Need help deciding on prime lens

florotory · Mar 1, 2014

I am going to an airshow here in a couple weeks. Ill be shooting mostly planes on static display. Also the thunderbirds will be performing. I saw them last year right after I got my D7100 and loved the pics. Anyway for a majority of the time I shoot pics of my bike, car, cars shows and pics while on vacation. Id like to do some landscape as well eventually. Which of these would best suit my needs?

Nikon Nikkor 35mm 1.8 Lens AF-S, DX (#2183) - Walmart.com

Get the Nikon 50mm 1.8 AF-S NIKKOR Fixed Focal Length Lens at Walmart.com. Save money. Live better.

I can get either one of these for about 10% off the listed price. Or if there is any other recommended lenses for about the same price. Right now I have the 18-55mm and 55mm-200mm. Thanks

Derrel · Mar 1, 2014

The focal length flexibility of a ZOOM lens is a major asset when you got to any kind of event where there is a lot of stuff on display. On a camera like the D7100, a 35mm and a 50mm are pretty narrow-angle lenses. It's often very difficult/impossible to stand far enough back to get a car, let alone an aircraft, into the image WITHOUT a bunch of spectators ruining the shot. I think the 18-55 would be a good choice for the displays at car shows and air show on static aircraft.

I think the low-priced used Tokina 12-24mm f/4 that TheLost suggests, around $300 from KEH.COM, might be an even handier aircraft-at-show-on-tarmac lens.

florotory · Mar 1, 2014

I look into it right now. thanks

florotory · Mar 1, 2014

Sounds like I have a decent lens for static display. So during the Arial part of the show would Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Lens w/Hood (Black) - Gray Market 1928 G be a good lens to get. My 55-200mm worked good. Just felt like I wanted to get a closer shot sometimes when I was using it.

florotory · Mar 2, 2014

Any thoughts on the 70-300m?

PaulWog · Mar 2, 2014

florotory said:
Any thoughts on the 70-300m?

The 70-300 VR (f4.5-f5.6) lens is great. The newest Tamron 70-300 VC is also possibly worth taking a look at, although I lean to the Nikon (I chose it myself).

The $1400 Nikon 300mm f4D looks pretty cool too

480sparky · Mar 2, 2014

florotory said:
Any thoughts on the 70-300m?

70-300m? Wow. That's like a 70,000-300,000mm! :mrgreen:

Derrel · Mar 2, 2014

florotory said:
Sounds like I have a decent lens for static display. So during the Arial part of the show would Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Lens w/Hood (Black) - Gray Market 1928 G be a good lens to get. My 55-200mm worked good. Just felt like I wanted to get a closer shot sometimes when I was using it.

This is NOT a very good lens, either optically, or in terms of performance. It is in fact, a somewhat loud and slow focuser, and it has a lot of chromatic aberration. It is a screwdriver focusing lens, but you have a D7100, so it will autofocus. But it's really NOT that good.

The decade-plus newer 70-300 f/4.5~5.6 AF-S VR-G is a much better lens in all ways. Used or refurbished, it's a very good value and a good performer. But the old G-series 70-300 you linked to is not worth buying for a new, high-MP count camera. It's simply NOT good enough for a 24-MP sensor; it's a lens that dates back to the 2.7 megapixel D1 era.

florotory · Mar 2, 2014

Ya sorry I thought it was the newer one that I had linked. I did intend on the newer one. Just trying to find a lens under $350-500 that will be suitable for the pics that I'll be taking

yioties · Mar 3, 2014

Go for the nikon 70-300vr! The price of that lens with the quality of what you get is great!

Braineack · Mar 3, 2014

Wants a prime lens for bike and cars shows, and you guys recommend the 70-300?

yioties · Mar 3, 2014

With $300-$500 budget a long prime is kinda impossible for what he needs to shoot. BUT he can do the 70-300vr and the 50mm 1.8 prime and still be under the top of his budget.

Braineack · Mar 3, 2014

I guess I'm confused why someone want want a telephoto lens to shoot stationary cars, cycles, and planes?

On a crop, I was having difficulty shooting cars with a 35mm, could frame cycles well with it, but I doubt you could get a plane in frame within a reasonable amount of distance.

yioties · Mar 3, 2014

Maybe one of those all in zooms would be in his best interest. 18-200vr or one of those sigmas 18-250 or the tamron version. i think its a 17-280vc. I have never used those lenses and know they compromise image quality for that type of focal range.