So I just bought a D50, body only. For now I can use my cheap lens that came with my N75. But I'd like to get a decent lens that I can use on both (i.e. non-DX). What do you guys find the most useful in everyday shooting? My current lens is 28-80mm, has glass lenses, but plastic housing and feels a little cheap (well it is only $80 new). Also, what brands. Of course Nikkor is great, but does anyone have experience with Sigma or Tamron?
I usually use either a 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom-Nikkor for interiors or architecture or 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D AF Zoom-Nikkor for other stuff. If I'm shooting at night, handheld I like using a fast 50mm f/1.4D AF or 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor. I can switch between film and digital with these lenses.
You could just get the newer DX lenses for your D50 like the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor which would pretty much cover all your shooting needs. It's not a fixed f/2.8 zoom but those are usually run over a grand.
I have 28-80mm and 70-300mm sigma lenses. I love them both. The housing is plastic but sturdy. and both come with macro features which have proven invaluable. I've used these on my canon slr for the past 3 years and now switch them to my dslr instead of the crappy lens that came with the canon digital body.
i just bought my d50 as well. i got a 18-55mm, which they say, is decent. reason why i didn't get a 28-80 is because 28 is not wide enough for me. i am also planning on getting a 80-300mm telephoto lens by nikon. it's cheap for its range. i need both telephoto and wide lenses.
In the 6 years i've owned the nikon 80-200mm f2.8 lens, I've used it maybe a dozen times in my architecture/landscape hunting photo safaris around the world. If I shot portraits, then it is a great piece of glass that would get lots of use.
While I'm not in love with my 24-85mm f/2.8-4 (because of too much barrel distortion below 35 mm) its the only lens that I ever seem to use... if I could drop the big bucks for the 17-35mm f/2.8D ($2k), I would never pack the my lenses.
I use a 1970's Minolta. Tank-built, manual focus (the XE-1, which is the same as the Leica R3).
Depends what you like to shoot. I use prime lenses: a 50mm 1:1.4 for everyday stuff, and a x2 converter makes it a 100mm 1:2.8. I also use a 24mm 1:2.5. The fact that they are quite fast lenses allows for some lovely bokeh when the lens is wide open.
I have been trying to eBay something longer, like a 250, 300, or 500, but these would be for capturing architectural detail from a distance.
Prime lenses will always give a better image, and generally be faster than the equivalent length within a zoom, with less fall-off and less flare. The faster/wider apertures allow shooting in the lower light of dawn/dusk/indoors and are the result of quality optics.
Get some filters for indoor/B&W work.
I would never go for a non-minolta (Rokkor) lens. Mainly because I would always wonder how much better the genuine article is, and therefore how much I had wasted buying something inferior.
Meanwhile, use what you have, find its limits and which direction it is that you want to go with your next lens.
superglue- i bought if off from amazon.com. they are reliable...they sell d50 and 18-55mm for around 620 dollars if i remember right...go check amazon out! also, there was a deal at the time i bought it where they gave me a free memory card.
i have a problem guys...my d50 arrived today and while i was taking some pictures, smoke began to come out of the camera for a little while. i can smell it for a bit but then it's gone. i don't think it's the battery because it isn't hot or anything...and i haven't been using it for a long time. i might return it back to repair (1 year warranty)
Sashimi: I don't know if you're aware but there's a Nikon EN-EL3 battery recall. Check the nikon site for more info.
Hasselhoff: Check out the lens reviews at http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm
Although the 17-35mm f/2.8D is a very good lens, Thom Hogan writes "Since most of the deficiencies are corner related, a 1.5x angle of view crop does wonders for the performance ratings." - regarding the 18-35mm lens which is much cheaper.
May 2, 06 12:14 am ·
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SLR lenses
So I just bought a D50, body only. For now I can use my cheap lens that came with my N75. But I'd like to get a decent lens that I can use on both (i.e. non-DX). What do you guys find the most useful in everyday shooting? My current lens is 28-80mm, has glass lenses, but plastic housing and feels a little cheap (well it is only $80 new). Also, what brands. Of course Nikkor is great, but does anyone have experience with Sigma or Tamron?
I usually use either a 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom-Nikkor for interiors or architecture or 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D AF Zoom-Nikkor for other stuff. If I'm shooting at night, handheld I like using a fast 50mm f/1.4D AF or 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor. I can switch between film and digital with these lenses.
You could just get the newer DX lenses for your D50 like the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor which would pretty much cover all your shooting needs. It's not a fixed f/2.8 zoom but those are usually run over a grand.
I have 28-80mm and 70-300mm sigma lenses. I love them both. The housing is plastic but sturdy. and both come with macro features which have proven invaluable. I've used these on my canon slr for the past 3 years and now switch them to my dslr instead of the crappy lens that came with the canon digital body.
i just bought my d50 as well. i got a 18-55mm, which they say, is decent. reason why i didn't get a 28-80 is because 28 is not wide enough for me. i am also planning on getting a 80-300mm telephoto lens by nikon. it's cheap for its range. i need both telephoto and wide lenses.
used 18-70 DX 3.5-4.5 goes on e-bay for $200... shelve your film camera. used 80-200 2.8 goes for $450, another good lens although a lill bit bulky.
how did you end up getting such a great deal sashimi? I read your previous slr entry; you end up getting a great deal for the body and 18-55mm lens.
In the 6 years i've owned the nikon 80-200mm f2.8 lens, I've used it maybe a dozen times in my architecture/landscape hunting photo safaris around the world. If I shot portraits, then it is a great piece of glass that would get lots of use.
While I'm not in love with my 24-85mm f/2.8-4 (because of too much barrel distortion below 35 mm) its the only lens that I ever seem to use... if I could drop the big bucks for the 17-35mm f/2.8D ($2k), I would never pack the my lenses.
Nikon ROCKS!
I use a 1970's Minolta. Tank-built, manual focus (the XE-1, which is the same as the Leica R3).
Depends what you like to shoot. I use prime lenses: a 50mm 1:1.4 for everyday stuff, and a x2 converter makes it a 100mm 1:2.8. I also use a 24mm 1:2.5. The fact that they are quite fast lenses allows for some lovely bokeh when the lens is wide open.
I have been trying to eBay something longer, like a 250, 300, or 500, but these would be for capturing architectural detail from a distance.
Prime lenses will always give a better image, and generally be faster than the equivalent length within a zoom, with less fall-off and less flare. The faster/wider apertures allow shooting in the lower light of dawn/dusk/indoors and are the result of quality optics.
Get some filters for indoor/B&W work.
I would never go for a non-minolta (Rokkor) lens. Mainly because I would always wonder how much better the genuine article is, and therefore how much I had wasted buying something inferior.
Meanwhile, use what you have, find its limits and which direction it is that you want to go with your next lens.
superglue- i bought if off from amazon.com. they are reliable...they sell d50 and 18-55mm for around 620 dollars if i remember right...go check amazon out! also, there was a deal at the time i bought it where they gave me a free memory card.
i have a problem guys...my d50 arrived today and while i was taking some pictures, smoke began to come out of the camera for a little while. i can smell it for a bit but then it's gone. i don't think it's the battery because it isn't hot or anything...and i haven't been using it for a long time. i might return it back to repair (1 year warranty)
smoke good for NAS (nikon acquisition syndrome)... D200 wont smoke. Time for u to upgrade.
Sashimi: I don't know if you're aware but there's a Nikon EN-EL3 battery recall. Check the nikon site for more info.
Hasselhoff: Check out the lens reviews at http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm
Although the 17-35mm f/2.8D is a very good lens, Thom Hogan writes "Since most of the deficiencies are corner related, a 1.5x angle of view crop does wonders for the performance ratings." - regarding the 18-35mm lens which is much cheaper.
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