Nikon Lens Guide

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: shortylickens
What I am getting from this thread is I should buy somthing like this if I want to take portraits in a setting with relatively poor light (and dont want to spend a crapload of money).

no. you want the nifty fifty $100 AF 50mm f/1.8D for those shots. that f/3.5-4.5 aperture is not good for low light, nor for portraits. the 24-85mm was to film cameras what the 18-55mm is to crop-format digital: a kit lens.

This is one thing I found.
http://www.adorama.com/CA5018AFU.html
But it may not be what I need.

How about this?
http://www.adorama.com/NK5018AFDU.html
Its not an AF-S or AF-I but it looks like it will do the job.

OR this:
http://www.adorama.com/PX5014AFA.html
But I dont even know how if it fits on my Nikon.

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: shortylickens
What I am getting from this thread is I should buy somthing like this if I want to take portraits in a setting with relatively poor light (and dont want to spend a crapload of money).

no. you want the nifty fifty $100 AF 50mm f/1.8D for those shots. that f/3.5-4.5 aperture is not good for low light, nor for portraits. the 24-85mm was to film cameras what the 18-55mm is to crop-format digital: a kit lens.

How about this?
http://www.adorama.com/NK5018AFDU.html
Its not an AF-S or AF-I but it looks like it will do the job.

I would get an used one. There are less that can go wrong with primes because they lack zoom, so I'm more inclined to get used primes. The 1.8 should be not be that hard to find on Craigslist if you are in a large city and will run you less than $100. Plus, you will get a chance to play around with the lens to see how 1.8 works for you.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

WOW

and i didn't even have to pay for this class!!!

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Great thread! Thanks. Recently got a D60, learning the ins and outs, this was REALLY helpful.

 

[boorns]

Originally posted by: Fardringle
Is there a "nifty fifty" equivalent yet that will auto focus on a D40?

A friend of mine wants me to play backup photographer at their wedding using their D40 camera (I have a Fuji S6000fd that I'll be taking along as a spare). The only lenses they have right now are the basic 15-55mm (non-VR) and 55-200mm (non-VR) kit lenses and neither one performs particularly well in low light in my opinion and I'd like to avoid using the built in flash as much as possible. I'd love to have a 50mm 1.8 lens for the event but since I'll be doing candid snapshots, I really need auto focus.

The Nikon AF-S 35mm 1.8 is only $200, if ever in stock. On the digital scale, its about 45mm, so closer to an actual 50mm on film. The AF-D 50mm is about 75m, which in my taste is too long for some tasks. And manual is horrible for anything fast moving. Doable but frustrating. I have the 50mm 1.8 but I usually just stick with the 18-55 kit.

Edit: I think the guide should include this lens. Good for someone that doesn't have all that much to spend but still want an AF-S prime. Came out around February.

 

[shortylickens]

Alright, it took me 10 months but I finally ordered a new lens for my D40.
The Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR, only 200 bucks. Not the greatest for low light portraits but with my SB-600 flash and ghetto-style Walmart lighting system it should be OK with plenty of artificial light. Will post sample pics when it arrives.

One day I'll get a fast 50mm lens but thats later down the road. I didnt actually need it as badly as I thought.

 

[Macaw]

I know I'm reviving an old topic but a couple of comments that may be helpful. From the sticky:

AF 10.5mm f/2.8G $600
This is the way to go fisheye on DX-format bodies. Despite not being an AF-S lens, the build quality is still up to par with the rest of the pro lenses.
Hands-On Impressions: Fisheye lenses are strange. I tried using this lens for a while, but just could not get myself to compose creatively with it. Try before you buy, as fisheyes may or may not be for you (more power to you if they are).

Fisheyes are indeed difficult to get used to. You have to know how to shoot them and then know how to do perspective correction with software. For shooting them, think "opposite of a zoom" so instead of zooming in on the frame, you move the camera into the action. You have to get very close to your subject. As an example, here is a shot I took of a band, waist high, and everyone was much closer than they appear:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremyrule/3922630847/

After you shoot, go search Bing for "fisheye perspective correction" and you will find software or plugins that correct the perspective. If you don't, the edges of your photo will be rounded giving an unnatural look.

One other thing worth mentioning. Nikon now makes a 35mm f1.8 DX lens that is widely considered by the Nikon community to be the best sub-$200 lens Nikon has ever made. It's newer than this sticky was written but worth a mention because it's an absolute steal compared to other similar primes.

 

[soydios]

I'll get around to updating this sometime in the next 8 weeks...

 

[secretanchitman]

my dads AF-S 18-200 is seriously one of the best lenses ive used. thats mainly all he carries now, cause it just does a good job as an all-rounder

 

[Ballatician]

I have read this thread a few times, it is helpful, thank you.

I finally bought my first dslr after many many many months of research and convincing myself so now that I have my barely used D80, I am itching to buy a lens.

A friend just got the nikkor 18-200 vrii, it is awesome. I have read reviews of tamron and sigmas all-in-one offerings as well. I am not averse to changing lenses however so maybe the 18-55 vr is a good investment for now? I have been looking at the 18-105 vr, 18-135 vr as well. I think i want to spend around 2-300 for this first one before adding to my collection. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[cohenfive]

ballatician, i've been through a good deal of the nikon lens lineup over the years...my personal opinion is that you should not bother with the 18-55, but spend the extra bux for the 18-105 or 18-135. much better iq in either than the 18-55.

 

[Blackjack200]

just ordered one of the new(er) 50mm 1.4 AF-S lenses for use on my D40 (it will be the equivalent of a 75mm 1.4). Had an 18-55, but the plastic lens mount broke. I'll give a review one I've used it a bit.

 

[shortylickens]

Can anyone think of a reason why I should NOT get this?
http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-Autofoc...285950&sr=1-11

I got my kit 18-55 but of course its not good in too many situations. Already bought the VR 55-200 based on recommendations across the forums, but sometimes I think I shoulda got a 18-200 instead and then I'd never have to swap out.
Or should I get a basic 18-105 since they are cheap and cover most common uses, and a 70-300 for everything else?

 

[Comfy]

thanks for the info!

 

[Blackjack200]

just ordered one of the new(er) 50mm 1.4 AF-S lenses for use on my D40 (it will be the equivalent of a 75mm 1.4). Had an 18-55, but the plastic lens mount broke. I'll give a review one I've used it a bit.

Wow, surpised I've had this for almost a year now. Fantastic lens, couldn't be happier. Now I want the 24mm 1.4, but that's a bit more money

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

18-300 announced and no update here?

 

[RampantAndroid]

For the record, the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 wide angle DX lens (I have the AF version, the AF-S version JUST came out and only adds a focus motor which focuses as fast as the AF version, but is quieter) is amazing.

Did some night sky photos with it and got some great results. FAR better AND cheaper than the comparable Nikon offering.

 

[Anubis]

i dont really feel that my 11-16 is loud. but i agree its a great lil lens

 

[Silenus]

Wow, surpised I've had this for almost a year now. Fantastic lens, couldn't be happier. Now I want the 24mm 1.4, but that's a bit more money

There is also the brand new 28/1.8G lens. I am actually considering it myself as a replacement to the 35/1.8. It seems a tad more sensible than the 24/1.4. But if you want the 1.4, by all means do it! There is guy on Nikoncafe that has a D40 and 24/1.4.

 

[shortylickens]

Just ordered the 18-105. Cant afford the 18-200 VR even though thats what I really want.
Will make do with what I have.

Knowing what I do now, it will always be the body, and one lens I really want. No more kits.

EDIT: Changed to a used 18-135. Received today (early).
So far I like it. The fishbowl at 18mm is a little more noticeable than on the kit lens, but hardly an issue. I like being able to go way out there with single carry-around lens. Wont be needing my 50-200 lens for much anymore.

Image quality throughout the zoom range seems fine, no better or worse than the kit lens. In fact as versatile as this is, I wish it was the default kit lens for Nikon. Based on the results I'm getting, I dont think I'll bother with a new body after all. I just dont need it.
Yet.

 

[joseph0042]

Thanks for the information, I just bought my D7100, 35mm F1.8g, and 50mm F1.8g. Looking to get a wide angle and a telezoom now.

 

[tdawg]

Thanks for the information, I just bought my D7100, 35mm F1.8g, and 50mm F1.8g. Looking to get a wide angle and a telezoom now.

On a crop sensor, I'd personally get rid of the 50. The 35 provides the same learning platform that the old $100 50mm did back in the day on film or full-frame bodies and offers the "standard" field of view. From my experience, the 50 on a crop sensor doesn't get much use because it's basically a short telephoto that doesn't really provide much added functionality.

I'd sell it / return it and look at a used 85 f/1.8, or splurge on a 105 or 135. A 180 telephoto can be fun too.

As for telephoto zooms, you may want to look at used 80-200s for that fixed f/2.8 or a good copy of a 55-200 VR or something like that on the less expensive side.

 

[bigi]

I've just looked for 85/1.8 and 28mm updates, but none was found.

Apparently OP post had been updated in 2008.

It does need to be updated with newest lenses...

 

[ekopuls]

Tips for nikon lenses

 

[ginfest]

Appreciate the original guide and all the other tips/links in this thread.