Help me about choosing my first prime lens...

[mfrankpdx]

The AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 is a good lens for a D40. The downside is if you ever upgrade to a FX body like a D700, you won't be able to use it.

 

[Light Artisan]

I pesonally think the 35mm is too wide for portraits, I'd get the 50mm f/1.4G if you can swing it.

 

[rateeg]

I pesonally think the 35mm is too wide for portraits, I'd get the 50mm f/1.4G if you can swing it.

will it auto focus on d40?

 

[mfrankpdx]

will it auto focus on d40?

Any AF-S lens will. The 50mm you would want is the "AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G"

 

[Darkhunter139]

I pesonally think the 35mm is too wide for portraits, I'd get the 50mm f/1.4G if you can swing it.

will it auto focus on d40?

The AF-S one will. Try both lengths on your kit lens and see which one you would rather. Its really up to you.

 

[rateeg]

Thanks guys.
I think i will settle on the 35mm 1.8 lens or 35mm 1.4. I think it's cheap and performs better on portraits and studio shoots.
Thanks again!!!

 

[Light Artisan]

You think the 35 f/1.8 performs better than the 50 f/1.4 in portraits and studio shoots?

You'll need to be like 2 feet from your subject for a head and shoulder shot, I hope you have some sort of off camera lighting planned.

 

[rateeg]

I havent tried it but do you think 50mm 1.4 is better?
And also what's the price difference?

 

[kundalini]

For portraiture, the 70-150mm range will give a better compression of facial features and usually render the background to a more pleasing out of focus.

That said.... the 35mm on a D40 will be approximately what the human eye views. So yes, it will give a reasonable full length portraiture. 50mm will provide a nice head and shoulders and an 85mm will produce an excellent head shot. It all depends what type of portrait you are after.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Get the 50 1.4 you will find it much more useful all around and it should work with teleconverters. So it can also become a 70mm f/2 if you put a kenko 1.4x TC on it. If you want shallow DOF in bright outdoors, get an ND filter for it also.

 

[Boomn4x4]

Thanks guys.
I wanted a lens that i can use for portraits.

I would recommend the 50mm f/1.8 AF. It won't auto focus, but if you are doing stationary portraits, manual focus isn't an issue and almost recommended anyway. The 50mm lets you get further away from your subject than the 35mm. It can be awkwared shooting a person when you are right up in their face.

If you were wanted to shoot more "action", then the 35mm f/1.8 AF-S would be the better choice as manual focus on a moving subject is nearly impossible at wider apertures.

 

[Mugen80]

35mm f/1.8 would be my suggestion on a D40. It would be much easier to use indoors than a 50mm.

+1

 

[rateeg]

Will the AF 50mm f/1.4 auto-focus and manual focus on my D40?

 

[Light Artisan]

The 50mm f/1.4G will, any other Nikon 50mm will not. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM will also (great lens btw).

 

[o hey tyler]

Every lens will manual focus on your D40.