I need help. D3000 and 50mm 1.8G

[ooaudioo]

Brand new to photography and just getting my feet wet. Received the 1.8G as a gift the other day. Just a couple questions.

How close should I be able to get to my subject with this lens? I messed around with a 1.8D before that my friend had and feel like I was able to get closer then what I can now.

Also, I can't seem to get the camera to shoot at 1.8. Seems like I can only get to f2.8 and can't figure out what I am doing wrong.

And more of a question for on the lens itself, the focusing continues to spin even when you turn it to it's furthest setting. What I mean is if your looking at the display on the lens, you can turn it either left or right to either the 0.45 side or the infinite side and once it hits those furthest setting, I can still spin the dial without it actually doing anything inside the camera. On all my other lenses, once you spin it to it's furthest setting, you can't spin the ring any further. Is this normal?

Sorry for such rookie questions. I figure if you don't ask, you will never know.

Thanks

 

[analog.universe]

How close should I be able to get to my subject with this lens? I messed around with a 1.8D before that my friend had and feel like I was able to get closer then what I can now.

This you've actually answered further down... the .45 on the distance scale is .45m, that is as close as you can get to your subject. Keep in mind though that that distance is measured from the sensor, not from the front of the lens.

Also, I can't seem to get the camera to shoot at 1.8. Seems like I can only get to f2.8 and can't figure out what I am doing wrong.

are you in manual or aperture priority mode?

And more of a question for on the lens itself, the focusing continues to spin even when you turn it to it's furthest setting. What I mean is if your looking at the display on the lens, you can turn it either left or right to either the 0.45 side or the infinite side and once it hits those furthest setting, I can still spin the dial without it actually doing anything inside the camera. On all my other lenses, once you spin it to it's furthest setting, you can't spin the ring any further. Is this normal?

This is normal for lenses with ultrasonic focusing motors. This feature allows you to manually override the autofocus without actually switching the lens into manual mode. If you're in one-shot AF mode, or if you back-button focus, after the camera has focused, you're free to just adjust the focus ring before you snap the shot. The tradeoff is that you lose the hard stops at either end of the focus throw.

Sorry for such rookie questions. I figure if you don't ask, you will never know.

Thanks

No apologies! Welcome to the forum :thumbup:

 

[Stradawhovious]

To shoot in 1.8 make sure you are in aperture priority mode, or manual then physically set the aperture. With the D3000 the auto modes don't like to shoot wide open with that lens for some Reason. Be careful though, 1.8 has a razor thin DOF, and the IQ is a little soft. Mine is sharpest between 5.6 and 8. The minimum focal distance for the nifty fifty is around 3-4 feet I think. Google it or check your lens' manual for the exact number.


ETA Didn't see that someone beat me to it. Sorry.

 

[ooaudioo]

This you've actually answered further down... the .45 on the distance scale is .45m, that is as close as you can get to your subject. Keep in mind though that that distance is measured from the sensor, not from the front of the lens.

are you in manual or aperture priority mode?

Thanks for clarification on distance, and I am a complete idiot about the 1.8. Maybe if I learned more about my camera settings, I could answer my own question. I have figured it out.

This is normal for lenses with ultrasonic focusing motors. This feature allows you to manually override the autofocus without actually switching the lens into manual mode. If you're in one-shot AF mode, or if you back-button focus, after the camera has focused, you're free to just adjust the focus ring before you snap the shot. The tradeoff is that you lose the hard stops at either end of the focus throw.

No apologies! Welcome to the forum :thumbup:

Thanks for your help, clears everything up.