Good lenses
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- iheartfun
Just got a new starter DSLR over the weekend. Nikon D3100. Im no professional at photography but I do really like taking pictures. Came with a kit lens and a 55-200mm.
I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for some good start off lenses that wouldn't brake my bank account. I have been looking at the 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 Prime for it. If you guys know any good online shops that would helps as well besides the norm like b&h photo and such. Thanks!
- nb0
Check out the Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX. Really great prime for the price. As sharp as the 50mm 1.8, but a bit wider angle which I find goes very well with the APS-C sensor.
- desmo0
Get the 35mm 1.8. Perfect walk around lens and is at a really good price. The 50mm 1.8 which you mentioned is also a good start.
- zaq0
http://gearsnapper.com/ is your friend
- johnny_wobble0
good start off lenses = the ones you have
then I'd get the 50mm 1.8
you could also play with some old manual focus lenses, you could find some nice primes for cheap that way.
- johnny_wobble0
good start off lenses = the ones you have
then I'd get the 50mm 1.8
you could also play with some old manual focus lenses, you could find some nice primes for cheap that way.
- HijoDMaite0
Go here:
Watch vids, read forums, register, submit photos, listen to critique, ask questions, shoot, edit, and don't start buying a bunch of crap.
buy tripod.
I use Canon and bought my first semi-nice glass, I spent $450 on a 85mm 1.8 a few weeks ago and I swear it's a whole new world. But I practiced with my cheap plastic lenses for close to a year.
- nb0
Remember, you need AF-S lenses if you want autofocus with that body. This is why I prefer the 35mm 1.8 DX over the 50mm lenses. You'll end up spending about the same amount of money, but you might prefer the 35mm angle of view.
I have a few prime lenses, and it's rare that I drop all the way down to the lowest f-stop. I contemplated the 1.4 50mm, but I've come to realize I'm usually shooting at f2 or higher anyway.
- Yea I heard that from a friend who has the camera so def remembering the AF-Siheartfun
- vaxorcist0
The old 50mm 1.8 AF-D is plasticky, and doesn't AF with your D3100, it costs about $125
The new 50mm 1.8 AF-G is better built, has better AF and it does AF with your D3100, it also costs about $220
There are LOTS of nice old, cheap Nikon AF-D lenses, but they won't AF with your D3100, so you might as well get manual focus Nikon AIS or AI lenses if you're going manual focus.... the 105 F2.5 is a very, very nice portrait lens, usually $100-200 on ebay.
- sorry,the 50mm 1.8 AF-S G lens is what the new 50 1.8 is called....vaxorcist
- doesnotexist0
dpreview is pretty good too
- iheartfun0
Anybody got any links to picture difference between the 1.4 and 1.8? I googled and found one for a canon which I assume I could just kinda base it off of for the nikon but yea...
This might be asking to mach...
- iheartfun0
here was the link I was kinda basing it off...
http://photo.net/equipment/canon…
- idiots0
I could take a few pics, I own both lenses, what would you want to see? Though, to me, the main difference is the housing, the 1.4 being more solid/heavier
- jaylarson0
i like this guy too:
http://mansurovs.com/nikon-lens-…
- idiots0
throwing them on the scale:
the 1.8 weighs 141 grams
the 1.4 weighs 303 grams
- iheartfun0
jaylarsons link might have just sold me on the 1.8 just for the saving money aspect. the review there is pretty stellar
- i have that lens in my hand, if i drop both of them, i know which one will break. now ask jay if he's ever dropped a lensidiots
- yes but all lenses are fragile and I'm not about to pay a $200 difference just because of brakingiheartfun
- yep. dropped one in a creek.jaylarson
- and dropped my 50 1.4D. nicked it a bit...jaylarson
- iheartfun0
thanks for the help