First lens purchase

[Lifestyles]

Things are starting to come around as far as clients go, but still on a budget...What is the best lens for a D5000....Main focus of my work is indoor adult parties (nightime) and some modeling/headshots. Have the 18/55 pics are soft...

[GeoffWessex]

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF D....... cheap as chips and very useful for your needs.

[Lifestyles]

I will read the specs, but can you briefly tell me in what ways this lens will provide the the range I need. I shoot the couples arriving on the red carpet, the candid's of the party and my wife and I shoot intimate's as well. Sort of a specialized area..

[Lifestyles]

Is there a zoom with the same ability's,,,,So I have more of a range?

[xavier]

I just wonder if an 18 -200 mm would suit for general shots or an 85mm for head & sholder photos

[GeoffWessex]

On a D5000, a 50mm lens would have the angle of view of around a 75mm lens - an excellent portrait length (OK, ideally, a 60mm would give you a 90mm equivalent but you'd get a similar effect). The large aperture (f/1.8) is very 'fast' and would give you an excellent narrow depth of field - therefore your portrait (or red carpet, or candids) backgrounds would easily go nicely out of focus (giving a 'bokeh'). If I had a Nikon I'd jump at this lens. It will also be a lot sharper than the 18-55mm kit lens that you think gives 'soft' pictures.

[silversnapper1]

CARE.

There is no autofocus with the D5000 and the Nikon 50mm f1.8. You will only be able to manual focus as there is no motor built in to either the camera or the lens.

I agree that a fast lens is what you will want for indoor shots. The 35mm f1.8G, 50mm 1.4G and the 60mm f2.8G may well suit your needs as I believe all of these will autofocus with the D5000.

[GeoffWessex]

Sorry, Yes.... cancel my last posts...... I was staggered to find that the D5000 cannot use the 50mm f/1.8 AF D! No wonder those lenses are going so cheaply around here! Thanks Steve!

On the other point, yes, sure, a zoom lens gives you range but you then have a much smaller maximum aperture.... and therefore slower shutter speeds (unless you push the ISO up to noisy levels) and a much deeper depth of field - so not much of a 'bokeh' to throw backgrounds nicely into soft focus. And not as sharp either. Nah... for the jobs you mention, the best choice then becomes the 'other' lenses mentioned above by silversnapper1...... with the 50mm f/1.4 being the one I'd go for.

[silversnapper1]

My son has the 50mm f1.4/D5000 combo and, as he has learning difficulties, his pics with that lens are not always in focus. Still trying to teach him to focus manually.

With regard to the 50mm f1.4 it will have to be the more expensive G to autofocus with the D5000 as there are versions with and without motors.