A lot of people wonder what to buy as their first Nikon lens. Most people new to digital photography and DSLRs don’t bother reading about cameras and lenses as much since there is too much information and too many recommendations. They end up purchasing a kit lens that they use for a year or two and then they realize how bad their lens is and end up selling it to get something better. Yes, kit lenses are a good deal but are they worth the purchase? I personally don’t think so.
When I bought my D80 it came with a 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. Anything looked better compared to my crappy Sony Cybershot point and shoot, so I was very happy for about 6 months. Then I started getting into photography more and more. I was reading books and spending a lot of time testing the camera in different conditions. I really loved the pictures in daylight out of 18-135mm when there was enough light and aperture was high enough, but low light conditions kept on frustrating me and indoor photography without a flash was close to impossible. Any camera shake resulted in blurry photos which I wouldn’t even notice until seeing the picture on my computer monitor. I ended up selling the lens for a lot less and spent more money getting better gear. The gear was truly better (18-200mm VR) and I was quite happy for a while, but I started encountering other problems such as bad image quality on shorter focal lengths and shooting wide open. As I read more, I wanted to be able to shoot in low light, have better background rendering (bokeh) and sharper image quality, so I got 50mm f/1.4 next.
I’m sure a lot of people go through a similar experience, sometimes more or less painful. After doing an analysis of my lenses and borrowing/renting other lenses and testing them, I created my own list of must have lenses. Lenses that will serve you well for a long time.
I separated the list into two categories – low budget and high budget.
Low budget:
- Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 – great for portraits
- Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR – for everything else
High budget:
- Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.4 or 70-200mm f/2.8 VR – sharp, excellent bokeh for portraits
- Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 – super sharp, professional lens for landscapes
I’m not taking into account special type of photography (such as macro or telephoto). The above lenses are good for most types of photography. I’m also not including rare lenses (such as the Nikon 28mm f/1.4) because they are expensive and hard to get. If you do not want to keep a lot of lenses and just want to buy a couple of excellent lenses, the above would definitely satisfy most of your needs.
So, what should be your first Nikon lens? Nikkor 50mm of course! (f/1.4 or f/1.8 depending on your budget) It’s a very inexpensive lens that produces exceptionally sharp images and great bokeh. You will learn a lot from this lens and transitioning to a zoom lens or other prime lenses will be easier later. Plus, you will not have to worry about selling this little jewel – it will last you forever.
About Nasim Mansurov
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/fx-dx-future.htm – postmotri – interesnaya stat’ya
Mark, I agree with some points that Ken mentions in his article – that’s why I said DX is not to die anytime soon. Plus, some people want to keep DX bodies for longer reach, especially wildlife photographers. But when FX gets cheaper than $5K, closer to $2K range, a lot of people who use higher-end DSLR’s such as D200 & D300 will start switching to FX. And considering that you can only go up to 6 Megapixels with a DX lens on an FX body, investing into DX might not be such a good idea. Again, this applies only to those, who would eventually switch to FX when it is affordable. There will always be a consumer market in the DSLR world, so it is expected that both Nikon and Canon will continue selling DX-type bodies and lenses.
1. Even if that happens (it already happened in the Canon world with 5D), quality DX glass won’t fall in value quickly because there will be plenty of new users / new D300 like cameras to use DX lens on.
2. Most of the people who buy pro-level glass are NAS affected individuals with extra $$ who don’t even know how to fully utilize the possibilities of it. (come read Nikonians.org forums)
3. Most importantly, new cameras/ glass doesn’t affect one’s own performance – people who have older D200 and know how to use their equipment in a right way get amazing results today. Same thing with D300 – take care of it and you will enjoy using it for a decade plus.
Btw I only have my D40 + 18-200mm VR (I think about D300 on a daily basis though) and I absolutely love it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgur
Mark, very cute daughter you have there! And the pictures are superb, I really enjoyed your family gallery.
I agree that Nikonians.org does have a lot of NAS-afflicted members. Some people buy $5K+ lenses, D3 bodies and have nothing to show in their galleries :)
Regarding DX glass not falling in value when FX is affordable – it’s very arguable :) Those NAS-afflicted people with deep pockets are already selling their DX gear and trying to convert to FX lenses and FX bodies. There is a big crowd of individuals who think that only pro glass creates pro-level pictures. If you have been looking at prices on both Nikonians.org and Ebay, DX gear already dropped in value. It might be because of new product introduction, but I’m sure that some of the decline is because of people selling their stuff. Now imagine when FX is more affordable – those who cannot afford D3s right now will make a switch and will be selling their DX lenses. Market over-saturation will cause prices to drop and that’s when we’ll be enjoying some good prices on used gear :)
I do agree with you on new cameras and new glass. I have seen amazing pictures taken with D40 and Canon Digital Rebel cameras. Newer gear introduces new possibilities, but only those who know how to utilize those possibilities would really benefit.
I personally switched to D300 because I shoot a lot in low-light conditions. Being able to have acceptable ISO 800-1600 is very important for me, which is why I upgraded. That was 90% of the reason why I switched. The rest 10% was because of better focus and other features that were absent in D80. I tried the D300 out and performed several tests and my conclusion was that it was well worth the upgrade. The ergonomics and the convenience of the buttons are extremely useful. The camera is heavier, but there is definitely a different feel to it. I have carpal tunnel and I noticed that I don’t have as much pain anymore when taking pictures. Changing ISO in D80 was painful, since it wasn’t available in the viewfinder. Now I can concentrate on taking pictures rather than looking for buttons and settings.
The 18-200mm VR lens you have is a wonderful piece of glass and it will work on D300 flawlessly. Upgrading from D40 will be a big jump for you though :) Get ready to learn a lot!
If you are wondering if you will be taking better pictures with the D300 – you absolutely will! If you are not convinced, I recommend borrowing/renting a D300 and trying it out. Be warned though, as NAS will haunt you!!! :) LOL
why, oh why did I read your post.. the NAS is overwhelming me right now!
Once again – congrats on your purchase – I know you will enjoy it for years to come! Your family looks very nice, too! :)
Actually, I do have a plan – right now I live in NYC, work long hours and I simply don’t have time to improve as a photographer a lot. I am not even getting a very affordable 50mm 1.8 at this time – in a tiny NYC apartment 50mm doesn’t work that well, and I don’t shoot that much outside these days.
Once we move out of NYC, I promised myself – I will upgrade :)
Greetings,
I like taking close-up photos; plants, and insects mainly; what
lenses for a Nikon D90 would you recommend in that case?
Ken,
Close-up photography is called “macro” or “micro” photography. To get the best results, you need a macro lens that can focus at a very close range and provide all the fine details of your subject. I personally use a Nikon 105mm f/2.8 lens, but there is also a lower cost alternative, the Nikon 60mm f/2.8 lens. Both work extremely well, but I prefer the 105mm lens, because you can stand further away from the subject and still get plenty of details.
These lenses will work with any DX or FX sensor, so they are great investments for your future photography needs.
Nasim,
I, recently, start reading your Photography articles, and I have to admit it helps a lot in understanding DSLR camera. I appreciate your simplicity in explaining how to use DSLR camera and all its features.
Not to long ago, I have received my new Canon EOS Rebel xsi. To be honest, I enjoy it. As you said, everything looks better comparing to my Sony CyberShot point and shoot. Yes, I had exactly the same camera, and I really liked it, until I found out about DSLR cameras existence.
However, it was a little confusing and painful to understand all its features and how to use it correctly, I fell in love with DSLR camera more and more.
Now that I’ve been using it for a while with my Canon zoom lens18-55mm, I want more. I realized, that there are a lot of things that I am not being able to shoot with this lens, and I want to upgrade it to Telephoto lens. A friend of mine (photographer) recommended me a new type of lens Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3. He said that for me as a beginner this type of lens is enough. As I understood, it is type of universal lens that can shoot from far, and close-up.
SO, my question is, what are your thoughts about that lens? Can you write briefly how to use that lens, and if it’s worth of buying it?
Also, what do you think about Canon EOS Rebel xsi/.
Thanks
Sis, thank you so much for your feedback! I’m glad that you found my articles useful.
As far as the Tamron, to be honest, I really don’t have much experience with Tamron lenses. One thing I know for sure though, is that Canon’s lenses are typically better (sharper, better contrast) than Tamron lenses. What is your budget?
If you need a telephoto lens, I would stay away from lenses that cover both wide-angle and telephoto needs, because they will be optically worse than dedicated telephoto lenses. If I were you, I would look into Canon 70-300mm IS or a similar lens, because you already have the 18-55mm range covered and there is no need to have another lens that has the same zoom range…
Nasim,
My budget to stay around $500-$600. However, if I can find telephoto lens cheaper than that, that will help.
How important is filter?
Sis, the Canon 70-300mm is listed at $549 at B&H Photo Video with free shipping. Looks like it fits in your budget and it is a good telephoto lens that I can highly recommend.
Hi Nasim,
I’m new to photography. I just got my Nikon D40 a month ago.
What’s the best prime lens should i use? Right now i have the Nikkor 18-55 II.
thanks,
Jetron, it depends on what you want to do with a prime. A good general-purpose prime lens for a DX body is Nikon 35mm f/1.8 AF-S. Another very good lens is the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens, but it is twice more expensive.
Nassim,
yes, just a general purpose lens will do for me. i was thinking of nikkor 50mm 1.8D because it’s much cheaper compare with the two lens.do you think that using manual focus on nikon 50mm 1.8D will be easy for me?
thanks again,
Jetron, do not buy the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D, because autofocus will NOT work on your D40. The Nikon D40 body does not have an internal focus motor, which is why you need an AF-S lens. The above two lenses that I pointed out will work great on the D40.
As far as manual focus, you do not want to be focusing manually on the D40, especially if you have never done it before. The viewfinder on the D40 is tiny and it will be extremely difficult to acquire focus on a 50mm lens.
Hope this helps.
Nassim,
my budget cannot afford the other prime AF-S lenses.so i was thinking it will be practical just to have the 50mm 1.8D.
i would appreciate if you could suggest more for me.
thanks,
Jetron, why don’t you try the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G instead then? I provided the link above and it is only about $200.
Hi Nasim,
Its a great website with wealth of knowledge. It is amazing and inspiring that you put in all your hardwork and learning experience in a form that is useful for lot of people like me. Thanks to you, I now feel I have some knowledge in making a better choice in buying a DSLR and the lens. I wanted to run by you before I place my order.
After going through your website and few other articles on google, I have decided to buy
1. Nikon D90.
2. Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S based on your recommendation that it has on the potraits with bokeh effect.
3. Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR , for regular use
4. Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-f/5.6 VR lens
My primary need I foresee is for potraits, low light photography and secondary would be for landscapes and wild life photography.
Thanks in advance for your input.
-Vish
Vish, you have made the right choice of gear for sure! :) Love your selection of lenses.
Don’t forget to get the $250 off by buying the Nikon D90 + 70-300mm lens combo!
Congratulations on your upcoming purchase and please let me know if you have any questions! :)
Nassim,
your article here really really help me a lot, maybe i wanna buy D90 next week, like you said i’m intresting with 50mm f/1.4G and 105mm f/2.8G but my budget can’t take both of this lens >.< can you help me? or do you have another recommend lens for me?
i'll using this camera almost for outdoor since my job is reporter, can you recommend for me which one better for me?? for the truth i like 50mm f/1.4G more but sometimes i need zoom too..
Alice, the Nikon 105m f/2.8G might be too long for everyday photography on a Nikon D90 body, due to a 1.5x crop factor. I would start out either with the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G lens or the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G lens first. If you need a wider angle and zoom capability, check out the Nikon 18-200mm VR II lens that Nikon is giving away $300 on. In order to get the instant rebate, you need to buy the D90 together with the 18-200mm VR at the same time. Here is the link for the combo. I would hurry if I were you, because the promotion ends in just three days.
Hope this helps.
thanks nasim, i am really like nikon 50mm f/1,4G but since sometimes i need zoom too so i can’t buy this lens for my 1st lens… yeah i saw this combo… wow so expensive here i got NT$44.000 (Taiwan) around US$1400, my friend buy d90 combo kit (lens 18-105mm vr) for US$ 1100… which combo do you recommend if you wanna buy one? i’ll going to hongkong next week, but i still looking a good price in Taiwan….
Alice, if you can’t get any of the rebates that are currently being offered in the US, then go with the 18-55mm VR lens. It is very cheap and it works great on Nikon D90. In the future, you might want to add the 50mm f/1.4 or the 35mm f/1.8 DX for low-light environments.
thanks Nasim, is it good for wide angle?? do you think i can have a good price for wide angle lens?? cos maybe i’ll buy 50mm f/1.4 for the 2nd lens… this is my 1st camera so i must need becarefull to buy it >.<
Alice, it is good enough for wide angle shots, but if you need something wider than 18mm, then you would have to get a more expensive dedicated ultra-wide angle lens.
Hi Nasim,
Thanks for the blogs, I learned a few from it. I have D5000 and enjoying it very much. I have the 35mm 1.8 and 18-55vr, considering getting my “final lens”. I’m leaning towards 16-85 or 18-105, not very interested in telephoto, more of a landscape and people shooter. What do you think?
Ken, if you already have a lens that covers the 18-55 range, why do you want to buy another one?
Hi Nasim,
I guess I want a tad bit more telephoto and wondering whether an 85 or 105 would be enough for what I want and somewhat an improvement on my kit lens. Also, my 18-55 is kind of inadequate for my lowlight shots, dusk or I could be just rushing and not fully explore my kit lens? Thanks.
Ken, to be honest, I do not think it is a wise decision to buy another slow lens like the 16-85 or 18-105.
Why do you use your 18-55mm in low-light instead of your Nikon 35mm f/1.8? Here is what I would do if I were you:
1) Use 35mm f/1.8G in low light environments.
2) Use 18-55mm for landscapes.
3) Get the Nikon 105mm f/2.8G VR for portraits and macro or wait until Nikon releases an update to the superb Nikon 85mm f/1.4D or f/1.8D.
Hope this helps.
Hi Nasim,
Thanks for the input, I’ll definitely give it a thorough thought. I guess my main concern is to take a decent landscapes with adequate wide shot capability. I don’t mind the 35mm but a bit wide would help.
Ken, you are welcome! If you want ultra-wide angle on DX, try the Nikon 12-24mm or Nikon 10-24mm lenses – both are excellent and truly wide.
Hi Nasim,
Would the 16-85mm lens be good idea on a D300s?
I intend to get it for walkabout lens.
I’m from Singapore, they don’t carry kit lens for D300s here.
Shalom, yes, the 16-85mm is a good overall lens, slightly better in sharpness compared to Nikon 18-200mm. I haven’t done much testing on these though.
Nasim,
I have a question? I am looking into getting the 24-70mm lens and I have the following lens.
18-105mm Nikon Lens
I’m thinking of selling my 18-105mm lens. Should I buy the 24-70 lens for shooting in low light… i.e. clubs, concert and such???
I tried to use the 18-105 but I get lots of blurry shots and using a tripod in a crowd of people is next to impossible. I also tried using the 50mm f/1.8 but got the same results. Maybe I am doing something wrong. I also read your article on shooting in low light. Suggestions??
By the way I have the Nikon D90.
Thank you,
George
George, if you did not get any good results with the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, then the 24-70mm lens will not help.
Go back and check out your old images to see what shutter speeds you were shooting at. I’m sure they are very long, which is the primary reason why images would be blurry. The only option is to use faster glass like 50mm f/1.8 and higher ISO levels (ISO 800 and higher) – two ways to increase camera shutter speed. If your images still come out blurry, it means that the amount of light is not enough and it would be impossible to capture the scene without using a flash of some sort.
Hi,
I’m thinking of buying a D90, should I go with the 17-55 or 16-85, which is sharper. I don’t like to change len often and want a good all arounder. Mostly, I like take family photos and landscape when I go on vacation with my family,wife and daugther.
Cheers,
Sam
Sam, why do you want to get the 17-55 or 16-85 instead of the kit 18-105mm? Sure, those lenses are better than the 18-105mm, but they are so much more expensive…
I would recommend to get the D90 with a cheaper lens like Nikon 35mm f/1.8G to see what you want to do first.
I got the d90 with 50 1.4g two days ago as this Len works on fx too should I step up in the future. Do you have any moderate zoom lens suggestion that will work well with both dx and fx format as I may step up to fx in the near future. I didn’t get the 18-105 as I think it’s not very sharp, I may be wrong here.
Sam, if you are planning to upgrade to FX, don’t invest in DX lenses. Take a look at the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G review that I wrote last week.
Hello,
Firstly, I must repeat was ever other newbie does – this is a great website to help get me started.
I was happy to see a recommendation for 1st lenses, but find myself still abit unsure. I will be buying, in the next few days, a D90.
I’m very captivated with architectural details (doors, windows, stained glass in churches) when I travel. I love the details of bicycles in outdoor settings. I love the mountains and I like to capture candid shots of people across a room in a discreet way.
In your readings I was convinced that I need the 50mm f/1.4G, but then when I read this article I see you have 3 recommendations (50mm or 85mm or 70-200mm) and so now struggle to know which one of these 3 is the best for me.
Also, you also did mention in a blog that the 50mm could be too long compared to the 35 mm…. what does that mean exactly?
I could buy the kit set 18-108 but don’t feel married to that. I do have the opportunity to buy the 70-300 mm used and so it becomes another option.
I’m willing to spend the money it takes to get lenses I won’t be looking to replace in a few months. Can you help? tks.
(BTW – going to Alaska in a week so there will be great mountains to enjoy :))
Neets, the Nikon 18-105mm is a good all-around lens for most needs. I would get something like the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G or Nikon 35mm f/1.8G for portraits in addition to the kit lens.
Now for your trip to Alaska, you might want to look into the 70-300mm for wildlife as well.
Hello again Nasim,
I’ve just noticed that the 70-300mm has with or without VR. I have an opportunity to buy the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 D ED (but without VR). Price is $300 used. Would a novice benefit from the VR or would I not know the difference.
Sorry for such type of questions. tks.
Neets, I highly recommend getting the VR version, especially for a lens like the 70-300mm. As the focal length increases, so will camera shake and VR is very useful in those situations.
Thank you Nasim! You’re site is a tremendous help! BTW – I like recipes too… another hobby :)
You are most welcome!
Hi Nasim,
So, I have decided to buy a Nikon d90 and cant wait to get my camera. But now i have the hard part of trying to figure out what kind of lenses to get. I do have two kit lenses that came with my nikon d40. They are the 55-200mm 4-5.5ED and the 18-55mm.. I also have the 50mm 1.8f that i got as a gift and is waiting for the d90.
I like to take a lot of portait pictures especially candid pictures, so I like to a couple steps back from when i take portrait pictures. So i was just wondering will my two older kit lenses work okay with the d90? And is there another lens i should invest in since i already have the 50mm?
I was looking at the nikon 18-70, nikon 18-185mm and the 85mm. Money is a big thing for me and im trying to stay approximate around $500 for a lens. Are any of these lense a good investment or should i sell my old kit lenses and go for a more expensive one like the nikkor 24-70?
thanks again,
Sarah
Sarah, congratulations!
No need to sell your lenses, I think you have more than enough for your D90 for now.
Nasim can get you a better answer but I think that it first comes to the question what range do/would you use more often when doing candid shots? Is it 50 or 85?
You already got the range 18-200 covered with both kit lenses (and they will work just fine with the D90), so the 18-70 and the 18-185 will not be better than the ones you already have. In my opinion would be a (very) bad investment.
Not comparable with a prime lens but what do you think about the extra coverage of the 70-300 VR? You could replace the 55-200 with it, but if you don’t use the extra range might not be a good investment either. What could be interesting is to keep on saving and try to get a better lens in the future like the 105mm or even stretch it to the 70-200 f/2.8 (this one would last you forever but maybe is too bulky for candid’s).
regards,
Thank you for providing the info Rodrigo!
Hello Nasim,
I recently bought a D90, and in lieu of the kit lens I got a 35mm/1.8. Now I cannot decide on what next lens(s) I should buy. I do know that I like fast lenses and super-sharp IQ. I prefer to avoid using a flash if I can get away with it, although I know that will not always be possible. The kinds of photography I like are low-light, candid shots indoor and out, architecture, hope to try some night shots. I have no interest in sports. I’m neutral about landscapes.
Another question. I got the 35mm/1.8 so I could get closeups (and a nice bokeh) of the cats at my local shelter. But, if the head is at an angle, the far side turns out blurred. Could it be the DOF is actually too shallow? Perhaps I should get an inexpensive 50mm/1.8 for this?
Thank you for your time and expertise!
M. Penrose, I don’t think you need anymore lenses at this point. I would first learn how to use the D90 and what you have, and then decide on what to purchase later.
In terms of your question about photographing cats – if one side of the cat is sharp while the other is not, your depth of field is too shallow. You need to stop down a little or move away from the cat.
Hope this helps.
Hi Nasim,
I’m planning to buy Nikon D300S or D90 by the end of this month. Delaying just to check if Nikon announces D90 replacement as indicated in Nikon Rumors forums.
I’m planning to buy the following lenses
- AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
- AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
For the telephoto range, I’m not able to decide between “AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED” and “AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED”. Which one do you suggest? I do plan to use this lens for wildlife & bird photography.
Also, Can you let me know the benefits of Internal Focus lens?
Pradeep, no D90 replacement in August. D3100 will be announced tomorrow, but that’s about it, as far as I know.
Instead of the 55-200mm lens, I would certainly get the 70-300mm VR – it is sharper and has more focal length. Internal focus (IF) lenses typically acquire focus faster.
hi Nasim, what is the different between Nikon 50mm f/1.4G and Nikon 35mm f/1.8G, i saw the price of 35mm much cheeper than 50mm, i am looking for my 2nd lens now…
Alice, if you shoot DX with a kit lens, go for the 35mm f/1.8G.
Can’t u write about AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G? What is the advantage and disadvantage this len? Kind of worry to buy 2nd lens :(, I’m really confuse which one I want to buy AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G or 50mm f1.4… Really expensive “toys”
Alice, what are you trying to achieve with the 17-55mm or 50mm lenses? If you are shooting portraits, go for the 50mm f/1.4 lens…
The problem with 17-55mm lens is that it is very expensive and it only works on DX cameras, so if you ever upgrade to FX, you will have to get a new lens.
how much of video recording can be done with d 90.
Up to 5 minutes of non-stop video I believe.
at last i’ve got my dslr nikon d7000. as of now i am practising with kit lens ie.18-105 but in due course wish to buy telephoto zoom, which one should i go for , nikon 80-400 or sigma 150-500 for birding and wild life?
I would go with the Nikon 300mm f/4 instead of 80-400 or the Sigma.
Dear Nasim !
I’ve been doin helluva tiring research on DSLRs :) and decided to buy D90 only after reading ur article “Nikon D5000 vs D90″. I’m anyway a newbie to DSLRs. I’m ready to dedicate as much time as possible to learn photography. With lot of budget restriction I’m buyin D90. I cannot afford another lens for a year or so. I’m really concerned about the kit lens – 18 – 105 mm (http://www.alanphoto.com.sg/nikonslr.html) . I’d like to shoot portraits, buildings and landscapes. Should I buy with kit lens or go for something different ? Please give me your suggestions ( Kit lens – 299 $; If I’m to buy 18 – 105 separately – 599 $)
Sain, I would personally get the Nikon D90 body only and get the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G prime lens. It is a world better than the 18-105 in terms of colors and sharpness. Sure, you will have to get used to a lens without zoom capabilities, but it will be better to learn with it. Plus, the 35mm f/1.8G is very good in low light – something lots of beginners have challenges with.
Hi Nasim
I have a Nikon D5000 and I bough it with a nikon 18-105mm VR kit lens. I’m thinking in a 2nd len and one option is the 70-300 mm. With this len I’m looking for some more zoom capabilities but I’m very interested in taking very good portraits and macro photography whit good bokeh. My budget is limited to $500. What woul be your recomendati0n? Thanks in advance.
Renzon, the 70-300mm is a good candidate for your budget.
Hi Nasim,
I have recently upgraded from a Sony H10 to Nikon D5000 with 18-55mm VR kit. Have been reading a lot of your articles about DSLR photography and found them very useful and informative unlike some other more technical ones elsewhere. Am looking to do some macro and bird and wildlife with zoom. Also looking for good bokeh performance. Which lenses would you suggest I can get other than the kit lens? I would be looking for budget lenses, cannot afford to go for expensive ones right now. Would be looking forward to your reply.
Thanks in advance.
Biplab.
Biplab, sorry for a late response. I would get the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX prime as a second lens for low-light situations and better bokeh.
Good evening Nasim,
I know this is an old post and chances are that you probably are not monitoring this anymore, but here it goes :
I currently have a Nikon D5000 that came with a Kit lens, a week after getting the camera I had the opportunity to buy a used (but in mint condition) 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G lens. After putting that lens on my camera I have never again used the kit lens that came with my D5000 again (I have it as a backup lens).
I currently wish to buy a low light lens that I could use to take pictures of my daughters school events and volleyball games (mostly at night and mostly in large auditoriums or gyms). I have been thinking about the 35mm and the 50mm (1.8 D version, I can focus manually just fine), the thing is that I’m not sure if those lenses would be a good choice for school events, since some of the times I may need to take pictures from a distance.
Would love to hear your suggestion regarding this matter.
Kind regards,
George
George, if you have a low budget, then the 35mm f/1.8G DX is a great lens for low-light situations. Obviously it does not have any zoom capability, but that’s what you get for $200…fast telephoto zoom lenses are super expensive. I would not get the 50mm f/1.8G – you will have a hard time manually focusing with it on the D5000.
i’ve got my nikon d7000 my first dslr, presently practising with the kit lens 18-105, but plan to buy a telephoto. which one should i go for , nikon 80-400 fx or sigma 150-500 for birding.
As I have suggested above, go for the Nikkor 300mm f/4.0 + 1.4x TC instead.
Dear Nasim,
Your site is absolutely AWESOME! I have been reading Ken Rockwell’s pages a lot for my potential photography purchases. I must admit that your pages have turned my photography head completely around. Currently my bag consists of a D300 body and two lenses: Nikkor 18-200mm and a Nikkor 50mm f1.8 so far. I knew better and I have allowed the sales guy to talk me into the 18-200mm when I truly needed a ultra-wide angle even until now for interior and landscaping…
So,there are two things that I need to hear from you about…
One: there is no mention of third-party lens i.e.Tokina. Why?And, are Nikkor lenses your only and preferred lens gear?
Two: I have encountered the same problems as you have with the Nikkor 18-200mm well before I have been reading your pages. Therefore, If you were to replace the 18-200mm Nikkor lens; which lens would you replace it with? Factor low and high budget…
Btw-I have trying some wildlife stuff… My other interests are in interior photography due to my real estate background. Thanks for reading….
Cheers!
J.R.
J.R.,
Thank you for your feedback! The reason why I did not mention Tamron/Sigma/Tokina lenses, is because I personally don’t use them. I did not have good experience with a 3rd party lens in the past and I have been sticking with Nikkors ever since. I’m sure some 3rd party lenses are very good though.
As for replacing your 18-200mm, it all depends on what focal lengths you use the most. I personally use a lot of the mid-range focal lengths, so I shoot with the 24-70mm lens a lot. However, I shoot full-frame and you shoot with a crop-sensor, so there is quite a big difference in FoV between the two with the 24-70mm lens. If you shoot wide-angles more than the long end, check out the Nikon 16-35mm f/4.0 lens. If you shoot the mid-range more, either the 24-70mm or the 24-120mm lenses work great for the job.
If you are into wildlife/birding and need the reach, the best low-budget lenses are Nikon 70-300mm and Nikon 300mm f/4. I use the latter with a 1.4x TC and love the results.
Hope this helps.
Dear Nasim,
When I read your post, your experience bear the same experience as mine. At the beginning, I never got into photography until my son was born. I took couple of pictures using my crappy sony cybershot and the quality of images kept me wanting for more. So my wife persuaded me to buy our first Nikon DSLR D3000 together with kit lens. This camera never dissapoint especially on outdoors. But when in comes to indoors or lowlight, i have a bit difficulty in getting quality images. Guess what?after reading a lot of magazine and your website, I decided to invest a little bit more on lens. I’m planning to buy 50mm 1.4G. so wish me luck!
Johan, congratulations on your lens purchase – the 50mm will not disappoint! If you are dealing with very low-light conditions, then you should learn how to use flash a little with that 50mm and you will get even better results.
Dear Nasim,
My interest are in potraits (facial expression/close ups) and macro. at my end, i am not sure should i go for d700, d300s or d7000. d7000 is obviously the newer model where the rest are relatively ‘old’. fyi, i dont mind resting on dx.
as such, should i decide to go for d7000, please advise me should i get ALL 35mm f/1.8g DX, 50mm f/ 1.4g AF-S, 85mm f/1.4g AF-S and 105mm f/2.8g (macro).
on the other hand, should i decide to go for FX, should i get ALL ALL 35mm f/1.4g, 50mm f/ 1.4g AF-S, 85mm f/1.4g AF-S and 105mm f/2.8g (macro).
“in nasim we trust” :-)
Hi Nassim,
I just got my D3100 and I was wondering maybe you can give some advise on what kind of lens should I buy. Im planning on focusing on portraits and doing some bokeh shots. Im a total newbie here so I hope you can help me out. I checked the ones that you mentioned above but their with my dslr, I have to manually focus them, I think. Can you mention any other lens that have an autofocus feature that is compatible with my camera? Thanks!
Hi Nasim!
Off lately I’m hearing a lot of good things about 50mm 1.4G lens. But is it as good on DX as on FX? I mean its a fx lens and on dx body won’t it become 75mm? Keeping this thing in mind, what will you suggest for a dx body like D5100 or D7000? Hope you understand my dilemma.
Good Evening, Nasim,
Thank you so much for the information you offer to so many of us on your wonderful website. I am fortunate to have been given a D700 and would love to compliment this camera with excellent and practical lenses. While your website offers thorough reviews of lenses, I wonder which characteristics of lenses are the most critical in obtaining the best photo possible (other than technique). For example, your review of Nikon’s 24-120 F/4 suggests that it is an excellent and useful lens but you also criticize its problems with distortion and vignetting ( and you utilize the 24-70 lens in your equipment). Other websites rate this lens poorly for this reason. Is the sharpness of a lens the most critical aspect one should consider? Also, how much does value play in a choice of lens? For example, is Nikon’s fabulous 70-200 2.8mm VRII that much better- in real world photography- than is their older 80-200mm 2.8D, which costs only half as much?
I recognize that the photographer who takes pictures for his livelihood may value his equipment in a different manner than will a less discerning individual. Practical advise, sometimes, is the most important information that can be offered to the majority of “budding photographers.”
Thank you again for all the time you and your wife have spent helping so many others. I am appreciative.
Hello Nasim
I’m about to purchase a new Nikon DSLR. I have two questions. Which of the following lenses is best in low light conditions ( i.e. Low Light King)? Which of these is best for an APS-C Nikon DSLR for portraiture?
AF-S DX NlKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/I.4G
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/I.8G
AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4D
AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D
Thanks
Sally
Hi Nasim , thankyou for the great information here, I was recently given a Nikon D80 and am a beginner. My goals are to learn and concentrate mostly on landscape and wildlife photography, what would you say for lens purchases for me possibly under $700 as I am on a students budget. Thank you.
Also, although I do acknowledge and appreciate the wealth of high quality information/tips you give on your website, is there anything by way of free online structured courses that include projects to complete or should I stick with picking topics straight from the photography tips you offer here.
Once again thanks
Chris, I would start with reading the articles here and go from there. If you need more information on something, you can always ask or you can look up other sites that offer photography articles/content. As for your lens question, I would start off with the cheap, but great Nikon 35mm f/1.8G – it is a great lens that will work beautifully on your D80. It has no zoom, but offers good sharpness and bokeh at a good focal length.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our feed.
Hi Nasim,
Love your work with the website, really appreciate your effort in replying every single comments and the attitude you’ve shown. Thanks for all the time and hardwork.
I do have a few questions i am unsure about, just started to get into photography lately maybe about 2 months, I like night and landscape photography and currently still using the kit lens that come with my D3100, 18-55mm.
I noticed that my results with night photography are lacking sharpness taken with 18-55mm, however having a 50mm/1.8g really helps this issue but being a fixed length, i can’t take a wide shot like the 18-55mm.
Can you please recommend a wide angle lens that have decent sharpness and works well at night? I am interested in getting the 14-24mm but from what i heard it doesn’t work well with an entry level DSLR like D3100, is that right? At the moment, my only option seems to be 12-24mm/f4G, since it can autofocus on my D3100, Do you think this is the best option?
Thanks again,
HC
Hi Nasim,
I feel lucky i reached your website :) It is full of information for first timers like me. I am going to buy a Nikon D5100 with 18-105mm VR kit lens. Should i go for it or should i go for 18-55mm VR kit lens? I am really confused. I do not have any special taste for photography. So I want a kind of all rounder lens. I searched a lot and people does suggest 18-105 over 18-55. maybe in future I could buy another lens, for something special I am missing from one of the lens I buy. Please give me some inputs on the same.
Thanks,
Rickey…
Hi Nassim,
Have been reading here and also watching your Youtube videos! All are great! Love it!
I just bought a Nikon D5100 with 18-55mm kit lens.I am thinking of getting the 35mm F1.8G prime lens for low light conditions, especially indoors. Do I still need to buy an external flash, eg SB700 ?
Thanks,
Rinn
Rinn, if you can, I would certainly get the Nikon SB700 for indoors and outdoors photography. You can do a lot of creative stuff with the flash and you will have much better-looking portraits.
Thanks Nassim! Will be getting it soon!
Hi, thank you for ur article. It is very help me :)
I user nikon D3100 and now, i confuse to choose my first lens beside lensa kit from D3100.
Finally I found it there :)
If u want, please visit my blog :) http://pelangiituaku.wordpress.com :)
regard,
betania
Your articles are extremely helpful, as I’m just starting out in the DSLR world. :)
I have the Nikon D60 and the kit lens that came with it (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) and I’m having so much fun playing around with it. My goal though is to take full head to toe body shots and have the background blurred. Do you think the AF-S 50mm f/1.8 will do that for me? I’ve been looking online trying to read reviews, but my head is swimming. What’s your opinion? Thank you so much and I look forward to reading more your articles!
Dear Nasim,
ihave been reading your articles recently. Its been an eye-opener with respect to DSLR camera and I am enjoying reading your article. I own Nikon D500 camera with 18-55mm lens. Recently I attended a workshop on basic photography and I have been exploring my camera. The frustration with me right now is I could not capture my son’s vivid expressions and his fast movements of his Bday which we celebrated indoors in the night time. Finally i had to (hate) shoot in auto mode.
Kindly suggest suitable lens for my camera. Do i need to upgrade to an FX camera, if I need to buy AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR ?
Kindly pour your thoughts.
Thankx
Rush
Rush, get the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G lens to capture good portraits in low-light situations. If there is not enough light, no lens will help – consider getting a good flash like the SB-700 for those situations. The 28-300mm is going to be no different than your 18-55mm in those situations, so don’t bother with it.
Thanks Nasim for your suggestions.
Iam also planning to buy a zoom lens apart from the prime len.
Since I have dx D5000 camera, is it okay to buy 18-200mm vr2 lens or 28-300mm?
I am little confused here :(
Thanks in advance
Rush
Dear Nasim,
After reading your articles I have decided to buy one Nikon D3100, I have been always found of photography specially nature and obviously my kids in action, I just wanted to know about 18-55 VR lens which the company is providing with camera, because I am a beginner will this lens be supportive to me or should I buy Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 – and
Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR – please help your guidelines will be useful for me
Ruby, just start off with the D3100 and its kit 18-55mm lens. Learn how to use it, take lots of pictures and you will know what you are missing later. The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G would be a nice addition, although I would personally recommend the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G instead.
Thanks Nasim for your guidance but still some questions are blowing up my mind, one of my friend said that every time when I will click pictures I will have to use different lens keeping in mind the weather, the indoor outdoor lights etc, still I am new to camera he says this just for professional use is it true? keeping up to change lens thought gives me sweat how come I will know which lens to be used at what time and then again do I have to run to the market to arrange one? pls help
hi,
i started photography a year ago, with my nokia e72 5 mp cam, its really good, want to jump to a dslr. i dont want to change my gear at least for next two years, thought of d7000. can you fix a pro lense to this gear????? confused please suggest
regards
pavan
Hi nasim!great review as per usual!Got my 50mm 1.8g af-s last black friday and am loving its bokeh rendering ability, although i find the focal length longer than i would’ve wanted (i use a dx body-d3100). i was considering getting 35mm from your reviews but was afraid that it wont produce the great bokeh the 50mm produces, plus i want a portrait lens, and ive read in your articles that the 50mm is a great portrait lens (the nifty fifty!)
Thanks again for the reviews. already subscribed to your email list!
You are most welcome Arthur! If you were after bokeh, you have made the right choice. The 35mm does not have as good of a bokeh in comparison!
I appreciate the reply Nasim!:) yeah, im lovIng the bokeh on the 50mm 1.8g, and the way i see it, its good i chose it over the 35mm 1.8g as the former is an fx lens (still usable when i upgrade to full frame) as compared to the latter which is a dx lens (wont work well with a full frame from what i understood from your blogs) so yeah, good deal ;) thanks again Nasim!:)
Hi
I have a D90 and think to upgrade D800.
The lens kit I have
Nikon 18-105
Nikon 35 f/1.8
Since I will upgrade to D800, think to buy lenses and wonder about your thoughts
Nikon 80-200 f/2.8
Nikon 24-120 f/4
Nikon 16-35 f/4
Nikon 50 f/1.4
Sent buy mistake before finish
Thanks in advance.
Best regards
Mehmet
Mehmet, D800 is not out yet and it won’t be till the end of Q1 of 2012.
As for lenses, the list looks fine, except I would not get the 80-200mm and get the 70-200mm instead. If you cannot afford it, skip the 24-120mm and get a 70-200mm instead.
Thank you for your quick reply.
I have thought that I will buy one of 80-200 or 24-120. 70-200 is very expensive and no budget for it.
What do you think that if I buy 70-300 for now until get the budget. Then buy 70-200.
Thanks a lot.
Brgds/Mehmet
Mehmet, the 70-300mm is also very good, so get that one now if you need the reach. 70-200 is obviously a completely different class lens.
Hi Nasim,
I think Nikon 16-35 is a good substitute for 14-24, isn’t it? Any other?
Is there any this kind of substitute for Nikon 70-200? Or save money to buy it from now on? :))
Brgds/Mehmet
Hi Nasim,
First of all , I am following your website for quite a long time now. And as i am new this DSLR world I am really impressed that you (and your wife) guiding amateur like me for last few months. It has been really helpful.
Now I am using Nikon D3100 with kit lens(18-55) for last 4 months and planning to buy my first prime.
Keeping the budget in mind I have 2 option,
Nikkor 35mm 1.8G – 12800 Rs.
Nikkor 50mm 1.8G -13100 Rs.
I am interested in Bokeh, Landscape (Skyscape) and Street photography. But using my kit lens I never got sharp image of a landscape.
Can you please help me to choose my first lens. As I checked by putting my kit lens at 35mm and its very suitable focal length for me. But most of my friends telling me to buy 50mm. and I am confused. :)
Waiting for your valuable reply.
Hi Avirup,
I recently bought my new D5100 and did not buy kit lens as I prepared myself to get my hands dirty with pro stuff :D lol! anyways… even i was confused which one to go for 35mm or 50mm.. then i read lot of reviews and Nasim’s comparison of 35mm and 50mm nailed it.. I purchased 35mm 1.8G its a great great lens. I also have a zoom lens 55-300mm but I use 35mm all the time. and its a perfect lens. 50mm you wont feel that comfortable when clicking inside a room or a hall… and I find bokeh is smooth.. did not test it in night yet.. but its perfect for me atleast.
I had great shots on Diwali night.. all pics i took without flash, natural colors and so well lit pics. You really dont need a flash with 35mm lens coz 1.8G is good enough to capture even small light. I think you should go fir it. as we are using DX cameras so 35mm is almost like 50mm on fx :) you wont regret.
I would also like Nasim to comment on this :) He’s expert ;)
–Ajay
Hello Nassim,
I have a Nikon D9o with an AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm lens. First of all, I would like your opinion about this len. Second, what lens would you recommend if I want to change it for another one that would be for all purpose neat and sharp photography, like portraits, landscape, low light photography, events, travel ect? and should I upgrade the camera too, or the D90 with another lens would work good. Also, what lens would you recommend for a girls ballet show in a auditorium, and would I need a flash? if, so which one? Would I need a tripod or nothing to move around or at what distance should I be? should I use a remote control? One thing I want to mention is that I use the auto, I don’t do anything manually.I’m sorry to ask so many questions but I really need your help as it is obvious that I am not a proffessional photographer. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
I forgot to mention that I will also be taking pictures backstage for this ballet dance event. Thanks
Hello Nassim,
I admire your work and what you are doing here, you both produce beautiful images.
I have:
Nikon D7000
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G
Nikon 50mm f/1.4G
I recently traded in a 18-200mm VRII for the 50mm. I was disappointed with the 18-200, I found it to be ironically very limiting in terms of producing quality images (my skill and craft aside). My question is….what would YOU get next and why?
Kind regards,
Martin
Since my old OM1 I have used only the point and shoot but am ready to get back to an SLR. I want to be able to use the camera for pictures of birds in the wild, so need excellent telephoto capabilities, sometimes in low light. B $ H has this kit (thru 12/31!):
Nikon D90 SLR Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 18-105mm VR Lens & AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm VR Lens. Both Lenses are DX format. $1296.90
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/588977-REG/Nikon_D90_SLR_Digital_Camera.html
Should I spring for the extra for an FX telephoto?
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Zoom Lens
Thanks in advance. Loved your article about DX vs FX sensors
Nassim,
I enjoy all your posts. Two years ago I bought a D200, nearly new at a real “bargin” price. I really love the camera. It has a lot more capability than I have begun to explore.
I have a flash, a Nikkor 18-70 and a Nikkor 70-200VR. I like them both and am now looking at the 50 1.8 you recommended. Can you recommend anything else for me at this time?
Next I will be buying lots of filters.
Thanks in advance, Jim
Hi Martin,
I love you site, very useful and informative. Its very easy to understand for beginners like me on the photography. Quick question, I have D5000 with kit lens 18-55mm. I would like to upgrade a better lens you would recommend. I also have the twin lense kit 200MM VR lense with the.
I would to go for budget lens. Your advice is much appreciated.
Hello nasim.
I wanted to know your opinion about the following lenses for a d7000-
18-55mm for random shots where wide and medium telephoto are required.
50mm f/1.8G or 35mm f/1.8G (confused between these two greatly)
55-300 or 70-300 mm for long range telephoto.
Would the combination of these 3 lenses be good for covering a wide array of photography?
And also, I’m really confused between the 50mm and 35mm lenses.
Would love to know your opinion and if you’d suggest any other lenses in the same price range.
Thank you.
Hi Nasim,
Been reading your pages for last few days and been getting plenty of ideas for upgrading my gear and a lot of questions too. :)
I have a D5000 now with 18-55 kit lens, 70-300mm VR and 50mm 1.8D.
Would like to upgrade to a body with built-in AF and am considering D7000. And also a fast lens like 24-70mm or 24-105mm for general event coverage use. Please advise.
Also am considering going to a Canon 5D MII for mainly to use its video capability but that would also give me a full frame still camera too. And plan to get the following lenses with that – 24-105mm/f4,
70-200/f2.8 and 16-35mm/f2.8.
Now does this make any sense to go both on Canon and Nikon this way? For event coverages, I would intend to use both the cameras.
Thanks
Ramesh