I own a Nikon D40X and was wondering if someone could educate me I have a Nikon 55-200mm lens. What do the numbers actually mean? I am new to the SLR scene and want to learn all I can. If anyone knows a website that can better help me please let me know. Thank you in advance for your help

Short version:

Digital Zoom and Focal Length explained

Focal lengths are 35 mm equlivelents.

Your camera/lens combo probably has a magnification range. So it can take a picture like your eye sees. I'm going to GUESS that it might magnify about 4x. If 50 mm is 1x, then 200 mm is 4x under 35 mm terms. The lens magnification is 200/55 or about 3.63.

The numbers turn out right for my camera. It boasts a 35-420 mm lens and a 12 x zoom. 12x is 420/35 exactly. In my case I can zoom or go further distant. In your case, you can go about what the eye can see in proportion plus magnify about 3.6 what the eye can see.

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Originally Posted by Edensmimi

I own a Nikon D40X and was wondering if someone could educate me I have a Nikon 55-200mm lens. What do the numbers actually mean? I am new to the SLR scene and want to learn all I can. If anyone knows a website that can better help me please let me know. Thank you in advance for your help

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As Keepitsimple mentions, Focal length are in ref to 35 mm equivalent. Now the vision that you see with the naked eye is equivalent to 50mm focal length in a 35mm camera. So as the focal length goes below 50mm it becomes wide angled and higher the focal length makes it telephoto (gives magnified image) If it has a variable focal length it is a telezoom lens as you have.
Now with the D40x things do not end here. It takes photos in Nikon FX format. I suppose your lens also mentions 55-200FX. In other words the imaging sensor of D40x is smaller than a 35mm film, or full format Digital SLR (DX format in Nikon). Hence there is a conversion factor of around 1.6 to be multiplied to you focal lengths. Hence your 35mm equivalent focal length will be 88-320mm (55x1.6 & 200x1.6). So any pictures you take will always be magnified/closer than normal vision. You need a 18-55mm FX lens giving you a effective focal length of 28-88mm for your routine use. Whew!
It is a bit technical but if you have any more queries please feel free.

Thank you both so much for all your help. I will learn something from this I am sure ;)