Lens Help (Opinions, Advice, Favorites...)

[KelSS90]

Looks like I am getting a new lens from my husband for Christmas I have done some research a looked through topics here quite a bit before starting this thread, but wanted to get advice for my needs specifically.

I shoot with a Nikon D3200, and currently have only the kit lens. I go out and shoot a lot of just whatever I am feeling... landscape, nature, our dogs, kiddos, really just anything and everything. However, I would really like to move more into the portraiture side of it eventually (still simply as a hobby).

I have $500 to spend, but would like to keep it as close to $300 as possible. I also really want a prime lens. I immediately said 85mm, but now I'm thinking maybe 50mm wouldn't be so bad because of the price difference. Unless I can find a 3rd party or used/refurbished 85mm to bring the price down some.

Any opinions here? Good sources for used lenses? Capable third party bands? Your favorites?

 

[DanielLewis76]

The 50 is the defacto decent prime lens. The 85 will be slightly better for portraits and the 35mm slightly better for landscapes. I don't think you will go wrong with the 50mm.

That said, apart from it being a 'faster glass' (i.e. it lets light in quicker so can have a faster shutter speed for the same exposure as your stock) and the quality being better you can already take photos at the 50mm length on your kit lens.

So for me I would personally go with the 85mm. Other may say different but its really a personal choice, you won't go wrong with a 35, 50 or 85 it just depends on what you are looking to use it for.

 

[KelSS90]

you can already take photos at the 50mm length on your kit lens.

This has been a huge point in deciding for me. Although a 50mm prime has its advantages, it would be hard for me to buy a prime at a focal length that I can already shoot with the lens I have.

Thanks for the reply!



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[Derrel]

KEH.com is a good source for used lenses; they have a huge selection, and fabulous customer service. The 50mm f/1.8 AF-S G series Nikkor is a good 50mm lens for your D3200. The 85mm f/1.6 AF-S G Nikkor is an amazingly sharp,lightweight, new 85mm design that will function perfectly with your D3200, and is fun to shoot with.

 

[DanielLewis76]

I think you mean the 1.8? (due to price)

 

[480sparky]

you can already take photos at the 50mm length on your kit lens.

This has been a huge point in deciding for me. Although a 50mm prime has its advantages, it would be hard for me to buy a prime at a focal length that I can already shoot with the lens I have.

Thanks for the reply!



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Try actually using a lens before you dismiss it. When you compare an image taken with a 50mm prime and one taken with a kit lens at 50mm, and you truly will see a difference, you just might change your mind.

I have 3 zooms that have the 50mm within their range, yet I still have two 50mm primes.

 

[Derrel]

I think you mean the 1.8? (due to price)

Yes, I meant to type 1.8.

 

[KelSS90]

Manual vs auto focus? I see that it makes a HUGE difference in price, but the manual focus is a little intimidating.

 

[DanielLewis76]

Personally I would go with the auto.

 

[Derrel]

Manual vs auto focus? I see that it makes a HUGE difference in price, but the manual focus is a little intimidating.

Well, one thing about the D3200: it can actually mount and shoot pre-Ai, Ai, and Ai-S manual focus Nikkor lenses. Buuuuut....the catch is that with such lenses there is NO light metering, and the flash output from the pop-up flash must be set manually, in the menu section of the D3200. So...that means no autofocusing, no light metering, and no flash metering with the built-in flash...

So, yeah...manual focusing lenses on the D3200 require a lot of user input. The user needs to set the camera to M exposure mode, then set the shutter speed, and the correct f/stop on the lens. It's not an impossible feat, but it is nowhere NEAR as convenient as clicking on an AF-S G-series 35,50,0r 85mm lens and having 100%, total integration of all features in all modes. But, by the same token, a D3200 owner can also buy like a $50, old "beater" 55mm f/3.5 Micro~Nikkor macro lens, or a "thrasher" 35mm f/2 O.C. Nikkor for under $50, and have a working lens for a low,low price.

 

[480sparky]

..........old "beater" 55mm f/3.5 Micro~Nikkor macro lens, or a "thrasher" 35mm f/2 O.C. Nikkor for under $50, and have a working lens for a low,low price.

With the added bonus of having a lens that can be reversed for macro work with a simple adapter ring and nothing else.

 

[Derrel]

..........old "beater" 55mm f/3.5 Micro~Nikkor macro lens, or a "thrasher" 35mm f/2 O.C. Nikkor for under $50, and have a working lens for a low,low price.

With the added bonus of having a lens that can be reversed for macro work with a simple adapter ring and nothing else.

Yeah...NOT having the 1)Ai-tab on the camera body, and NOT having 2) the minimum aperture sensing pin on the bodies of the D40,D40x,D60,and the D3xxx, and the D5xxx models means that all of those "baby Nikons" can use basically, almost every single F-mount accessory, without fear of damage to the camera. And the small pentaprism on those bodies means that some bellow units, as well as oddball lenses like, say the Vivitar 600mm f/8 catadioptric, will mount and not hit the front of a massive pentaprism OR a protruding in-built battery grip's swelled contours.

 

[goodguy]

For for the Nikon 50mm 1.8G, on a crop sensor camera like yours it does portraits very well and you dont need 85mm ofr that.
It is also a good lens for landscape and more importantly is excellent for night photography.
Its very sharp and easy to use.

 

[JTPhotography]

Get you an 85 1.8G. Perfect portrait lens. If you decide you don't use it enough to justify keeping it, you should be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it, assuming you keep it clean.

A few other odd options to consider, a 60 or 100 mm macro lens can also be used for portraits and also close ups, if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[KelSS90]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply -- as always, you are all a huge help.

I think I will go with the 50mm for now, leaving room for a couple other photography toys of his choice within the budget I think I will like the versatility, and if I ever do really push into doing mainly just portraits, I can always get the 85mm at that point.

I hope you're all going to get some new camera goodies for the holidays as well!


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