Just bought my D90 with the kit lens 18-105. What lens(es) to get for $1000

Hi,

I just purchased D90 with the kit lens 18-105. Now I have buyer for my sony slr gear therefore I have about $1000 to spent on lenses.

So far I like the 18-105. The only think I don't like about it is the DOF. on my sony gear I had the excellent Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 and I miss the DOF and boketh if that lens.

I am ur typical casual amateur photographer. I love taking good outdoors shots as well as casual indoor event. I do take quite a bit of pictures of cars road racing therefore i need more ranget then 105mm I am getting with the kit lens.

At this point I am thinking 70-300 VR, and 50mm f1.8 prime for good portraits.

I am completely open to suggestions and I am also not afraid to put the kit lens up on ebay to get additional $200 towards my lenses.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks

CTNewb said:

Hi,

I just purchased D90 with the kit lens 18-105. Now I have buyer for my sony slr gear therefore I have about $1000 to spent on lenses.

So far I like the 18-105. The only think I don't like about it is the DOF. on my sony gear I had the excellent Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 and I miss the DOF and boketh if that lens.

I am ur typical casual amateur photographer. I love taking good outdoors shots as well as casual indoor event. I do take quite a bit of pictures of cars road racing therefore i need more ranget then 105mm I am getting with the kit lens.

At this point I am thinking 70-300 VR, and 50mm f1.8 prime for good portraits.

I am completely open to suggestions and I am also not afraid to put the kit lens up on ebay to get additional $200 towards my lenses.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

definitely the 70-300 VR. excellent lens for the money, you'd have to more than triple its price to get more quality or reach. You'd have to cough up $$$ for the 70-200 if you want f2.8.

You're going to have some problems getting a larger aperture single lens in the midrange. There are two f2.8s: the 17-55 and 24-70, both quite pricey. Keep the 18-105; the other choices in the Nikon line aren't really faster, have similar IQ, but differ in details of build quality, VR, and bokeh or range. You've probably selected the best combo for your $1000 for your preferred subjects.

I have 18-105 and I love the lens . Very sharp for "kit" lens.

It depends what you like to shoot. If you like landscape , get something wide like tokina 12-24, 11-16 or nikon 10-24 or maybe even sigma 8-16 when it becomes available.

If you like portrait lens, get 35 1.8 for indoors, and 85 1.8 for outside. Both are GREAT for the money.

I have 50 1.4G and the focal lenght is weird on DX . Too long indoors, too short outside.
If you like wildlife or long"street' lens 70-300 vr is way to go I guess.
--
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Uh, why don't you master the basics with your camera first?

For $1,000, I would be using some of it to take formal photography 101 classes at a community college and buy a book, "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson.

Leave the rest in a piggy bank until you feel like you're ready for a lens purchase.

I think I have the basics down considering I owned and used quite a bit of SLRs. I am definitely looking to buy a good/guide to the D90 just like i had one for my Sony DSLR.

At this point I am just trying to evaluate my options and get the Nikon gear for the money that I have from my sony gear.

Thanks
Luke

The 18-105 is a good lens overall and I would keep it. I shoot buildings, etc. and have the Sigma 10-20 and have been pleased with it for UWA - solid build, sharp, fast AF.

CTNewb said:

I think I have the basics down considering I owned and used quite a bit of SLRs. I am definitely looking to buy a good/guide to the D90 just like i had one for my Sony DSLR.

At this point I am just trying to evaluate my options and get the Nikon gear for the money that I have from my sony gear.

Thanks
Luke

Click to expand...

Get Hogan's D90 e-guide. Well worth the cost for its comprehensiveness, detail, and practicality.

Why are you recommending her / him to buy Thom Hogan's eBook?

She / he should be out shooting instead of sitting in the couch, yawning, while reading the eBook then miss all the photography opportunities.

The eBook is useless because it's too detailed and she / he will feel overwhelmed with too many information.

Nothing beats a perfectly useable and free user's manual that came with the D90.

mosswings said:

CTNewb said:

I think I have the basics down considering I owned and used quite a bit of SLRs. I am definitely looking to buy a good/guide to the D90 just like i had one for my Sony DSLR.

At this point I am just trying to evaluate my options and get the Nikon gear for the money that I have from my sony gear.

Thanks
Luke

Click to expand...

Get Hogan's D90 e-guide. Well worth the cost for its comprehensiveness, detail, and practicality.

Click to expand...

i also have the d90 + 18-105 kit lens. i also have the 50/1.8, and used to have (but sold) a sigma 70-300 4-5.6. previously i had the d70s with the 18-70 kit lens. like you, i'm mostly a casual shooter.

if i had the $1k you had for lenses, i'd go with the tamron 28-75 2.8 (non-BIM), 50/1.8, and nikon 70-300 VR. if you can forego the 50/1.8 and maybe add a little cash, you could also get an SB-600. you could also sell the 18-105 and get a wide-angle.

here's what i'd be thinking of getting, in order of preference: (assuming i also sell the 18-105)

tamron 28-75/2.8
nikon 70-300 VR
nikon 50/1.8

if i'm still within budget, or if i can shell out a bit more dough: SB-600 or sigma 10-20 (i prefer the 10-20, but that'll require some additional money)

Whatever you decide on regarding lenses, I suggest holding back $220 for an SB-600. If you're going to be shooting indoors, a speedlight is a must-have.

the SB600 is an excelent choice beside the 18-105 you will get.

best idea might be you hold on to that money for a while and see what you need in few months after shooting for a while. You will have a much better idea what you need instead of getting everything of the bat that you might not even use after. But flash is a absolutley best item to get for now.

70-300VR
35mm f/1.8
50mm f/1.4 G or D

Depends on your needs.
But I'd start with the top two on the list above.

I was a very similar situation as you are currently. I purchased the following in this order:

• Nikon D90+kit 18-105VR - #4
• Nikon 70-300mm VRII (great for outdoor action and long portrait!) #3
• Nikon 50mm 1.8/D (Portrait and low-light lens) #1
• SB600 (a must-have IMO! Using it as a remote slave has been wonderful)
• Tamron 90mm/2.8 Macro Di with built-in motor #2

(Numbers after the lenses show which lenses I use the most just now. Keep in mind that it IS winter though so I'm doing a lot of indoor shots!)

My only recommendation would be to look into the 35mm instead of the 50mm if you plan in sticking with the DX format in the future. There have been times (mainly in low-light rooms that are rather small) that I wish I had the 35mm instead of the 50mm.

The SB600 would be a really good investment with the D90. The capabilities and things you can do with it are amazing!

BTW, if you ask me, skip the book mentioned above. There's enough free information online that your money would probably be better spent. IMHO anyway.

Hope that helps!

--
-Jaron
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/J.+Horst+Photography/popular-interesting/

JaronRH,

How do you like the Tamron 90mm? I'm starting to lean towards this lens for macro instead of the Nikon 60mm. You pretty much have the same setup I have (or want) and I would recommend it to the OP as well. At this moment I have:

Nikon D90 kit w/ 18-105VR
Nikon 50mm 1.8/D
SB600

So funny because now I'm probably going to get a macro (maybe the Tamron) and the 70-300mm VR. Good photographers think alike?

JaronRH said:

I was a very similar situation as you are currently. I purchased the following in this order:

• Nikon D90+kit 18-105VR - #4
• Nikon 70-300mm VRII (great for outdoor action and long portrait!) #3
• Nikon 50mm 1.8/D (Portrait and low-light lens) #1
• SB600 (a must-have IMO! Using it as a remote slave has been wonderful)
• Tamron 90mm/2.8 Macro Di with built-in motor #2

(Numbers after the lenses show which lenses I use the most just now. Keep in mind that it IS winter though so I'm doing a lot of indoor shots!)

My only recommendation would be to look into the 35mm instead of the 50mm if you plan in sticking with the DX format in the future. There have been times (mainly in low-light rooms that are rather small) that I wish I had the 35mm instead of the 50mm.

The SB600 would be a really good investment with the D90. The capabilities and things you can do with it are amazing!

BTW, if you ask me, skip the book mentioned above. There's enough free information online that your money would probably be better spent. IMHO anyway.

Hope that helps!

--
-Jaron
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/J.+Horst+Photography/popular-interesting/

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I have (among others) exactly what you are asking about. D90, 50mm 1.8, and the 70-300. My "kit" lens is the 18-135. Love that lens but for arguments sake you are well covered with the 18-105. Anyway, first, the 70-300 is a great lens, especially outdoors. Works great, has never let me down. Indoors, when the light is down a bit, it will hunt to focus. Just stick with it. Can be frustrating, but you usually aren't working that fast indoors. Oh and by the way, before all the posters come charging in saying that you would not use this lens indoors....yeah, whatever. This is a great portrait lens with a bit of patience and light. You can shoot a full head shot at a party from 20 ft across the room. Would a 2, or 300 2.8 work better? Yes of course, for an extra $2000. Regarding the 50mm 1.8, I have it, and I like it. Nice for portraits, nice bokeh. Lots of people don't like it, saying the bokeh is not that good. Bokeh is subjective, some like, some don't on this lens, I like! If there is money left over, I would agree with others here, that the SB600 would be a smart buy. Great for portraits, will totally change the look of pics taken with your in camera flash. Further, you can trigger it off cam with the D90. In fact you can set up a 2-3 light shoot just using speedguns.
Anyway.....my humble opinion...good lick with your decision
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljames403/

Actually what you are thinking of is an excellent selection of lenses. You could make it even more versatilel by adding a closeup lens or tube so the 50mm could do double duty.

If you feel you can't live without f/2.8, consider replacing the 18-105VR with an older (non-VR) Tamron 17-50mm.
--
HARRY LAVO
70 years and (still) lovin it!

A couple of NIkon bodies | All the glass I need| Manfrotto pods and clamp system| Enough software to still be only half-way up the learning curve

akjos said:

If you like portrait lens, get 35 1.8 for indoors, and 85 1.8 for outside. Both are GREAT for the money.

I have 50 1.4G and the focal lenght is weird on DX . Too long indoors, too short outside.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't call the 35 a "portrait" lens, but to me it's essential. I have a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and I use it more than my 16-85. The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is a fine lens and can be had for half the price of the Sigma.

The reason I got a lens like this is to take photos indoors or at night without a flash at all. The photos are always real crowd-pleasers. People are used to "party" photos taken on P&S cameras with everyone's face blown out. I have an SB-600; I usually don't (and don't have to) bring it with me.

Agreed about 50mm on a DX. I have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D and I hardly ever use it. It's sharp and has good defocus but the focal length just isn't that useful. At 12MP, you can crop a 30mm; you cannot un-crop a 50mm.

I'll stop rambling now. Get a fast 30 or 35.

I ended up getting 70-300mm VR and 50 f1.8. I have to say I am pretty happy with 50 f/1.8. As far as focal length 50mm seems to be perfect to my shooting. Prior to buying I took a look at my best portraits with the sony gear and at what focal length they were taken at. That let me to buying 50 f/1.8 vs 35mm f/1.8, and I am happy with the choice so far.

Thanks for everyones advice.
Luke

I have the Tamron 90mm and it is a very nice lens for macro and portraits rendering excellent bokeh. The AF is a little slow so it requires more patience. The 18-105VR is sharp but has too much distortion and this will become a problem if you do a lot of people shooting indoors around furniture that have straight lines.
Want something different? Here we go!

Tamron 17-50 VC F2.8
Sigma 17-70 OS F2.8-4
Nikon 35mm F1.8
Tamron 90mm F2.8
Tokina 12-24 F4 BIM
Nikon 55-200VR if you really do not need 300mm

Nikon 16-85VR if you want the safe standard route but you will give up on bokeh.

Cos you have the 18-105 alraidy,i,ll go for 70-300 Mm

You know there is an ISO button on your D90,So in my opinium the rest is bulshit.
why buy an 50 Mm an 28-70 or somtinge els when you have alraidy an 18-105

wats the problem when you shoot at ISO 200 or 400 you hardly wil see anny diference.

Wat do you gain A few stops light diferent.for an amateur this is not an problem.

Atleast when you want an 50 Mm lens then go for an 50 Mm macro lens,atleast you have 50 Mm at F2.8 with is not bad at all,and you can take 1:1 macro with it to.

so you get two options from one lens.
otherwise you end up with an bag full of lenses,you gone use A few times.

just my opinium

CTNewb said:

Hi,

I just purchased D90 with the kit lens 18-105. Now I have buyer for my sony slr gear therefore I have about $1000 to spent on lenses.

So far I like the 18-105. The only think I don't like about it is the DOF. on my sony gear I had the excellent Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 and I miss the DOF and boketh if that lens.

I am ur typical casual amateur photographer. I love taking good outdoors shots as well as casual indoor event. I do take quite a bit of pictures of cars road racing therefore i need more ranget then 105mm I am getting with the kit lens.

At this point I am thinking 70-300 VR, and 50mm f1.8 prime for good portraits.

I am completely open to suggestions and I am also not afraid to put the kit lens up on ebay to get additional $200 towards my lenses.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

--
My english is poor.Try to Understand
Nikon D70s,Nikon D5000,Oly 420,LX3,DP-1 D90
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Claus M