Which is the best lens for a first time Nikon SLR user?
Font size:
Question by Kay: Which is the best lens for a first time Nikon SLR user?
I am about to buy a Nikon D200 but having never used a digital SLR before, i am unsure of which lens to purchase. I am looking for a general purpose lens that will work well with portrait work.
Also, will an SLR lens made for a 35mm manual camera fit onto a digital SLR?
Best answer:
Answer by uhm101
The D200 will have a 1.5x crop factor. Lenses will behave on it similarly to a lens of 1.5x the focal length on a film body.
That being said, a AF 50mm f/1.4D or f/1.8D will be a nice portrait length on a 1.5x crop factor camera. (The 85mm Nikkors were the classic portrait length on Nikon film gear but are a little too long on 1.5x crop DSLRs)
What do you think? Answer below!
Add to:
del.icio.us |
Digg
del.icio.us |
Digg
Home
Set as homepage
Add to favorites
Rss
2 Comments
A general purpose portrait lens….
I am fond of my Tamron 24-135mm on my D200. Another option would be the Nikon 24-120mm VR AF-S lens. Many users like the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 for portraits. A good zoom for portraits would be the 70-200mm AF-S VR lens, but it’s not good as a general purpose lens because it’s not wide enough. You can try the lenses at the store to get a feel for what you like in terms of view and convenience.
For prime lenses, look at a 35mm f/2.0, a 50mm f/1.8, or if you have lots of money, an 85mm f/1.4. The 85mm is scary good for portraits, but the other lenses are less expensive and do well too. Some users like the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 for portraits as well as macro work.
35mm manual focus lenses will work on the D200; just read the manual on how to use them. They will mount and meter, but not autofocus.
If you have Nikon 35mm SLR lenses, they’ll work fine in manual focus mode on your D200.
My favorite Nikon lens is the 18-200mm VR, a fantastic optic with Vibration Reduction. That feature virtually eliminates the need for a tripod, as it stabilizes the camera to an amazing extent.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm
I hope this helps. By the way, the D200 is an outstanding camera that will allow you to create some amazing images.
Post your comment