially those cheap one.

   You have to ask yourself if you are going to use a wider lens a lot,  than it is better that you wait and save money for it.

Take care,
Buddy

[jcpix]

Further on this,  there is a lot of used Nikon gear out on the market right now. I'd look for a good used Nikon lens that might not be all that expensive.

[ooheadsoo]

I don't really have a budget for a wide angle lens.  I have budgeted myself 1 lens to buy in the coming month, and it needs to be general purpose, around $200.  The 18-55 VR fits that bill just about right.  I have reason to believe I will be shooting around dawn/dusk given where I live, so VR seems important to me.  I'm not a serious shooter, so I'm not dedicated enough to take a tripod with me everywhere I go.  Right now, I don't shoot anything at all since I don't have a lens.  As a result, I really don't know how often I will be swapping lenses, not to mention the added cost of having to buy a camera bag so that I can carry the extra lens around.  Once I have the bag, I know I'll want a sb400 flash, too.  Then I'll want one of those lightsphere diffusors.  It's not a good direction for me to take, and I know I will head down that path once I start.

I don't really see any affordable used nikon super wide angle lenses on ebay.  Any pointers on where to look?  I see an auction for a 20mm f4 manual focus that is quickly getting to the $200 range and I couldn't live with that as my only lens.

I guess the other problem with buying "vintage" used wide angle lenses is that they won't autofocus with the d40 body.  I'm not sure I could live with that, given my past manual focus speed performance, years ago.

[jcpix]

B&H photo in New York is a good place to start. Adorama in NY is also good.  Roberts Camera in Ohio sells some used gear. Also try KEH camera in Atlanta.  I see a Nikon 18 to 55 for $144 on their site.




http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/category/2870/Used_Equipment.html


http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/home.aspx

[ooheadsoo]

Thank you for the links.  The 18-55 on KEH is non VR, though.  Also, I think that's actually more expensive than the upgraded version of the lens is, new, non-grey market: http://www.adorama.com/NK1855DX2U.html  A refurb of the upgraded lens is $80 on adorama.

[JohnR]

Ah, I didn't realize the 18-55 had been updated with VR! You'd get a lot of mileage out of that one I expect. Pity no user reviews yet. But someone has to be first!

The best option in the ultrawides would probably be the Sigma 10-20mm but that's still around $400 used. (Disclaimer: never used it myself.) There wouldn't be any point in the 20/4 prime.

You can always try stitching software if you're thinking of the ultrawide for scenic use.

[ooheadsoo]

My only concern is that a 18-70 or 18-135 with VR will be released soon.  I would prefer one of those to the 18-55 if the price difference is within $150.  I think I will give an inexpensive converter a shot, in a while.  Although it will undoubtedly have significant distortion, I simply cannot afford a $400-500 dedicated wide angle at this time, and I don't want to get sucked into photography like I have with audio.  I tried to justify my audio hobby for a while saying I would have a career somewhat related to it and that I could use it to "assist" my work, but even that excuse has been taken from me - I have nothing up my sleeves for photography.

[JohnR]

There are rumours of a 16-85 VR too... you could just get the refurb and see how you feel about lens upgrades in a few months. Seems hard to go wrong for $80!

[ooheadsoo]

Hehe, sorry for being unclear.  The $80 refurb lens is the lens that they updated with a quieter motor, but it does not have VR, either.  That is just the standard kit lens that ships with current d40s.

[JohnR]

I realize that I meant that you can get a lot done with it for very little money, and decide later on where to spend more once the dust settles on all the new lenses (so to speak!)

[ooheadsoo]

Yeah, $80 is tempting...

[Bob in St. Louis]

I don't want to get sucked into photography like I have with audio. 

Yea, good luck with that Abe.

Bob

[ooheadsoo]

The thing that's been bugging me about getting the 18-55 without VR is that once a decent ranged VR does come out, my 18-55 non-vr will be completely obsolete. 

Bob, does your converter make the image fisheyed?  I don't want that effect.

[JohnR]

The thing that's been bugging me about getting the 18-55 without VR is that once a decent ranged VR does come out, my 18-55 non-vr will be completely obsolete. 

It will still take the same pictures Here are some of mine taken with that lens (before I started getting obsessed about "better" lenses )

http://lostupnorth.net/travel/philly07/
http://lostupnorth.net/travel/phoenix/

[Bob in St. Louis]

No Abe, it doesn't. Although with extreme zooming it can give a 'binocular effect' thereby making the useable (viewable) section of the photograph round....If that makes sense? 
I received your PM about the lens. The following is a link to the eBay auction I purchased:

{***Note, anyone unfamiliar with my situation and this seller; Heed warning. This is NOT an advertisement. Quite the opposite actually. I'm mearly posting to show Abe what lens I have}

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110197693675&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

Bob

[ooheadsoo]

Bob: thanks.  I think they call that effect vignetting. 

John: those are better shots than I could ever make, so i guess it's settled.  I'll be getting that refurb 18-55 for the time being.