advice on lenses to get for my D90

[kriegsketten]

:thumbsup: true! thanks! if not i may be wallowing in self despair right now. haha. kidding. but it's definitely gd not to have any budget issues. but it sure sucks to be under-ultilising the lens or worse, letting it be a 'white elephant' in the dry cab.

ok boss. i'll go get a spirit level. haha. i need 1 anyway

Spirit level, how much? I may need to get one soon! I don't want to mess with the horizons when I go shooting in the dark! :bsmilie:

 

[daredevil123]

uncle here can only afford PnS HX5V... really envy those youngsters that sling a 70-200/2.8 with their D90, must shoot many exposures just to pick a decent photo with very thin DOF so model can stand out... but forgot to look out that skinny lamp post protuding behind the model's head. :sweat:

uncle from old fashion 35mm era... i suggest... not sure if 28-70mm F2.8 and 70-200mm F2.8 then is equal to what lenses now? suggest include a 85mm F1.4 and a 135mm F2 for stunning portrait photography.

uncle old liao... just only wish to use PnS camera... set Intelligent Auto all the way.

Hello uncle!

135 on a DX format will be a tad too tight. It equates to FOV of 200mm on 35mm film.

50mm and 85mm will be good. 105mm will be pushing it a little but still manageable for head shots.

 

[albertchng]

I believe the killer range would be 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II of the current series. Yup, your portraiture lenses recommendations are still the same (still the samo old lenses, btw). I believe the newer 85mm VR (forgot if it's f/1.4 or f/2.8) is about to debut soon. That may relegate the older lens to surrender its throne to the new comer - pending comparison results/reviews of course.

Another lens recommendation would be the Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 (full manual, with CPU) for portraiture. Equivalent to 87mm on a D90.

the 85mm F1.4 is a killer lens for studio portrait. also great for outdoor portrait with space constrain.:lovegrin:

 

[ryanwhoo]

Personally feel 50mm f1.8 still too tight on the D90. I'd rather get the 35mm.

 

[Numnumball]

Need advice on which lens to get for my D90.
Mainly use for portrait, landscape n walkabout for tour.
me already have a sigma 10-20 wide angle and the 18-105 kit lens.

looking at
nikon afs 35mm 1.8
nikon afs 50mm 1.8
nikon afs 16-85
18-200 macro

may i know which is better to get?

Since u ard have the Kit lens and the UWA.. Purposes are served for landscape and walkabt.
i recommend 50mm (Note it only come in AFD ver) for serious portrait work (though longer focal length is more ideal).. also much depends on ur comfort level and shooting style

 

[kriegsketten]

Personally feel 50mm f1.8 still too tight on the D90. I'd rather get the 35mm.

Wowz... you're the get close and personal type huh? :thumbsup: I think 35mm suits indoors better (where space maybe tighter), 50mm and onwards - outdoors! But maybe that's just me talking, each to his/her own shooting styles.

 

[Smiles88]

Spirit level, how much? I may need to get one soon! I don't want to mess with the horizons when I go shooting in the dark! :bsmilie:

sorry ah. is leveller. haha. my engrish too poor. but from what i see of photos of CSLive, it can be used for portraits also! haha. anyway, maybe get 35mm f/1.8 better. my 50mm is a little tight indoors.

 

[albertchng]

35mm uses for indoor portrait still ok but not studio portrait... the background so sharp and clear until a shoe print can be spotted is zzZZz.

 

[daredevil123]

Personally feel 50mm f1.8 still too tight on the D90. I'd rather get the 35mm.

Too tight on the D90 for what? It really depends on what you are shooting.

the 50 and 85 are recommended for portraits for APS-C bodies.

Using a 35mm for portraits, and you would really have to be careful to pose the model properly to avoid distortions.

Maybe you should read properly before commenting? :think:

 

[albertchng]

sorry ah. is leveller. haha. my engrish too poor. but from what i see of photos of CSLive, it can be used for portraits also! haha. anyway, maybe get 35mm f/1.8 better. my 50mm is little indoors.

spirit leveller? u mean D90 no more viewfinder? all must relies on the LCD on back & a spirit leveller to stay on horizon?

 

[daredevil123]

sorry ah. is leveller. haha. my engrish too poor. but from what i see of photos of CSLive, it can be used for portraits also! haha. anyway, maybe get 35mm f/1.8 better. my 50mm is little indoors.

Yes it can be used for portraits also. But when you shoot half body shots with the 35mm, you really need to be careful to pose the the arms and face of the model in the same plane. If not, you can get some distortions. It is still advisable to go for a slight longer focal length and shoot slightly further away.

 

[kriegsketten]

spirit leveller? u mean D90 no more viewfinder? all must relies on the LCD on back & a spirit leveller to stay on horizon?

Have viewfinder lah! :bsmilie: You can even switch on/off the grid lines in the vf! It's just that for convenience sake, a spirt leveller maybe easier to watch out for the horizons. The bubbles tell no lies... lol!

 

[Smiles88]

spirit leveller? u mean D90 no more viewfinder? all must relies on the LCD on back & a spirit leveller to stay on horizon?

sorry but i do not get what you are trying to get across. u meant the live view?

 

[kriegsketten]

Yes it can be used for portraits also. But when you shoot half body shots with the 35mm, you really need to be careful to pose the the arms and face of the model in the same plane. If not, you can get some distortions. It is still advisable to go for a slight longer focal length and shoot slightly further away.

Btw hor, just looking at the latest Nikkor brochure... the view angle of 35mm f/1.8 is 44 deg, whilst on 50mm (all of them) is 46 deg... That means, view of angle for 35mm f/1.8 on DX body is about similar to 50mm f/1.4, 1.8 on a FF body??

 

[albertchng]

Have viewfinder lah! :bsmilie: You can even switch on/off the grid lines in the vf! It's just that for convenience sake, a spirt leveller maybe easier to watch out for the horizons. The bubbles tell no lies... lol!

yes i agree the bubbles tell no lies... but is waste time lor... not every scene can be repeated, i rather waste time shooting than waste time leveling the bubbles... :bsmilie:

 

[daredevil123]

Btw hor, just looking at the latest Nikkor brochure... the view angle of 35mm f/1.8 is 44 deg, whilst on 50mm (all of them) is 46 deg... That means, view of angle for 35mm f/1.8 on DX body is about similar to 50mm f/1.4, 1.8 on a FF body??

Bingo...

35mm on DX has FOV of 52.5mm in FF mah. About the same...

But really, the "normal" view is more like around 42mm and not 50mm. That is why you see some lens makers try to strive to achieve that, like Voigtlander Ultraon 40mm, and the 20mm on the m4/3 GF1.

 

[kriegsketten]

yes i agree the bubbles tell no lies... but is waste time lor... not every scene can be repeated, i rather waste time shooting than waste time leveling the bubbles... :bsmilie:

Whudtodo?... Most of us are still shooting in Singapore mah... much time to play around with the bubbles! Of course, when you're on a free and easy tour overseas, that maybe a different story altogether! Time is $$$! :bsmilie:

 

[daredevil123]

yes i agree the bubbles tell no lies... but is waste time lor... not every scene can be repeated, i rather waste time shooting than waste time leveling the bubbles... :bsmilie:

Bubbles are important when shooting landscape. And most of the time the landscape photographer waits for the light by setting up everything nice nice early and camp.

Which is why sometimes I don't understand why people show up after the sun has risen to shoot the sunrise.

 

[kriegsketten]

Bingo...

35mm on DX has FOV of 52.5mm in FF mah. About the same...

But really, the "normal" view is more like around 42mm and not 50mm. That is why you see some lens makers try to strive to achieve that, like Voigtlander Ultraon 40mm, and the 20mm on the m4/3 GF1.

I understand their endeavor for ultimate perfection of the "perfect" normal view (achieving so will bring great fame and name, no doubt). But I wonder how many of us are able to make out the differences (unless you compare them shot by shot, lens by lens)? The only way to know is: "oh, you're not using 40mm har, then your shot definitely not of the normal view..."? Of course, for those seeking perfection, they would still go for those "normal" lenses...

Btw, are normal human eyes all exactly 42mm deg angle of view?... :think:

 

[Smiles88]

Bubbles are important when shooting landscape. And most of the time the landscape photographer waits for the light by setting up everything nice nice early and camp.

Which is why sometimes I don't understand why people show up after the sun has risen to shoot the sunrise.

huh? like tt beats the purpose of shooting sunrise right?

Anyway TS has been very quiet. Think he's still contemplating what to get. hehe