Looking for lens advice from the Pros

[roncgizmo]

I recently bought a D70 and a few (beater) lenses and now I want to start looking at a few sub-prime. The only one that's
on top of my list right now is a 50 1.8 (or a 1.4 if the deal is really right) have any of you ran across a lens that made you
say WOW! that's not bad for the money maybe you own it or
pasted it up just because it wasn't what you really set out to
get. aside from the 50 I was thinking a 24 or 28 something in
the 100mm range and a full range zoom 24/28-200 but I'm not
dead set on any of it (aside from the 50) and I'm open on brands.

Thanks in advance

Ron

[cyclohexane]

For the longest time, the 50mm f/1.8 was a "wow" lens for me. There's no better AF lens for about $100 new.

I was thinking a 24 or 28 something in
the 100mm range and a full range zoom 24/28-200

Nikon's wide primes stink unless you're getting the new 24mm PC-E lens, which is very expensive.

Nikon's 85mm primes are good lenses, and well-regarded. I have the 85mm f/1.4, but the f/1.8 is no slouch- I'm pretty sure it's a touch sharper wide open, for one thing. The other characteristics of the f/1.4 are what make it three times the lens and therefore worth three times the cost, but if money's an issue just get the f/1.8.

[roncgizmo]

That's great! Thanks Michael I didn't think about the 85. Money is a bit of an issue. if I was making money with them I really don't mind spending the big bucks. the first lens I bought was a 18-55 non VR and after having it for a week I'm not willing to buy another lens with a plastic mount.

[cyclohexane]

Also, the 35 f/2.0D AF is a good buy as well, though the corners on the AF version aren't as good as previous renditions of the lens.

[Narsuitus]

"...I want to start looking at a few sub-prime. "

What is a "sub-prime" lens?

[Douglas]

Probably means somewhere between a kit lens, and a $$$$ 2.8 speed lens

[roncgizmo]

Originally Posted by Narsuitus

"...I want to start looking at a few sub-prime. "

What is a "sub-prime" lens?

The Sub was just about the money

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

Also, the 35 f/2.0D AF is a good buy as well, though the corners on the AF version aren't as good as previous renditions of the lens.

That's one of my most used lenses. Love it.

[Nikonfreak]

I'll second everything Michael said.

I have only a few primes left in my bag. They are...

35 f/2.0 Nikon
50 f/1.8 Nikon
85 f/1.4 Nikon

The 85 f/1.8 is a good lens as well. Nothing really to bark about that lens at all. The 50mm f/1.8 is a super option at only $100.... it's really hard to beat for the money.

Julio

[Jeff Perry]

Ron, my suggestion would be to think long and hard about which lens you will want on the D70 more of then than not, a real "work horse"" lens. The one you will reach for when you are going out the door , in a hurry, and you really don't want to lug around a sack full of glass. THAT is the the first good lens you should invest in, before you start feeding your new found "lens lust".

I have only one prime focal length in my bag (actually on my shelf), and that's a Nikon 105mm f/2.8 micro VR (I also have the Sigma 105mm and it has been relegated to the back of the closet). Actually my girlfriend uses it occasionally, otherwise it would be on the auction block.

All my other lenses are zooms, which I find much more flexible and useful in composing my images. Having used primes (50 and 35mm) back in the days of film, I can tell you I won't go back unless there is a very good reason. If Nikon released a 50mm f/1.2 with AF I might be tempted, I hear the manual version can see in the dark!

My work horse lens is the Nikon 18-200 VR on the DX bodies and 24-120 VR on the FX body. It is not as fast as I would like, and perhaps not as crisp as my more expensive pro zooms, but I really love the zoom range. Like my American Express card, I never leave home without it, even if I don't think I'll use it, somehow it always seems to find its way onto a body during a shoot. It's like "comfort food" for my (camera) body.

If I were buy today, I think I would also look hard at the new Nikon 16-85 VR; give up the reach for a little extra on the wide end (DX-format sensors gobble up wide angle real estate). Tempting...Add a 70-300 VR and you just about have it all.

I have also invested in pro-caliber zooms because I believe today they are equal to the task of Nikon's primes, and for the money (yes they are expensive) you can't beat the combinations they give you. Try filling a bag with a few fixed FL primes to equal the zoom range of a pro zoom, and you will likely invest a lot more in glass cost and chiropractic care (need for lugging around all that prime glass).

Ask a lot of questions, listen to the expert opinions of very talented users in this forum, and choose wisely.

Jeff

[roncgizmo]

Jeff, Thanks for the great info... Luckily for me I got the "lens Lust" out of the way..I bought a Nikon 18-55, Sigma 35-80 and 70-210 and got them all very cheap I also had a Nikon 35-70 lying around but they ALL have one thing in common, They bite! but they do one thing for me. they give me something to play with so I can focus on buying lenses I want to keep and use in the years to come

[cyclohexane]

I bought a Nikon 18-55, Sigma 35-80 and 70-210 and got them all very cheap I also had a Nikon 35-70 lying around but they ALL have one thing in common, They bite! but

That's a lot of overlapping lenses here. Why not get rid of both of the 35-xx zooms?

[Gary Mayo]

No one lens does several things perfect. That is why there are so many lenses.

Have fun collecting. Once you have a few lenses, then you will fall into body lust.

[OdzBodkinz]

Amazon has a sale on the Sigma 30mm 1.4 for about $385 right now.

[OdzBodkinz]

Link to the Sigma 30mm 1.4 Sale.

Amazon.com: Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

[bryanpritchard]

85mm 1.4 and my 70-200 2.8 vr does it for me!!! I LOVE the 85mm 2.5 for portraits nothing better I believe

[lazycatstudios]

My favorite primes are Nikkors 24mm, 50mm, 60mm and 180mm.
They behave very well on Fuji S5.

[williamkazak]

I would look at the 35mm F2 AFD and 85mm F1.8 AFD. I have both and they are real nice for people and events. I don't really need the 50mm with this combo but I have the 50mm F1.4 for some reason. These two lenses don't cost all that much but you probably don't need a 50mm for digital. I am considering the 60mm F2.8 Micro Nikkor. It becomes 90mm on digital and would be nice for headshots, and closeups.

[stdon]

I don't know what your ching situation is so for fixed focal length in my own usage is very limited but I do have a use and used them quite a bit. My fixed are a 50mm f1.4ais, a 85 f1.4. The wider end is covered very nicely with f2.8 zooms and I see nor have any desire for a fixed there.
Of the fixed the 85 f1.4 is my wow lens. The 50, and I've tried several samples, ais and afd just don't do it for me in focal length or any other area. In fact all my 2.8 zooms trounce it at 2.8 and down at any focal length. These include a Tok 16-50, Nikkor 17-35, 28-70 and 70-200.
I needed a f1.4 lens for some work and had been bouncing between the 50 and 85 but for this neither F/L was good, too much or not enough.
On the 9th. I received a Voigtlander 58 f1.4 SLII and just from the little usage I've gotten I can safely say the this will probably end up in the wow category. It kicks any 50 I've tried around the block. It will get a good workout tomorrow at an event I'm hired to shoot. Not confusing sharpness with contrast it is sharper at all stops than any 50 I've used and the contrast is much better. No CA at any stop that I've been able to see. The build is much better than the Nikon 50's too.
From my initial impression and others that I've let use it this is one worth considering. So far I'm thinking that it makes a nice complement to my 85 including Bokeh. 9 blades on a diaphragm do make a difference.

[williamkazak]

The Voigtlander 58 f1.4 SLII is a very interesing MF alternative to Nikon. On digital, it becomes 85mm.