egafd.com

Agreed, my compromise is 17-35 sigma on a Nikon D300 and these days stills demand isn't comparable to the punters who want the moving image which gets us back to the free content readily available. Question is, is still images 'almost dead' like vinyl records (that never ever manages to die) !!

Jim, in straightforward terms, your camera only uses the middle bit of the image captured by whatever lens you put on it - it crops out the rest. The digital sensor in your D5000 is smaller than the old 35mm negative size (which is the same size as so-called full-frame sensors), so you get a narrower angle of view with a lens of the same focal length.

To correct for this, manufacturers refer to the cropping factor. With Nikon, it's 1.6x. So, an 18mm lens on your D5000 sees the same image as a 28mm lens would on a full frame or 35mm camera.

Unless you spend ?1800 on a new camera (D700), you need a wider angle lens. Nikon did a 16mm-85mm lens that would cost about ?400 on eBay, that would do the job, but remember to multiply by 1.6, so it'd be like a 26-136 zoom on a full frame camera.
Hope that helps.
Adrian.

Thanks, is it worth sticking with the D5000 and looking for a wider angle lens for it? Is it worth trying another make I don't mind spending a bit more money if its worth it, but I've been told Nikon are the best.

Thanks, is it worth sticking with the D5000 and looking for a wider angle lens for it? Is it worth trying another make I don't mind spending a bit more money if its worth it, but I've been told Nikon are the best.

Jim go here and it's all explained by Nikon

`Length` ... You guys are filthy AND informative-love it..!wink!

Just wanted to say thanks for everyones help !happy!