Lens choice for Nikon d5300

[herm0016]

We would like to get a prime lens for our d5300. have been using the kit zooms for a couple years and want better low light performance. We are thinking about the wider angle side of primes and f 1.8 or 2.8.

any suggestions? would prefer AF but am open to manual. our budget is around 250 for this. Open to any manufacture that you think is good, tamron etc..

We also want to upgrade the stock strap, maybe 50 bucks? I see a lot of Imports here, very cheap, but we don't that to risk a failure with a something that is not recommended.

thanks!

 

[tdawg]

For straps, Black Rapid or Peak Design (Slide) for "high end", or knock offs on the web.

For prime lens <= $250, I'd get a 35mm 1.8G. Otherwise, if you are willing / able to use manual focus successfully on a d5300, maybe look at Rokinon or Samyang. Or a used 18-70 f3.5-4.5 nikon (the OG kit lens for nikon digital)

 

[herm0016]

Budget is a bit flexible. I seem to have success with the manual focus on the kit lenses. We have the 18 to 55 and the 55-200. Any advantage to the 18-70? It seems like you can pick them up for very little money.

we have been getting into some night sky stuff too. Thus the wide angle and low fstop. We did some pretty good stuff with our existing during the eclipse and travel to good dark sky places in the summer while camping and exploring.

Am looking at this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...4ed4-4a69-8ef2-27f0dbb11537&pf_rd_i=562261011

 

[tdawg]

I think what you're looking at there is really a good bet, especially given your desire to shoot astrophotography. If you're good with manual focus, I don't think there's anything better than the Rokinon option given the price.

The 18-70 is technically faster, since it only varies between 3.5 and 4.5 minimum f-stop through the range, and back in the day it was higher quality than the 18-55s that came to replace it, but nowadays I don't really know how much of an advantage there is; I forgot you already had the 18-55.

 

[herm0016]

the peak slide lite looks perfect. thanks!

 

[Rifter]

I love my 35mm 1.8G for low light, its amazing.

 

[Syborg1211]

I wouldn't consider an f/2.8 good for low light. The 35mm f/1.8g is the best value prime and was definitely the best 2nd lens after the kit lens I could have imagined when I first started out with a D5100. However, the 35mm on crop sensor ends up being pretty zoomed in, and you mentioned you wanted something wider. There aren't any budget-friendly primes that fit this bill. Nikon makes a 20mm f/1.8 that is pretty sweet but pricey.

 

[herm0016]

from what i have been reading and from our short and limited experience:

for the night sky stuff you usually shoot a long exposure at a higher f stop, like at 8. about 500/focal length for exposure time and the 2.8 should increase sharpness and decrease the distortion of the stars compared to a higher f stop lens, even when shooting at an 8 or so.

sy, yea, i would like to pick up maybe a 35 or so prime and a 50 prime as well, as budget allows. I am getting a t-ring for my telescope too. so that will cover anything zoomed in for night sky.

 

[biostud]

I run 35mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8

You can't go wrong with the 35mm.

 

[Syborg1211]

from what i have been reading and from our short and limited experience:

for the night sky stuff you usually shoot a long exposure at a higher f stop, like at 8. about 500/focal length for exposure time and the 2.8 should increase sharpness and decrease the distortion of the stars compared to a higher f stop lens, even when shooting at an 8 or so.

sy, yea, i would like to pick up maybe a 35 or so prime and a 50 prime as well, as budget allows. I am getting a t-ring for my telescope too. so that will cover anything zoomed in for night sky.

Oh I didn't realize you were wanting to do astrophotography for this lens. Typically "low light" means big apertures to avoid long shutter speeds that cause blurry photos when handheld. For astrophotography where you're on a tripod, this is less of a concern. However, in my limited experience with astrophotography, I still thought bigger apertures were better to allow you to do lower ISO or shorter shutter speeds (longer exposures have more noise).

 

[herm0016]

Oh I didn't realize you were wanting to do astrophotography for this lens. Typically "low light" means big apertures to avoid long shutter speeds that cause blurry photos when handheld. For astrophotography where you're on a tripod, this is less of a concern. However, in my limited experience with astrophotography, I still thought bigger apertures were better to allow you to do lower ISO or shorter shutter speeds (longer exposures have more noise).

the lens will be used for multiple things. this is just one of them. lower light situations being one of them. astro as well.

 

[MrSquished]

I use this Joby sling strap that attches to the tripod mount https://goo.gl/vBwb9v Had the older model since 2013 and it's still going strong. I found them better than straps that connect via the strap mounts.