Getting new lenses!

Hi!

I'm kind of new to photography. I own a nikon D3000, I have only the kit lens, and I want to buy another one.

I'm between a 50 mm 1.8 nikkor (I can't afford de 1.4)

And a 50-200 mm, which one do you think is more useful for a beginner?

Also, the 50 mm is like 90 bucks cheaper If i buy it without an internal AF motor (So i won't be able to autofocus). I don't think Ill replace my camera soon, or buy a high level camera with a autocus motor included. Do you think the internal AF motor its worth the extra 90 bucks? Or should I focus manually all the time?

Thanks!

Santiago

I'm not sure if this is the right section of dpreview to post it, or if there is an special section for lenses, or maybe on the D3000 talk.

Celador said:

Hi!

I'm kind of new to photography. I own a nikon D3000, I have only the kit lens, and I want to buy another one.

I'm between a 50 mm 1.8 nikkor (I can't afford de 1.4)

And a 50-200 mm, which one do you think is more useful for a beginner?

Also, the 50 mm is like 90 bucks cheaper If i buy it without an internal AF motor (So i won't be able to autofocus). I don't think Ill replace my camera soon, or buy a high level camera with a autocus motor included. Do you think the internal AF motor its worth the extra 90 bucks? Or should I focus manually all the time?

Thanks!

Santiago

I'm not sure if this is the right section of dpreview to post it, or if there is an special section for lenses, or maybe on the D3000 talk.

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Nikon SLR lens talk is the section you want.

Probably the Nikon SLR lens talk forum is more appropriate.

As for your decision, it entirely depends on what you need.

If you are finding that you don't have enough "reach" and you are constantly cropping your photos, then the telephoto zoom is a good choice. If you are having trouble shooting in low light with your kit lens, or you want shallower depth of field, then the 50mm is a good choice.

I would pay the extra money and get the AFS version with the motor, as there will be times when you want autofocus.

Celador said:

I'm between a 50 mm 1.8 nikkor (I can't afford de 1.4)

And a 50-200 mm, which one do you think is more useful for a beginner?

Click to expand...

These are very differant lenses their use has no real overlap. You need to sit down and think what pictures do you want to take. I suspect these are just the two lens that fit your budget.

Celador said:

Also, the 50 mm is like 90 bucks cheaper If i buy it without an internal AF motor (So i won't be able to autofocus). I don't think Ill replace my camera soon, or buy a high level camera with a autocus motor included. Do you think the internal AF motor its worth the extra 90 bucks? Or should I focus manually all the time?

Click to expand...

In a years time will the shine of having to manual focus a million times worn off?

Celador said:

Hi!

I'm kind of new to photography. I own a nikon D3000, I have only the kit lens, and I want to buy another one.

Click to expand...

Why do you want to buy another one? Money burning a hole in your pocket?

Celador said:

I'm between a 50 mm 1.8 nikkor (I can't afford de 1.4)

And a 50-200 mm, which one do you think is more useful for a beginner?

Click to expand...

If you don't know, I'd submit that you don't need either. Lens purchases should come from well-defined needs. Do you need a telephoto zoom or do you need a fast portrait lens? Maybe you'ld be better off with a flash instead.

But hey, this is a free forum. I'd go with the 50-200. Then you'll have a telephoto, which you don't have now. Also, 50mm is sort of a strange field of view with a DX camera. It's OK for portraits but, at least to me, not much else. The 35mm f/1.8 is a much more versatile lens, but I'd still go for the 50-200 first.

Celador said:

Also, the 50 mm is like 90 bucks cheaper If i buy it without an internal AF motor (So i won't be able to autofocus). I don't think Ill replace my camera soon, or buy a high level camera with a autocus motor included. Do you think the internal AF motor its worth the extra 90 bucks? Or should I focus manually all the time?

Click to expand...

The D3000 does not have a good viewfinder for manual focusing. You would have a terrible time with it, especially because the lens would primarily be used at large apertures (you already have a 50mm f/5.6 with the kit lens) where accurate focus is very critical. If you get a 50, I would strongly recommend that you get the 50mm AF-S lens, which is also a much better lens than the 50mm AF-D.

Celador said:

I'm not sure if this is the right section of dpreview to post it, or if there is an special section for lenses, or maybe on the D3000 talk.

Click to expand...

The best section for this question (and the best place to search for other discussions on this topic) is the Nikon SLR Lens Talk forum.

--
Leonard Migliore

Consider the Nikon 35mm f1.8g. Slightly cheaper than the 50mm 1.8g and has autofocus.
--

See my plan (in my profile) for what I shoot with. See my gallery for images I find amusing.

What do you shoot mostly?

--
http://www.headshotsnyc.com
http://www.gothamfamilyphotos.com
http://www.nyweddingphotos.com

I don't want to buy a new lens just for the heck of it. I do feel that the kit lens is kind of limited sometimes, but I wanted to know a little bit more of my options.

I feel that both the 50 mm and the 50-200 mm are good next lenses, or I wouldnt be asking for them. Maybe the 35 mm will also do, I have to go out and take some pictures fixed on 35 mm and see how I feel with it.

I do need to think a little bit more about this, I'm not buying anything yet, but as a more or less new photographer I do want to know what kind of things are advisable.

Thanks for the advice.

Celador said:

I don't want to buy a new lens just for the heck of it. I do feel that the kit lens is kind of limited sometimes, but I wanted to know a little bit more of my options.

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That's getting closer. What are the limits that you're running into? Is it the speed? Is it the focal length? You want a lens that handles the problems that you encounter with your kit lens.

Celador said:

I feel that both the 50 mm and the 50-200 mm are good next lenses, or I wouldnt be asking for them. Maybe the 35 mm will also do, I have to go out and take some pictures fixed on 35 mm and see how I feel with it.

Click to expand...

Either the 50mm or 35mm prime is a specialty lens. As you note, you already have those focal lengths available. What you don't have is the speed. Would you use a fast normal such as the 35mm f/1.8 (indoor shooting without flash)? Would you use a fast short telephoto like the 50mm f/1.8 (portraits, nearby action, narrow depth of field)?

Celador said:

I do need to think a little bit more about this, I'm not buying anything yet, but as a more or less new photographer I do want to know what kind of things are advisable.

Click to expand...

There are lots of things available. What you want to do is get a lens that, as you mention, lets you go beyond what you can do with the kit lens in the areas that you want to use. For example, Nikon makes some wonderful macro lenses but if you don't want to take pictures of bugs, they're not really helpful. If you do want to take pictures of bugs, they're pretty much necessary. So you need to figure out what will cover the most ground for you.
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Leonard Migliore

Leonard Migliore said:

Why do you want to buy another one? Money burning a hole in your pocket?

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OK, for 3 days now I've been holding my tongue, but... Are you trying to be impolite, or does it just come naturally?

Leonard Migliore said:

If you don't know, I'd submit that you don't need either.

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This is a beginner's forum. If you don't have anything helpful to add, then don't add anything.

Mike

mlackey said:

Leonard Migliore said:

Why do you want to buy another one? Money burning a hole in your pocket?

Click to expand...

OK, for 3 days now I've been holding my tongue, but... Are you trying to be impolite, or does it just come naturally?

Click to expand...

It's pretty natural. You should see my effect on women. You may, or may not, note that I did subsequently provide some direction. My first question was intended to clarify the need for a new lens.

mlackey said:

mlackey said:

If you don't know, I'd submit that you don't need either.

Click to expand...

This is a beginner's forum. If you don't have anything helpful to add, then don't add anything.

Click to expand...

That was helpful. It was a suggestion that the poster examine his reasons for a lens purchase.

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Leonard Migliore