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New to Forum-Need some HELP!

(36 posts) (16 voices)
  • Started 3 years ago by 8ella8
  • Latest reply from jonnyapple
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  1. 8ella8

    junior member
    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 9

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    Hi all-

    I have been doing some research and have finally decided on purchasing a D90, I have been looking for the perfect lens, an 'all rounder'.
    I will be using it for mostly indoor/outdoor, still/moving of my two little boys. Don't want to miss any more important moments, they seem to grow so quickly!
    A friend suggested the Nikkor 135mm f/2d as it is great for portrait etc. The price (@ $1600 AUS) Is my limit. Can someone please direct me in what is the best lens for me.

    Also any Aussies out there- Where is the best priced D90?
    Thanks

    Posted 3 years ago #
  2. NikoDoby

    The Terminator
    Joined: May '09
    Posts: 6,598

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    Welcome to the forum 8ella8. Your budget is about $1400USD. I say you should get the D90 with the 16-85mm. The 135mm is a great lens but it's not an "all rounder". You will miss out on wide angle shots if that is your only lens.

    Prepare yourself for all sorts of suggestion though.

    Oh and of course we have lots of Aussies here. Their leader seems to be Heartyfisher :^)

    Posted 3 years ago #
  3. mb

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '09
    Posts: 1,160

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    Nikkor 135mm f/2d is certainly not an all around lens; It is very specialized professional full frame portrait lens.
    18-105 VR D90 standard kit lens on the other hand is so I would go for it or, if you want to spend a bit more for a better IQ, go for 16-85.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  4. mb

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '09
    Posts: 1,160

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    Niko beat me again ...
    Oh yeah, welcome 8ella8 and we hope to see pictures of your little boys soon.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  5. adamz

    The Predator
    Joined: Mar '09
    Posts: 3,461

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    Confirm what mb and niko wrote above. Go either for 16-85 or 18-105. Later on You can add 35/1.8 and 70-300vr

    Posted 3 years ago #
  6. PB PM

    preferred member
    Joined: Jan '10
    Posts: 2,217

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    Start with the kit lens and go from there.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  7. kanuck

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '09
    Posts: 1,405

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    I gaurantee if you purchase the 18-200mm VR first edition you will not be sorry. For many people its all you ever need, if not you can simply branch out from there. Welcome to the forum 8ella8!^^ Sure wish I was living in Australia right now! haha its my favourite country that I have visited. I would have stayed longer but employment posibilities were VERY LIMITED for me..

    Posted 3 years ago #
  8. 8ella8

    junior member
    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 9

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    Wow, that was quick... :)

    I'm hesitant to go for the kit lenses as I don't want to be limited by what they can do, and then have to purchase the step up. My husband may have a heart attack if I go to him in a few months and say I NEED another lens! ha

    Niko-my lens budget is around $1000USD :)

    135mm f/2d- reviews write they give great colour. K-Rockwell review says creamiest pastels ever... Sounds dreamy to me :)
    I will be doing alot of portrait shots...

    Posted 3 years ago #
  9. NSXType-R

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    Joined: Mar '09
    Posts: 2,803

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    Take Ken Rockwell with a grain of salt.

    I wouldn't just buy the 125mm f/2- it's probably a good lens, but you most definitely will be wanting another lens soon after to cover the wide side. The kit lens will serve you well. If you need more zoom you can also get the 70-300. It would be a bit of a mistake to just have the 135mm, in my opinion. I prefer the wide side, not sure what you'd like to do.

    The D90 has great ISO performance, you can bump the ISO without much fear of grainy images.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  10. mb

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    Joined: Apr '09
    Posts: 1,160

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    Lenses to not give colors and especially not pastels, at best they do not change colors.
    If you are not going to shoot only portraits from a greater distance with your D90 you really do not want this lens.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  11. 8ella8

    junior member
    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 9

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    thanks MB- so in your opinion what should I get?
    16-85 you mentioned yeah?

    Thanks for your adivce people- lovin this forum

    Posted 3 years ago #
  12. NikoDoby

    The Terminator
    Joined: May '09
    Posts: 6,598

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    8ella8 1600AUS/1000USD is your total budget for camera and lens? Or is it just your budget for the lens? Will this be your first DSLR? What's your photography background?

    The 135mm is one of the best lenses for portraits. But if it's going to be your only lens you will be disappointed at all the great wide angle pictures you will miss. The 16-85 is a great all round lens, but it might just be out of your budget if you are including the price of the D90.

    If that's the case then I say go with the 18-105mm D90 Kit. Best balance of price, focal range, and image quality.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  13. smarterchild

    preferred member
    Joined: Jan '10
    Posts: 678

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    go for the kit lens. the 18-105. its perfect. i own the same exact setup.
    plus purchase a 50mm 1.4G. on the dx camera itd be about 75mm for you and create that look of a 135 2.0. its an amazing portrait lenses.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  14. 8ella8

    junior member
    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 9

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    Niko- Photography background/ few courses at uni (night classes), used to own a canon Dslr and Nikon VERY old slr. Loved it! Want to get back into it after 2 kids and about 5year break. The technology is leaps ahead of when I was taking pics and I'm only 26! oh dear.
    my 1000USD budget is for lens only.

    thanks

    Posted 3 years ago #
  15. smarterchild

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    Joined: Jan '10
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    hmmmm. for 1000.

    you could get the

    18-105
    35mm 2.0
    50mm 1.4.

    those primes would be nice for portraits on dx giving you a 50mm and a 75mm

    Posted 3 years ago #
  16. aesnakes

    preferred member
    Joined: Dec '09
    Posts: 138

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    I started out with a special they had here and got The D90 with the 18-200 lens which I still use a lot. Its great to have on the camera at all times just in case you need to go wide or zoom in a bit. The images are sharp with the right lighting and the VR performance is great. In my bag I carry the 18-200, Sigma 150-500, 50mm 1.4, and a 10.5mm.

    these lenses have given me enough flexibility to work with and now Im finally looking at pro glass like the 24-70 and 70-200 but those are double your budget for now and are not necessary to take "good photos"

    Posted 3 years ago #
  17. anjz

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    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 208

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    $1000 US lens budget and a D90. I would get a 50 1.4G (around 400USD), probably won't leave your camera and the 18-55 G VR (cheap, good quality and useful) ($180 or so). I have both and that is the perfect combination for photos of my kid, my wife and lots of travel shots. Then, maybe try the Tamron 90 mm 2.8 Macro at a camera shop (never used it but it is on my list of possible next lenses). That lens will run you around 450USD

    Posted 3 years ago #
  18. aesnakes

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    if you were closer to vancouver I am trying to get rid of an 18-55 VR that is sitting in the box had it on my camera maybe 6 times. its a good lens, actually does decent macro shots cause It focuses pretty close. The only reason I dont use it is because I have the 18-200 but it is definitely a sharp lens I think if you got one you'd be very happy with it.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  19. anjz

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    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 208

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    This may help:
    18-55 VR (good lens)
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2553/3967731879_69925978a3_b.jpg (18-55 "kit lens" in action)

    50mm (but the 1.8 version..only $120. The 50 1.4 is just a little more fun)
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/4004054930_ab201c9750_b.jpg (50 mm, albeit the 1.8 and not the 1.4)

    Posted 3 years ago #
  20. NikoDoby

    The Terminator
    Joined: May '09
    Posts: 6,598

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    Ok 8ella8 then I stand by my original recommendation, the 16-85mm. If all you want is ONE good lens then the 16-85 is the best all round choice. If you don't mind carrying a second lens with you then get the 50mm or 35mm as well for low light photos.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  21. heartyfisher

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '09
    Posts: 1,701

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    Hi Ozzie!

    With the D90 the 16-85 is what I would recomend as well. Its, a wonder of a lens. At 85mm on Dx is preety close to the FOV of the 135mm in film days. Perfect for portraits!
    It may even have been designed that way as the bokeh at 85mm is at its best!

    Welcome ! oi oi oi!

    Posted 3 years ago #
  22. adamz

    The Predator
    Joined: Mar '09
    Posts: 3,461

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    8ella8 - still I'll stick to what I've wrote before: 16-85 as an all around + 35mm/1.8 (no sens for buying 35/2 if You can get the 35/1.8 with AF-S) - +/- $850, if You manage to extend Your budget a little bit add 70-300/vr - by a little I mean app $300 :) or get the 18-105 instead, and You should be able to fit everything in Your budget.

    You mentioned 135mm lens, IMHO it's not a good starting lens as it gives You 200mm alternative on DX crop cameras (d90), it's a moderate telephoto! - way too long for casual style photographer. Also smarterchild and anjz mentioned 50/1.8 - it's a great lens, but on FX on DX it's boring (IMHO), the 35/1.8 will do the job better, and for it's price it's one of the best in the whole Nikon lineup - considering price to quality ratio.

    As for KR, You must know that he and his opinion are not among the most popular over here.
    If You want creamy pictures, take a look at zeiss glass, they are manual focus lenses.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  23. kanuck

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '09
    Posts: 1,405

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    I still think the 18-200mm would be the way to go, because the price is similar to the 16-85 and although its a little softer at 100-200mm range, (plus more barrel distortion) its still very good and nice to have it when you need it believe me. I can't believe anyone would consider anything else as a first lens and on a $1000 budget. Its a no-brainer. The 135mm is purely a specialty lens. All primes like the 35mm, 50mm etc are for people who have shot for years and have a developed a specific desire for that particular focal length. Mr.Lange who drops in on this Nikon Forum from time to time is a good example of someone who uses primes frequently.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  24. jonnyapple

    Goldfingers
    Joined: May '09
    Posts: 3,400

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    Don't sacrifice image quality by getting the 18-200. It's a jack of all trades, master of none. Niko's 16-85 recommendation is a good one and if you go that route and you're doing kids pictures (I've got two, as well), I'd also get one of two lenses (or both if you can swing it):

    -the 35 1.8 ~$200 (see this thread about it).

    jonnyapple said:
    Niz, here are a few sample shots for you.

    Sample 1 f/4 1/160s ISO 200
    Sample 2 f/7.1 1/125s ISO 200 Skip this on a slow connection. There's lots of high frequency stuff here, so it's a big jpg.
    Sample 3 f/8 1/2000s ISO 320 this is to show flare handling. That's the sun in the lower right, and the shadows on the underside of the bridge still have great contrast, I think.
    Sample 4 f/2.8 1/320s ISO 200

    -the 85 1.8 ~$400. This is probably my favorite portrait lens.

    If you want to get both of those primes (if you think you'll be shooting a lot of low light), then you could get the 18-105 for ~$350, which is a great lens but won't last as long as the 16-85 unless you're careful with it, and have enough left over to get the 35 1.8, 85 1.8, and even the 50 1.8 for $120.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  25. jbl

    preferred member
    Joined: Jul '09
    Posts: 266

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    I wouldn't go with an all rounder... this kind of kit lens will do a lot but all it will do will mostly be inferior to what you could get with some specialized lens.. no need to go for a fish eye here or some crazy lens that you can never use.. but I suggest you find what you want to do most and buy a lens that do that well..

    You could start with a 50mm f/1.8 this is cheap and would cover portraits very well.

    You say you want to use it for "mostly" indoor/outdoor and still/moving subject... that's about everything that exists.. if your boys are your priority, you can use the cheap 50mm f/1.8 for portraits when they are not too close and don't move too fast... Then you could add a 35mm f/1.8 for indoors + normal focal lenght... and a 16-85 would be your more versatile lens...

    personally I'd complete the 35mm + 50mm set with a 10-24 ultra wide angle (or tokina 11-16) for your wide angle needs (small rooms, fun effects inside, landscape, etc..) and a 70-200 f/2.8 for outdoors, sports, etc.. That would be more expensive than your current budget.. but you could start off with the 35 + 50 primes and then build your kit based on your needs as your boys grow up..

    Also, I believe that person who suggested you the 135mm made a quite interesting suggestion as this lens, even if it's far from being versatile, would get awesome portraits...

    Posted 3 years ago #

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