Fixed length lens for a D40 - 50mm?

[james_tigerwoods]

I've got the much wanted 55-200 lens for my D40 and I love it - I've had one on loan for about a month prior to this and it's a good lens and I'm getting some use out of it and my camera (finally).

However, I want to be able to take good family or closer photos but when trying this I've come, rapidly, to the limit of the 18-55mm kit lens and I just can't get either the sharpness or quality that I'm after. So, instead of saving for a 70-300mm lens, I think I want a short or fixed focus lens.

I've had a 50mm lens recommended to me - Something like this - But that lens doesn't seem to be compatible with the D40 (incompatible autofocus).

Does anyone know of something that they can recommend at all?

[andy-xr]

I have a 50mm F1.8 and used it on the D40 in manual focus with no problems. It wont auto focus, so thats your limitation really.

It's a cheap lens, but good value for money. If you fancy splashing out a little more, Sigma do an F2.8 24-70 and a 26-70 for a bit more cash. You can have F2.8 at any zoom length if you want. I'm fairly sure they're the HSM versions, which again is what you need if you're going onto a D40

Sigma also do an 18-50 F2.8, I picked one up from ebay for £150, and a 50-150 2.8 if you want something in the middle. I shot at Donington with the latter over the weekend, and was surprised how sharp it was

[_dobbo_]

Both Nikon and Sigma do excellent 50mm f/1.4 lenses that will work with your D40, but they are a lot more money than the 50mm f/1.8 you've been looking at...

[james_tigerwoods]

I don't have a huge budget, but I do want a good autofocus (short) lens for close/portrait work.

[kman]

50mm f/1.4 AFS version (will autofocus on d40):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NIKON-50mm-AF-S-Nikkor-Nik...

a lot more pricy though!

[james_tigerwoods]

kman said:

50mm f/1.4 AFS version (will autofocus on d40):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NIKON-50mm-AF-S-Nikkor-Nik...

a lot more pricy though!

That is indeed quite pricy....

[kman]

theres also a 35mm prime thats AFS f/1.8 by Nikon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NIKON-AF-S-Nikkor-1-8-lens...

[james_tigerwoods]

kman said:

theres also a 35mm prime thats AFS f/1.8 by Nikon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NIKON-AF-S-Nikkor-1-8-lens...

That's still more than I was hoping to pay, but it's closer to my budget. Have you used/got one - or have any experience of it?

[kman]

unfortunately not experienced with it but i too have a d40 and have been toying with the idea of a fast prime as the next step from my kit 18-55 (not happy with it's low light performance) and i don't want to spend too much hence I'm resigning myself to manual focus.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5018daf.htm

[james_tigerwoods]

kman said:

unfortunately not experienced with it but i too have a d40 and have been toying with the idea of a fast prime as the next step from my kit 18-55 (not happy with it's low light performance) and i don't want to spend too much hence I'm resigning myself to manual focus.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5018daf.htm

It was my birthday on Monday and I got the 55-200 which is great, but I want a good short lens (prime) - I want it to be auto too as I don't want to take a photo and then get it on the laptop to find it's ever so slightly out of focus (shaky hands and all that).

I have some birthday money which will either go on clothes or a lens.....

[andy-xr]

If you're going to blow a couple of hundred quid on a lens I'd say start looking at a new body next, second hand D80 or something. Then the 50mm F1.8

Those Sigmas I mentioned above seem to go fairly well at London Camera Exchange, might be worth a look

[james_tigerwoods]

andy-xr said:

If you're going to blow a couple of hundred quid on a lens I'd say start looking at a new body next, second hand D80 or something. Then the 50mm F1.8

Those Sigmas I mentioned above seem to go fairly well at London Camera Exchange, might be worth a look

Noooo - don't start putting the idea of a new body in my head.....

[Simpo Two]

james_tigerwoods said:

Noooo - don't start putting the idea of a new body in my head.....

Indeed. Unless there's some feature of the D80 you can't live without, then your photos will benefit more from better lenses.

[james_tigerwoods]

Simpo Two said:

james_tigerwoods said:

Noooo - don't start putting the idea of a new body in my head.....

Indeed. Unless there's some feature of the D80 you can't live without, then your photos will benefit more from better lenses.

I'm happy enough with the D40 - I'm not sure I want/need the D80 enough - 3 focal points are enough for me just now and, to be honest, I don't think I'm at the limit of the camera itself yet.

[SamHH]

No, there is no fast prime that will autofocus on your camera for the price of the 50mm f1.8. The 50mm AF-S and the 35mm AF-S that have been posted are the closest things.

[james_tigerwoods]

SamHH said:

No, there is no fast prime that will autofocus on your camera for the price of the 50mm f1.8. The 50mm AF-S and the 35mm AF-S that have been posted are the closest things.

Didn't think so - at least I now have an idea of budget.

I'm probably going to go for the 35mm one as a starter - I might even look on ebay for something.

[GetCarter]

james_tigerwoods said:

I've come, rapidly, to the limit of the 18-55mm kit lens and I just can't get either the sharpness or quality that I'm after.

Sorry to be a pain but IMHO it's the body as well as the lens.

Sell the wife and upgrade!

[james_tigerwoods]

But what's the big diff between the D40 and D80?

[andy-xr]

Camera features and gizmos aside, the one you're after is the D40 can only use Nikon's AF-S lenses, or 3rd party lenses that have AF motors in them, hence why the 50mm lens above will only work in manual focus on your D40. It's auto focus on the D80, which has more of pretty much everything.

[_dobbo_]

james_tigerwoods said:

But what's the big diff between the D40 and D80?

40. Oh wait that's not what you meant