There was a point in time when I could differentiate between want and need, but that time is not now…not during soccer season when all of my camera shots require binoculars to make out that there are (perhaps?) children on the field kicking a ball. Or maybe not. ONE SIMPLY CANNOT TELL.
I give you Exhibit A. Do you see the red dot beneath the bright orange arrow? THAT is Meredith, heretofore known as Mere-DOT. As the photographer, I know the blurry red thing is her, but if I had not been on the other end of the camera I would have no idea.
Look! Its Mere-DOT again! She’s running AND it ‘looks’ as though she’s mastered the art of running forward while looking backwards. Although I can’t be entirely certain since I CANNOT SEE ANY of the features on her face.
Right now I have an 18-70mm Nikkor Lens. It is almost perfect for most of my needs, but I purchased it 4 years ago – way before the fancy VR (Vibration Reduction) was available.
I’m wanting me some of ‘that thar vibration reduction.’ Mind you, as the ladies at Blogher can attest, my breasts work as a pretty decent substitute for a tripod (my head too at times), but the VR completely compensates for unavoidable natural movement (even when I hold my breath I can’t always avoid the blur). VR even can account for continuous vibration – like when shooting from a car or a train, or heaven forbid, when free falling from a standing position after stepping into a hole and twisting your ankle; because these things DO happen and one MUST chronicle the event in photos.
Right?
RIGHT?!
Back to the game.
We enjoy soccer games. The whole family attends; we hoot and holler and in general, make fools of ourselves. I probably make the biggest fool of myself because I get caught up in all the Spanish being thrown-out all around me. I find myself saying things like, “Mas rapido Alex!” The families around me are slowly moving down the field, muttering words like ‘stupido’ and ‘gringo’; I’m looking around, wondering who they’re talking about.
You know, Jeff says I can’t do accents.
I’m not sure I agree. No wait, I do agree.
All of my accents sound like a blend between an Indian, Iranian and Mexican. I call that talent, Jeff calls it ‘Irexican’. I’m just one big melting pot people.
No wait, I’m technically German. Therein lies my excuse – Germans don’t do accents. We just get louder and occasionally spit while we talk; so back up already.
Isn’t it becoming clearer why I should have a Nikon 18-200mm Nikkor Zoom Lens? If I could take photos I wouldn’t even have to talk. I could close my mouth and never embarrass my husband again.
Besides, Meredith LOVES soccer. She gave up DANCE for soccer. This is a big deal – and the memories COULD be captured if only…
What other lens can perfectly capture the wings of a dragonfly, moth, snail, or bacterium, and then turn around and catch my daughter on the other side of the field? Nothing else, that’s what.
I want to snap that shot of her face when her foot connects with the ball. That “Uhhhhhmph!” shot.
Better yet, I want a close-up of this shot to send to our town’s paper.
‘Boys just couldn’t keep up on the soccer field last night!’ it would say. Meredith would clip it out of the paper and put it in her journal (if she had one) and always remember HER MOMMA took that shot.
But I can’t do that.
Nope, not without that lens I want NEED.
29 Comments
tHeSocKmOnKeY
I concur. Not only would it take excellent pictures and strengthen your relationship with those families at the game, but you could use it for double duty as a security device. With a 200MM lens, you could sit in the front window, and look down the street, and know if there was any danger around your home. I mean, the best you can do is 70MM now. What is more safe? Already in the yard approaching the house 70MM or way down the street 200MM? You simply can’t put a price on the safety of your familia.
Not only that, but you can have it by Wednesday!
bethany actually
Yes, that’s it! I NEED a zoom lens because I will be more able to capture the precious moments of our child’s life. I will rehearse that and tell it to Troy. (I keep reminding him, Christmas is coming, you bought me this camera in the first place, so you gotta get me the accessories to go with!)
I think your Irexican accent is quite unique and lovable. ;-)
hana
Oh… I like the above logical reasoning! My canon XT came with a 18-55 & I immediately upgraded to 28-135IS…. really big difference! The IS helps a lot! (IS = VR in canon-speak)
cheri
I love my 18-200 vr!!! Get ya one!
Angela Tippets
I’m with you on that one OMSH -You N.E.E.D. that lens! If Mere-Dot is going to continue with her passion, then you need the lens to capture that passion. Otherwise, she will just continue to be part of the “team” chasing the ball. You need the expressions and the close ups. Let Mere-Dot come to life. Let her love of the game shine forth! Now get out there and get yourself that lens (and go vote too). Can’t wait to see some fun expression shots of her on the field.
gorillabuns
You definitely need a new lens and I need a new camera. How can we make this happen? Appealing to my husband isn’t working.
chocolatechic
I need one of those too…along with a macro lens.
laura wardlaw
It was great to see your humor again, Heather. I can audibly hear the Irexican as well as see the spit ;)
How much does a lens like that run? I’ve maxed out the kind of pics I can take with my Canon Rebel XT, the 18-55mm it came with and the 75-300mm I upgraded to, and switching them back and forth is a pain. I love the shots I can get with the 300mm, but then I have to stand across the room sometimes and my built-in flash doesn’t go that far and they are dark. I have SO MUCH to learn on this camera and photography thing. I haven’t gone with the IS yet.
Tracy
After taking a bunch of pictures of Sam-dot playing soccer this weekend, I think I need that lens as well. Well, I did until I saw the price on that one. Ouch! But it gets such great reviews…and would provide priceless soccer action photos with faces visible. Years from now, Sam-dot can pick himself out without needing me to draw arrows on the pictures to point him out. Oh, I really want that lens now too! If I start behaving really well right now, I wonder if Santa might bring it to me?
Carrie
Hi OMSH! I wanted to let you know that I have the same dark, blurry, speck problem when taking pictures of my brother-in-law on the football field and have been doing some research on how to combat it. I have a Canon with a 18-200mm lens. I think that getting a VR (IS on Canon) lens would help, and I would suggest at least a 200mm zoom and a high aperture (noted by the lowest f number — f2.8 would be ideal, but they are PRICEY. a f4 should be good enough) to capture the moment without blur, but with good light. I also understand that you should increase your ISO to 1600 or so. I hope that helps!
Kate
Think we can get a 2-for-1 deal?? Cuz I’d like one too.
vickybu
I would love to get that 18-200 lens with the VR from Nikon. Unfortunately, it’s way out of my price range.
The good news is that I did get a 55-200 nikon lens with the VR, refurbished, for about $146 from adorama.com. Go check it out. Kenrockwell.com says it’s a great lens, especially for a D40 if you can’t afford the 18-200. Mine’s coming this week, so I’ll let you know how I like it.
Claire in CA, USA
I’m still working with my little non-SLR camera (I’m not even sure that’s the right terminology), so I’ll just nod my head in agreement. :)
I think being German by heritage must be the reason you have an Irexican accent. My mom is from Kansas, of German descent, and oh, how she butchers the simplest Spanish words, like “tortilla.” She actually pronounces the “l” sound!!! Don’t even get me started on the way she pronounces the names of wines. Yeah, she’s risked serious injury from my almost 100% French father due to those faux pas.
(Tabitha) From Single to Married
I agree! I love my 18-200mm lens, just wish I could have afforded the one with VR, but it’s still great!
mommyknows
I love mine, but I love the 50 mm even more. Go get them!
Mrs. Wilson
I AM SO WITH YOU! If you find a 2 for 1 deal let me know, I’ll send you my address so you can send me the free one.
;)
Angella
You TOTALLY *NEED* the zoom lens. If you had a Canon, I’d send you my 18-200 (I bought the 70-200 f/2.8), but a zoom is a must when you have kids!
Go forth and purchase it.
LizP
My Nikon came with the 18-55 and 55-200VR (or numbers like that) and I have to say the 55-200 was much needed at teenager #1′s high school graduation. You will find you use it more than the smaller lens. You just need to rationalize, er I mean, justify it :-)
Mr. OMSH
So what you are promising me is that I WON’T be embarrassed at games IF you have a zoom lens…That the hollering will cease????
Where can we get this miraculous contraption?
Remember: If Wal-Mart don’t got it, you don’t need it.
OMSH
Mr. OMSH – Um…are you really telling me NO?
You wanna go there?
How much is a Fat Bob?
Mark
If you NEED the lens then buy it. Otherwise, have the kid run by at a more convenient distance. Advantage? No need for additional lens, better depth of field, and you can pay more attention to the game.
Personally, I don’t take photo equipment to games unless I’m getting paid to do it.
Linda
Have it, love it, and so will you! Go for it.
Mr. OMSH
I’m sayin’ get the blasted thing if it does all that you claim it’ll do.
I honestly can’t get over the vibration control thingy-ma-bopper. Too cool.
naomi
bran got a unipod (monopod to people who insist on calling it what it is) and it’s a marvellous camera tool for the non-shaking challenged. i like it better than a tripod because it doesn’t need a big base area and holds the camera beautifully steady. i took some lovely wedding pictures having that.
however, our camera is a pentax and the lovely zoom and telephoto lenses wouldn’t fit on your camera.
anyway, try the unipod for your game shooting. you can accomodate all kinds of action, it moves quickly and you can quickly reset the height if you want to stand up.
good luck with getting your desired lens.
Ronnie
Hello Heather,
Your 18-70mm is really good at what it does. So please, DO NOT buy an 18-200mm, instead buy the Nikkor 70-300mm VR. That way, your lenses will be 18-70 and 70-300mm. If you buy a 18-200, you would have an overlapping range where you have two wasted lenses covering the same 18-70.
If you get the 70-300mm VR, you will have a lense that compliments your existing lens.
Most importantly, you get an aditional 100mm of reach, where you can actually see little Meredith’s real expressions when she is taking that kick!
Mail me, if you have any questions.
Regards,
Ronnie
OMSH
Ronnie – I will email you because everything I’ve read said this will save me from having to keep 2 lenses with me all the time. It covers both near and far. I’m a one lens kinda gal – I was just gonna sell my other one.
falwyn
Ah, dear OMSH, I can only agree with you. I too NEED the 18-200 VR lens, the very same one. (And I don’t even have the excuse of children in sports. Yet.)
Stina
Followed you over from PW. I have the same dilemma. Only my child is in dance and theatre. I have come to the conclusion that I need the zoom. But now, I don’t like switching lenses either, so there’s something else to consider. So many choices! I just wanna be a good Momma! um, I mean photographer. :)
Stephanie
Another follower from PW. As a parent of a future baseball player (no expectations here…just highly likely since dad, grandpas, great grandpas, uncles, etc. all played). I understand your pain. I’ve only had my D70 two months and I totally understand Lens Envy. I already hit up adorama.com and added this to my wish list.