What would you do?
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Discussion

gazchap

Original Poster:

1,546 posts

212 months

Saturday 14th December 2013
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Somehow, I've lost my Nikon 35mm f/1.8 prime, and my "Yongnuo" TTL flashgun. I don't know where they've gone, but I've looked all over the house, and I'm buggered if I can find them.

No doubt they'll turn up after I order their replacements, but what would you do?

1) Order a replacement one of each?

2) Get the flashgun, but instead of the 35mm f/1.8, buy the (admittedly more expensive) 50mm f/1.4?

I don't do an awful lot of low-light photography, but that would probably change if I had the faster lens.

The_Jackal

4,854 posts

226 months

Saturday 14th December 2013
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What sort of photos were you taking with your 35mm?
I have a D5100 and was considering a 35 or 50 f1.8. I was edging towards the 35 as the I think the 50 would be too restrictive on a crop?

markmullen

15,877 posts

263 months

Saturday 14th December 2013
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Don't forget your DoF at f1.4 on a 50mm can be wafer thin depending on the subject distance, for low light it can be very useful but can also be difficult to make work.

gazchap

Original Poster:

1,546 posts

212 months

Sunday 15th December 2013
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The_Jackal said:
What sort of photos were you taking with your 35mm?
I have a D5100 and was considering a 35 or 50 f1.8. I was edging towards the 35 as the I think the 50 would be too restrictive on a crop?
That was the reason I went for the 35mm originally, the crop factor on the D80 (and D7000 I'm using now.)

Types of photos - anything really, portraits, landscapes, action shots - anything where I could get reasonably close to what I was shooting, obv. Not much night stuff, or low light stuff (except when light painting) but that would probably change with a f/1.4

Mr Will

13,719 posts

235 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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The 50 1.4 will be a lovely portrait (i.e. head&shoulders) lens as well as good for action shots. If you are confident the 35mm will turn up then I'd happily get one to compliment it.

For the flash gun, skip the TTL version and pick up the cheaper manual version and a set of wireless triggers - plenty of fun and games to be had and will compliment the TTL version nicely when that resurfaces.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

233 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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I have both, the 50 1.4 is ace, but you have to be bang on with the focus, and it's not massively sharp at 1.4 either

Great lens, but the price difference between that and the 35 1.8....tricky. I'd replace the 35mm personally

gazchap

Original Poster:

1,546 posts

212 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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Mr Will said:
The 50 1.4 will be a lovely portrait (i.e. head&shoulders) lens as well as good for action shots. If you are confident the 35mm will turn up then I'd happily get one to compliment it.

For the flash gun, skip the TTL version and pick up the cheaper manual version and a set of wireless triggers - plenty of fun and games to be had and will compliment the TTL version nicely when that resurfaces.
I'm liking these ideas, especially as I've just found both items. My missus reminded me that I took them on board a plane to Portugal in my hand luggage back in July, which prompted me to find my rucksack (that she'd bloody hidden under a load of coats!)

The Jolly Todger

2,744 posts

209 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Having found the 35mm I would go for the 85 instead of the 50

The AF-D 1.8 isn't too pricey

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-NIKKOR-85mm-1-8D-Len...

gazchap

Original Poster:

1,546 posts

212 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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I've already got a Tamron 90mm prime with macro capability, albeit an f/2.8 one - how does the Nikon 85mm compare?

budfox

1,510 posts

158 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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I have the 35mm f2 af-d, the 50mm 1.4 af-s and the 85mm f1.8 af-d

I use them all on a d700 and a d7000. The 85 is by far the sharpest, the 35 the most flexible due to close focus capability,

The 50mm is the least used by some distance, regardless of which body I'm using. However, if I'm going out with both bodies and just two lenses I'd go 35 on the d700 and 50mm on the d7000

creampuff

6,511 posts

172 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Used SB-800 off eBay for the flash.

Make sure it has all the bits like dome diffuser, stand and coloured filters.