Lens for a Nikon D90

[~myStical~]

I just bought the nikon d90 and own a 50mm f 1.8 lens . The 50mm lens works great for outdoor portraits but when shooting inside with limited space , photos come out too tight .
I am looking for a new lens , not sure what to get . I mainly shoot portraits but now looking for something i can use to shoot anything , a normal lens .
I bought the nikon d90 body only thinking i wouldn't need the kit lens . Would a 18-105mm F3.5-5 lens work for most types of photography ? Candid , portraits ...basically good enough for normal use .

 

[flea77]

What 50mm 1.8 lens? AF, D, G, AIS? If a D or AF, have you thought about the 24mm 2.8D, or the 35mm 2.0D? If you have the 1.8G, how about the 35mm 1.8G?

The 18-105 you mention will "work" for the things you listed, although the 50mm 1.8 will provide better quality images.

Allan

 

[KmH]

How much money can we spend?

50 mm is considered a normal lens (the same field-of-view as the human eye).

Anything having a focal length much less than 50 mm is known as a wide-angle lens. Unfortuantely, most wide angle lenses distort peoples features unflatteringly.

However, there are wide angle zoom lenses that don't distort to badly, but they are not inexpensive.
Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Quality portraiture is most often done at focal lengths longer than 50 mm, like 85 mm and 105 mm. My favorite portraiture lens is a Nikon 200mm f/2 lens.

 

[NatashaBishop]

I think the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens is the dream lens. However, it comes with an $1800 price tag. Sigma makes a 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM AF that I've heard good things about for around $900.

I mostly use my Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for portrait and candid shots and my Tokina 12-24MM F4 Pro II for landscape work. Love them both...equally.

 

[Vtec44]

If the 50mm F1.8 is the older D lens then I believe it would be 75mm on the D90. I was drooling over the 24-70mm f/2.8G lens but couldn't justify the price tag, especially when I don't make money off of my photographs. I ended up getting the old and discontinued 35-70mm f/2.8 instead. At least I will be able to use that lens whenever I upgrade to full frame.

 

[~myStical~]

I have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

 

[KmH]

If the 50mm F1.8 is the older D lens then I believe it would be 75mm on the D90.......

It's a 50 mm lens regardless what camera it is mounted on.

However, the D90 has an APS-C size (DX is the Nikonj designation) image sensor that has a 1.5 x crop factor. A 50 mm lens mounted on a 1.5x crop factor camera delivers a FOV (field-of-view) the same size as the FOV that a 75 mm lens would give when the 75 mm lens is mounted on a full frame (FX is the Nikon designation) camera .

 

[KmH]

12 mm to 200 mm is the most commonly used range of focal lengths.

You also need to consider maximum aperture, particularly if you want to shoot indoors without supplimental lighting.

The f/1.8 max aperture of the AF 50 mm f/1.8D is critcal for low light work. Cameras generally need a lot more light than our eyes do.

The max aperure of Nikon's 18-105 mm lens is f/5.6 when zoomed to 105 mm. At 50 mm the 18-105 mm zoom is at about f/4.5 max aperture, not f/1.8 like the 50 mm prime lens.

 

[Vtec44]

However, the D90 has an APS-C size (DX is the Nikonj designation) image sensor that has a 1.5 x crop factor. A 50 mm lens mounted on a 1.5x crop factor camera delivers a FOV (field-of-view) the same size as the FOV that a 75 mm lens would give when the 75 mm lens is mounted on a full frame (FX is the Nikon designation) camera .

That's how I got the 75mm, 1.5 Nikon crop factor x 50mm = 75mm FOV.

 

[flea77]

I have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Since you are currently happy with the D series, try the 35mm 2.0D, or if you can stand to loose a little light, the 24mm 2.8D, both are great lenses.

Allan

 

[table1349]

However, the D90 has an APS-C size (DX is the Nikonj designation) image sensor that has a 1.5 x crop factor. A 50 mm lens mounted on a 1.5x crop factor camera delivers a FOV (field-of-view) the same size as the FOV that a 75 mm lens would give when the 75 mm lens is mounted on a full frame (FX is the Nikon designation) camera .

That's how I got the 75mm, 1.5 Nikon crop factor x 50mm = 75mm FOV.

It is a crop factor not a multiplication factor. Focal length is Focal length. Various focal lengths all have particular characteristics. A wide angle lens on a crop sensor camera does not change the characteristics of the lens, it just crops the view the sensor sees. The characteristics in that FOV do not change because of the sensor size.

Classic portrait focal length is 70mm to 120mm for the flattering perspective it provides as well as allowing for decent working room. If you have the working room 200mm, 300mm ,400mm etc also work well. Some of the best athlete portraits I shoot for one college are done with my 400mm f2.8. They are all outdoors with plenty of room and the creamy bokah is very similar to the 85mm f1.2L.

 

[Vtec44]

It is a crop factor not a multiplication factor.

Okay I'm not debating that, just using multiplication to get the FOV.

 

[Destin]

Why is everyone reccomending primes that are 28-35mm? That is NOT wide enough for tight indoor spaces, or general snapshots like the OP wants.

They never said they needed a super fast aperture, just a lens that is GOOD ENOUGH for everyday shooting. I'm going out on a limb and saying they aren't a pro. Something like the 18-105 would work good for what they want to do, or the 18-55 could also work for less money.

to the OP, if you are willing to spend a little more, I'd reccomend grabbing a Tamron 17-50 2.8. It's a wide angle zoom lens that will still be fast enough to shoot in lower light, and it can be had for about $400. Normally this forum is good about reccomending stuff that is practical for the person asking the question, but from what I'm reading, they are offering lenses that still aren't going to do what you said you want. Your going to want a zoom for a general walkaround, and your going to want it wider than 24mm, because 24mm isn't very wide on a crop sensor camera like your D90.

 

[flea77]

Why is everyone reccomending primes that are 28-35mm? That is NOT wide enough for tight indoor spaces, or general snapshots like the OP wants.

Well the OP is very happy with his 50mm 1.8D prime, and he specifically stated he wants to shoot candids (people) and portraits (people), and most photographers know that when shooting people you want to use a longer lens as the compression makes for a more flattering image. My goal was to give the OP the maximum focal length possible and still get the shot within the available space, so as not to make his 98lb subject appear 198lbs, and use a lens type that he was already very comfortable using (D Series prime), and provide a fast lens since he specified needing it for indoor use, while maintaining the best quality image possible.

They never said they needed a super fast aperture, just a lens that is GOOD ENOUGH for everyday shooting. I'm going out on a limb and saying they aren't a pro. Something like the 18-105 would work good for what they want to do, or the 18-55 could also work for less money.

Yes, they specified that they did not have enough room indoors to use the 50mm. If they were using it outside then distance would not be a factor and they would not need a new lens, hence going with something wider than 50mm. The 18-105 fails because while it is wider, it is also far less efficient at gathering light and would require either a flash or higher ISO, and the 18-105 will not produce as high quality image as a prime for portraits in most cases.

to the OP, if you are willing to spend a little more, I'd reccomend grabbing a Tamron 17-50 2.8. It's a wide angle zoom lens that will still be fast enough to shoot in lower light, and it can be had for about $400. Normally this forum is good about reccomending stuff that is practical for the person asking the question, but from what I'm reading, they are offering lenses that still aren't going to do what you said you want. Your going to want a zoom for a general walkaround, and your going to want it wider than 24mm, because 24mm isn't very wide on a crop sensor camera like your D90.

Why is a 24mm 2.8 or 35mm 2.0 not going to do what they want? The OP specifies that 50mm is great for outdoor use so they are happy with that focal length for walking around but they need something wider for indoor use, and 24mm and 35mm are both wider. Why do you assume they want a zoom? My feet work just as well as a zoom does, and I get gennerally faster lenses which provide better images.

Just because you disagree with our recommendations does not make them invalid.

Allan

 

[ladynikon]

I just want to say that I own the 35mm 1.8 and it works awesome indoors and out. I would glady sacrifice zoom for the sharp images I get form this lens. I do however miss not having a wider angle every time i use it and think the 17-50 2.8 may be more practical for a walk around lens. I've never used one so I can't say wether or not it's sharp just that the focal length is more practical for a " walk around". But if ur like me and don't have a lot to throw down on a new lens the 35 is great at only $200 and could prolly last you til you can save up to buy the one you "reeeeally" want.