Need help with buying a new lense -- FAST

o hey tyler · Jul 15, 2011

Nikon_Josh said:
For the time being, the 18-55mm will be great! 18mm is 28mm on a full frame, so it is adequate for landscape and nature just it wasn't wide enough for me when I got more into landscape work. It was the lens I had for well over a year before buying more lenses and I have loved it all along. Don't listen to the 'gear head' idiots who will tell you it is a rubbish lens! They spend more time worrying about test charts than actually doing photography!

18mm is not 28mm on a full frame camera. 18mm is 18mm on a full frame camera, but the 18-55mm lens is a DX lens, therefore it is constructed differently and it provides a different field of view on a full frame camera. The focal length is still 18mm, however the lens has the field of view of ~27mm on a full frame camera. The kit lens is a great lens to start with, but it doesn't hold a candle to a high quality prime/zoom.

djacobox372 · Jul 15, 2011

The 35mm would be my choice between the three you listed.However I would suggest selling your kit lens and replace it with a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 vc. This will give you the convenience of a zoom but in a much faster, higher quality lens.You can find these lenses used for $350 or so, within your budget if u sell your current lens. Just make sure to buy the vc version, as the non-vc won't autofocus on your camera.

Markw · Jul 15, 2011

Yes, in my experience, my 35/1.8G is sharper than my 50/1.8D. I am the first user of both of them, so I know their history. I hear the 50/1.8G is supposed to rival the 50/1.4G, so that should be just as sharp, or sharper than, the 35/1.8.

Mark

ladynikon · Jul 15, 2011

What about nikons new 40mm 2.8??? I'm not sure if it's out just yet but maybe it's worth the wait? Ive heard its great for marco and portraits and is around $279?? Don't quote me on that as I'm a little tipsy lol but anyway The 35mm 1.8 is a great little lens!!! It was my first prime and i still love it! I am a wide angle freak and sometimes really miss it while I have the 35 on but it is super sharp and great for portraits. The only thing i wish is that it focused a little closer. Just my 2cents.

Markw · Jul 15, 2011

Agreed. But I definitely love the 35/1.8. Waiting for the 40/2.8 would be almost pointless, in my opinion, uness you are a macro freak. If you're not going to use it for macro primarily, I wouldn't bother with it. It is going to focus fairly slow compared to just about any other prune in its focal class. It has a lot more ground to cover, focusing fown to 6", so the focus will be slow compared to the other AFS primes mentioned. The Bokeh is beautiful on the lens, and it's definitely going to be super sharp. When it does get released, I'd lay my money that it will be sold out for at least 4 months. Beginners are going to be buying them off the shelves faster than nikon will stock them, and it will lead to a shortage, waiting lists, and price increases, just s it did with the 35/1.8 when it came out; and that was before the tsunami. I'd get the 35/1.8 and sigma 17 or 18-50/2.8 and call it a day. But that's just me.

Mark

flashfire_06 · Jul 16, 2011

hi tamron and sigma lens u guys have suggested are way to overpriced in india or not available .............so how about buying the 35mm f1.8 and keeping the nikkor 18-55mm? will my camera d3000 be good enough for another 1 year..................?

ladynikon · Jul 16, 2011

I didn't think about it being sold out and all that!! U r prolly right, maybe not sucha good idea to wait for the 40.

If you do get the 35 1.8 ur not going to regret it at it's price. Thats a lot of extra light for only $200!!! I would defiantly keep the 18-55 especially if u don't have the money to replace that focal range right now.

As far as ur camera being good enough for another year....it is what u make of it! I still have my old d50. I let my son have it as a starter camera actually. I would never part with it. We will be shooting with that camera until the day her shutter finally gives out ;-)

Nikon_Josh · Jul 16, 2011

o hey tyler said:
Nikon_Josh said:

For the time being, the 18-55mm will be great! 18mm is 28mm on a full frame, so it is adequate for landscape and nature just it wasn't wide enough for me when I got more into landscape work. It was the lens I had for well over a year before buying more lenses and I have loved it all along. Don't listen to the 'gear head' idiots who will tell you it is a rubbish lens! They spend more time worrying about test charts than actually doing photography!

Click to expand...

18mm is not 28mm on a full frame camera. 18mm is 18mm on a full frame camera, but the 18-55mm lens is a DX lens, therefore it is constructed differently and it provides a different field of view on a full frame camera. The focal length is still 18mm, however the lens has the field of view of ~27mm on a full frame camera. The kit lens is a great lens to start with, but it doesn't hold a candle to a high quality prime/zoom.

Badly worded on my part! I meant that the 18mm on DX is equivalent to 28mm on a full frame just to confirm.

Nikon_Josh · Jul 16, 2011

flashfire_06 said:
hi tamron and sigma lens u guys have suggested are way to overpriced in india or not available .............so how about buying the 35mm f1.8 and keeping the nikkor 18-55mm? will my camera d3000 be good enough for another 1 year..................?

I don't mean to sound rude Flashfire but you really are making some very common mistakes! And you sound like your obsessing to me.

will your d3000 be good enough for another year??

One thing I can assure you of, you will not outgrow the Nikon d3000 untill you learn photography inside out. Modern day cameras have far more features than most people know about! Your camera will be good enough until you find something it can't offer you personally.

It's quite clear that in your position the 35mm 1.8 is most likely the best option for you, you said you like landscapes/nature so the 18-55 will offer you this. You said you want to do low light and street photography so the 35mm 1.8 will offer you this!

Just go and get the 35mm 1.8 already!!!!!

Mike_E · Jul 16, 2011

Nikon_Josh said:
flashfire_06 said:

hi tamron and sigma lens u guys have suggested are way to overpriced in india or not available .............so how about buying the 35mm f1.8 and keeping the nikkor 18-55mm? will my camera d3000 be good enough for another 1 year..................?

Click to expand...

I don't mean to sound rude Flashfire but you really are making some very common mistakes! And you sound like your obsessing to me.

will your d3000 be good enough for another year??

One thing I can assure you of, you will not outgrow the Nikon d3000 untill you learn photography inside out. Modern day cameras have far more features than most people know about! Your camera will be good enough until you find something it can't offer you personally.

It's quite clear that in your position the 35mm 1.8 is most likely the best option for you, you said you like landscapes/nature so the 18-55 will offer you this. You said you want to do low light and street photography so the 35mm 1.8 will offer you this!

Just go and get the 35mm 1.8 already!!!!!

^^ This. Plus shots in low light are a lot easier with fast glass. Spend a little time looking around the net for some examples and you'll see what I mean. It takes the exotic to a whole new level.

flashfire_06 · Jul 16, 2011

thks everyone , i just ordered 35mm 1.8 , it should be delivered in 2-3 days ..........i feel it will be good for general photography while travelling and also as a stay on lens to carry around daily.....thks guys...hope i made the right choice...!!!

Nikon_Josh · Jul 16, 2011

Good one Flash fire you have made the right choice! Hope you enjoy the new lens!

I have been very bad today... I have bought a 85mm 1.8 AF-D used. It will be great for portraits I'm sure.. Can't wait.

flashfire_06 · Jul 16, 2011

Nikon_Josh said:
Good one Flash fire you have made the right choice! Hope you enjoy the new lens!

I have been very bad today... I have bought a 85mm 1.8 AF-D used. It will be great for portraits I'm sure.. Can't wait.

sure.....enjoy da lens....how much did it cost ??

Nikon_Josh · Jul 16, 2011

Got a good deal... £250. I know they are not getting any cheaper either... all lens prices are rocketing upwards with the Japan situation! So pleased to get this at a reasonable price. Hope you got your 35mm at a good price..

Still shouldn't of bought it really though! haha.

flashfire_06 · Jul 16, 2011

Nikon_Josh said:
Got a good deal... £250. I know they are not getting any cheaper either... all lens prices are rocketing upwards with the Japan situation! So pleased to get this at a reasonable price. Hope you got your 35mm at a good price..

Still shouldn't of bought it really though! haha.

i got it for around 260$ ......pretty good price in india