35mm, 50mm or 18-55mm ??

[sadiqabsar]

Hi everyone! I guess the title says it all but here's the background.

New to photography and have a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 70-300mm lens. Enjoying using that for photographing birds (including the occasional appearance of a common pheasant!) in the garden, but need something to mess around with indoors.

I've been looking at the 18-55mm, 35mm and 50mm and can't decide which to go for. I don't want to spend too much on lenses as a) I don't want to spend loads and find the initial enjoyment/excitement begins to wane and b) the D80 is fairly old so if it goes belly up then I haven't spent loads and am tied into Nikon (not that there's anythiong wrong with that), therefore allowing me to choose more freely what to get next.

I'm not really into portrait photography, but I have to admit, I'm loving taking non-stop photo's of the kids (and the missus) pretending to be a 'real' photographer. The kids don't mind but the missus isn't overly happy anbout it .

Any advice on which would be the best to get would be appreciated.

Thanks
Sadiq

Oh, PS - I have seen some 50mm AIS lenses on ebay - would these fit and auto focus?

[OldBoy]

The 50mm F1.8 would be ideal for indoor shots. At around £100 it's not going to break the bank.

[rbarry]

Depends how big your budget is, but it strikes me you are limiting yourself if the shortest focal length you end up with 50mm.

I agree with Oldboy that the 50mm f1.8 lens is great vfm and will give you excellent portrait shots. But you will be struggling indoors for anything other than portraits, unless you live in a mansion house with very large rooms. Equally, landscapes are going to be very limited unless taken from a long way away or very high up, like from a light aircraft!

I would advise you go for the 18-55mm lens without question (if the 70-300mm is your only lens at the moment) and if you can streetch to it now, or in the near future, your next purchase should be the 50mm prime.

[amk1977]

If its primarily for indoor use, then I too would suggest you go for the 50mm. Its cheap, razor sharp and great for portraits and also for still life as the shallow depth of field is excellent and allows you to be more creative. Your shots will take on a completely different feel with the wide aperture.

The AI-s lenses are manual focus only. You can pick up a used AF-D for around £70 on eBay. Its the cheapest lens I own and its also my favourite. Personally, I don't think you'd regret buying.

[ap4a]

If indoors means indoors at home then, unless you have a huge house, you may find 50mm to be too long on a crop body, and a 30 or 35mm a better option. But for around £80 a 50mm f/1.8 is a great buy regardless.

[sadiqabsar]

Thanks for the advice guys. Got the 18-55mm delivered today. :-)

[rbarry]

Good choice, now save up for the 50mm 1.8...........

[asard]

I am also looking for a Nikon 50mm lense, to compliment my existing zooms. A 50mm prime is a good general lense I am told.

Looking at the 50mm AF F1.8, it doesn't look that good in terms of quality, compared to the AFS 1.8 and 1.4. There is obvioulsy quite a price hike for both of these. Is it worth going for the AF 1.8, The camera I will use it on is the D300S.

There was also some write up about a 50mm Nikon in Digital Camera recently but I can't find the article and am not sure whcih one they are recommending.

[amk1977]

Originally Posted by asard

I am also looking for a Nikon 50mm lense, to compliment my existing zooms. A 50mm prime is a good general lense I am told.

Looking at the 50mm AF F1.8, it doesn't look that good in terms of quality, compared to the AFS 1.8 and 1.4. There is obvioulsy quite a price hike for both of these. Is it worth going for the AF 1.8, The camera I will use it on is the D300S.

There was also some write up about a 50mm Nikon in Digital Camera recently but I can't find the article and am not sure whcih one they are recommending.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D is one of the best bang for buck lenses available for Nikons. Although not regarded by Nikon as a "professional lens", its optical performance is absolutely first class. For the £100 price tag, you couldn't purchase any other lens brand new, that rivals it.

The AF-S version has been optically redesigned and has slightly improved bokeh over the AF-D. It also has the benefit of instant manual focus override, which when working at wide apertures can be a huge benefit. With the AF-D you have to disengage the focus motor on the camera body.

Since there is only about £70 price difference between the two, the AF-S version is certainly tempting. The only downside to it is the loss of the aperture ring, since its a gelded lens. Not something that affects everyone but, if using the 50mm on extension bellows for macro work or with a reverse ring, then you have no control over the aperture.

If you're going to lay out on the expense of the AF-S f/1.4, then you might want to consider the Sigma equivalent. A bit more weighty than the Nikkor but, then again its a 77mm filter lens. Some reviews I've read, favour the Nikon, some the Sigma, for different reasons. Compared side by side, the Sigma looks to have the more pleasing bokeh of the two.

If I decide to upgrade from the AF-D, I'd go with the Sigma personally, although to be completely honest, stopped down to the same aperture, you'd probably be very hard pressed to distinguish all the 50mm lenses as to which lens took what. I rarely use mine below f/3.2 as the DOF is so shallow, it can render too much of your subject out of focus. Fine wide open for posed portraits or still life but, on subjects that have a tendency to fidget and move, you'll probably not have that much joy.

Now, having said all that, my 50mm hasn't seen that much use of late, as I picked up a 35-70mm f/2.8D. Very fast focusing, razor sharp wide open and has the benefit of the zoom which for me has proved very beneficial in just going that bit wider or tighter, without the need to reposition. Long since discontinued now but, still available on eBay for about £220 for a decent copy. Just watch out for the non-d version which can affect flash TTL. The modern day equivalent is the AF-S 24-70mm which is a £1300 lens. Might be something to consider anyway.

[asard]

Thanks for your very detailed responce. Very much apreciated.

Cheers