Flash, or lense?

[zeto88]

" Oh no, not another noob asking questions that have been posted before. "
Shutup.
I was just wondering, if you were new to photography, already had a 'Nikon D90 - VR Kit 18-55 and 70-300mm', would you purchase first, a SB-600 speedlight, or a 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4.
Also, let's pretend you want to mostly do portraits or macro shots.
So again, what would you purchase?

 

[Darkhunter139]

I am new to photography and kind of have the same decision to make and I am going for the flash. I think I am going to get the SB400 though

 

[boogschd]

sb600

 

[Derrel]

I would definitely go for the SB 600 flash unit. That flash, paired with the 70-300 would allow you to shoot some nice portraits. The 50 is not much of a macro or close-up lens, it really is not; the 70-300 with a high-quality, two-element closeup lens like the Canon 500D, which threads onto the filter threads, would be the best close-up system for the lenses you already own.

The SB 600 with the 18-55 kit zoom will make indoor photography much easier. You don't need another lens--you need a quality flash unit.

 

[PatrickHMS]

For the price of the 50mm f/1.4 you can pretty much pay for the 50mm f/1.8 lens AND a flash.

 

[IgsEMT]

flash.
u can have the best lens in the world, but if you don't have photons to throw at the sensor, lens means nothing

 

[lakers808]

to Darkhunter139.. that 200mm lens fits on ur camera .. i thought nikond40 some lens dont fit on hte d40

 

[Divatologist]

Flash

 

[khallene]

I would also go for the flash. For the price of the 50, you can probably drop down to the sb400 and get the lens as well.

 

[jdag]

SB600

 

[zeto88]

I'm not too sure if I'd want the SB-400.
Bouncing the flashes seems like too much fun!

 

[Overread21]

If you are aiming for macro work in the future then I assume you are going to plug for a dedicated macro lens at some point - and when you do you will need to start understanding and controling your lighting a lot more - and for that a very good start is a regular speedlight flash. So I will also say go for the flash - its something that can be (and chances are you will be) used in almost every area of photography - from being a dominant light source to just a little bit of fill.

 

[Darkhunter139]

to Darkhunter139.. that 200mm lens fits on ur camera .. i thought nikond40 some lens dont fit on hte d40

Yeah it fits. Any af-s lens will fit and autofocus on the d40.

 

[KmH]

I'm not too sure if I'd want the SB-400.
Bouncing the flashes seems like too much fun!

You can bounce the SB-400. It just doesn't have much power and cannot be triggered optically while off the camera like an SB-600 can.

 

[AtlPikMan]

Gotta go for the Flash. It will add some much more to the lenses you already have.