Just got a D90, which lens?

[dfen5]

Limited budget so got a s/h Nikon D90 from LCE. Seems to get good reviews.

Got a 18-55 VR for £60 at the same time as a general purpose lens to get me away.

Now, I used to always use fast 50mm f1.4 Olympus lenses on my film cameras. I've seen a 50mm 1.4G for my D90 and I have to say I'm tempted, the thinking being I used to have an 80mm for portraits in 35mm..

So I guess my question is, as the intended use of the camera is mainly taking pictures of my kids at various places on holiday, days out and so on, is a 50 (75mm equiv') a suitable lens? I like to control depth of field.

Am I as well just sticking with a 18-55?

I'm not much of a 'landscape photographer', I prefer people or all things mechanical/technical.

Ideas welcome, lens up to £250 tops.

[lookingforajob]

dfen5 said:

Limited budget so got a s/h Nikon D90 from LCE. Seems to get good reviews.

Got a 18-55 VR for £60 at the same time as a general purpose lens to get me away.

Now, I used to always use fast 50mm f1.4 Olympus lenses on my film cameras. I've seen a 50mm 1.4G for my D90 and I have to say I'm tempted, the thinking being I used to have an 80mm for portraits in 35mm..

So I guess my question is, as the intended use of the camera is mainly taking pictures of my kids at various places on holiday, days out and so on, is a 50 (75mm equiv') a suitable lens? I like to control depth of field.

Am I as well just sticking with a 18-55?

I'm not much of a 'landscape photographer', I prefer people or all things mechanical/technical.

Ideas welcome, lens up to £250 tops.

I don't use Nikon, I'm a Canon shooter - however I will give this general advice. Why not use the lens you have got until you get to the point where it can't do what you wan't/it starts to annoy you?

I've got a few prime lenses (the Canon 50mm 1.4 springs to mind as you mention it). And I never use it! I've also gotten the 24-70 2.8 and for me thats good enough whilst have the added flexibility of a zoom. I can't comment on tiny differenced in image quality as I don't go into lightroom and zoom in to that detail... It's just not my thing. I'd never shoot at 1.4 as the tiny DOF would not be good for me - so it stays in the bag/under my bed. That was over £200 wastes for me.

Also where are you based? If someone was local to me and asked the question for Canon I'd invite them around for a coffee/beer and let them have a play with my stuff. So it might be an idea.

[Simpo Two]

The kit lens won't get anywhere near f1.4 so if you really need f1.4 get the Nikkor 50mm f1.4. The older AF-D version should be around £250 I think, the AF-S version more. eBay is your friend.

NB Or save a packet and get the f1.8.

[SheriffAds]

I have the Nikkor 50mm 1.8D prime lens on my D7000 and love it - fast and picture quality is excellent and it is cheap! About £100 new... can't argue really. It was the first lens I bought after using the kit lens on my old D60 and I have never looked back since.

Edited by SheriffAds on Friday 18th July 08:05

[budfox]

Get the 35mm f1.8 DX - About £150 and a real beauty.

[GravelBen]

Have a look at the 50mm f1.8D. Much cheaper than the f1/.4 and still a very nice lens. Also gives good macro results with a cheap reverse adaptor if that takes your fancy.

Having said that, I think I'd use a 35mm prime more than a 50mm if I had one.

[GlenMH]

GravelBen said:

Have a look at the 50mm f1.8D. Much cheaper than the f1/.4 and still a very nice lens. Also gives good macro results with a cheap reverse adaptor if that takes your fancy.

Having said that, I think I'd use a 35mm prime more than a 50mm if I had one.

This. I have got the 50mm f1.4 which produces some stunning results but if you are taking pictures of kids etc then I would go for the 35mm.

A lot of the time, the 50mm is just too long so I would use the 35mm more.

[Simpo Two]

Depends if you want a general purpose lens or a specific 'portrait' lens. The OP seems to suggest both needs.

[Mr Will]

The 50mm will make a lovely portrait lens, but if you can only afford one prime then get the 35mm 1.8 instead - it's just so much more versatile. I wish Canon made an equivalent TBH.

[K12beano]

Lots of suggestions already coming in. To add to that, I managed to snaffle an AF-D f/1.4 of the 50mm variety for £135 (back about 2010). So one of those could give you great value for your £££, though arguably the f/1.8 gives even better value since you'd have some "fun" trying to focus the faster lens at it's limit especially given the typical viewfinder on a modern Nikon!

But, surprised - given the other parameters of already have a lens and "portrait" and children (running around?) that no suggestion for a secondhand (AF-D) 85mm f/1.8.

I used one on DX for many years (and film before that) and only parted to get a f/1.4 version. That and a 20mm f/2.8mm were my most used lenses (including three months in the States - 8,000+ shots)

For "portrait" on DX 105mm is a touch long, but 85mm gets you in close whether a tight shot or handling the "from a distance" non-intrusive stuff AND gives you dof choices.

[dfen5]

Thanks for the suggestions, certainly food for thought.

Camera arrived today. After a quick clean (surprised it wasn't cleaned) it's looking pretty damned good for £190. The 18-55 VR's mint. Nikon's iPad manual reader app is a Godsend.

Going to have a look tomorrow morning to see what's stock in my local camera shop, I think I'll go 35 1.8, see how that goes and then shop around for a 50 (and others I'm sure) when I have more time.

Need to start getting involved in photos for a newsletter too. What have I started..