chanjyj
New Member
Frankly, if he is asking what he NEEDS, then I say kit lens will be more than sufficient. Nikon kit lens is not like canon kit lens.
D40 users come in!
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Frankly, if he is asking what he NEEDS, then I say kit lens will be more than sufficient. Nikon kit lens is not like canon kit lens.
dreamzcape
New Member
Hi there jeck2005. I think for now, stick to the 18-55 kit lens if you want the cheapest solution. If not, then I'd say 50mm f1.8 for about $180 but you'll have to manual focus so that may not be your cup of tea. If not, I think the sigma 30mm f1.4 HSM would suit you but it goes for about $700-750? One thing you should consider is what else would you be taking pictures of and then see if it is worth the investment. For taking photos of your baby, I think to make it hassle free, you should use a lens that has AF.
A few other pros of an investment into the 30mm other than the AF is that it gives you almost a 'what you see with your eyes' angle of view. So what you see with your eyes, you can more or less raise the camera and frame the shot your eyes saw. Try this out with the kit lens at around 30mm.
Also, consider if you would be taking photos in low light environments eg. christmas lights with your baby. The f1.4 aperture should give you quite a bit of speed in that area to compensate for handshakes.
But if you don't see yourself shooting in such situations, then I'd go with what chanjyj says, the kit lens should be more than sufficient. At the risk of sounding a bit warped, try imagining situations you'd be taking your baby and snap away eg. couch, living room etc. Then see if it is satisfactory to you.
And also, if you intend to take photography a little further you might want to consider using a D80 and then use the 50 f1.8 which will AF on the D80 body. Assuming you haven't bought your camera yet. All in all, test out your kit lens first.
oh btw, as to what lenses you need, I think only you would know best after shooting a few weeks/months with your kit lens.
Only when you realise that indeed the kit lens cannot satisfy what you are hoping to achieve, then start looking out for lens to serve your purpose.
For me, I MF a 50mm f1.8 on a D40X coz it gives me the speed in low light situations. of course, using a manual focus screen helps alot. I realised this after trying to shoot in low light with my kit lens.
A few other pros of an investment into the 30mm other than the AF is that it gives you almost a 'what you see with your eyes' angle of view. So what you see with your eyes, you can more or less raise the camera and frame the shot your eyes saw. Try this out with the kit lens at around 30mm.
Also, consider if you would be taking photos in low light environments eg. christmas lights with your baby. The f1.4 aperture should give you quite a bit of speed in that area to compensate for handshakes.
But if you don't see yourself shooting in such situations, then I'd go with what chanjyj says, the kit lens should be more than sufficient. At the risk of sounding a bit warped, try imagining situations you'd be taking your baby and snap away eg. couch, living room etc. Then see if it is satisfactory to you.
And also, if you intend to take photography a little further you might want to consider using a D80 and then use the 50 f1.8 which will AF on the D80 body. Assuming you haven't bought your camera yet. All in all, test out your kit lens first.
oh btw, as to what lenses you need, I think only you would know best after shooting a few weeks/months with your kit lens.
Only when you realise that indeed the kit lens cannot satisfy what you are hoping to achieve, then start looking out for lens to serve your purpose.
For me, I MF a 50mm f1.8 on a D40X coz it gives me the speed in low light situations. of course, using a manual focus screen helps alot. I realised this after trying to shoot in low light with my kit lens.
hmmm I am somewhat similar to you.... was in the dark side aka Clubsnap aka Nikon for a while before I "retire" and sold my whole N system away.... :sweatsm:..... but after my BB comes along, I find that a P&S is not enough for me to capture that "special" moment.... just way too slow..... so now i am back to the dark side once more and facing the same problem as you... but of course I am also into Macro and some landscape..... which most of the "affordable" lens does not AF with the D40..... sigh.... of course the advie is to stick with kit lens and move from there.... and I am still thinking very hard about it....
Six-GHz
Senior Member
Like what bro dreamzcape had put it, for a D40 the 50mm is cheap but MF; the Sigma 30mm is AF but cost $790 (the last time I enquire). If you are to take your baby's moments, honestly, the kit lens suffices. Think of getting a flash (eg. SB-400) with diffuser instead, I think that would be more "pressing" than changing lenes.
chanjyj
New Member
Like what bro dreamzcape had put it, for a D40 the 50mm is cheap but MF; the Sigma 30mm is AF but cost $790 (the last time I enquire). If you are to take your baby's moments, honestly, the kit lens suffices. Think of getting a flash (eg. SB-400) with diffuser instead, I think that would be more "pressing" than changing lenes.
He already started a thread long long time ago in Nikon forum to ask about these lah. I think he already got his answers there. Just that he choose to torture himself here as well.
nikond40xuser
New Member
hi a nikon d40x user here can join ma?
nikond40xuser
New Member
with no fear...no pixel differences
Thanks!! Luv my D40x man!!!
Like what bro dreamzcape had put it, for a D40 the 50mm is cheap but MF; the Sigma 30mm is AF but cost $790 (the last time I enquire). If you are to take your baby's moments, honestly, the kit lens suffices. Think of getting a flash (eg. SB-400) with diffuser instead, I think that would be more "pressing" than changing lenes.
Below 6 month better not to use flash lah..
Totally agreed.... else you BB later see "star".... :bheart:.... no good for their eyes....
Plus for certain babies, they might get into fits if they see flashing lights, so better to wait for them to get older before using flash. I started to use bounced flash when my baby was about 5-6 months. ;p
Yo bro, how old you kido now?? Mine now coming to 17mth.... very active thus a P&S is not suitable.... :dunno:
10 months younger than yours. ;p He's 7 mth old today.
This is the kind of shot I have been trying to capture with my P&S..... and you know it.... CMI.... :thumbsd:.......... becuase of shots like this..... I am back to the dark side once more.... :sweat:.... (but well worth it I must say).... :lovegrin:
D40 should be able to do it too. I'm using D70s with Sigma 24/1.8, SB-800 bounced.
dreamzcape
New Member
hmm actually if that's the case, babies below 6 months you diffuse and bounce would it be too fierce ah? the fits you're talking about epilepsy?
then again, you bounce+fast lens...so looks like he has to get a fast lens anyhow.
cute capture though...raising hand or crawling forward?
then again, you bounce+fast lens...so looks like he has to get a fast lens anyhow.
cute capture though
...raising hand or crawling forward?Yeah.. I was referring to epilepsy. If the flash intensity is low I think it should be ok if you don't do it too often. Their eyes would also not be well developed yet.hmm actually if that's the case, babies below 6 months you diffuse and bounce would it be too fierce ah? the fits you're talking about epilepsy?
then again, you bounce+fast lens...so looks like he has to get a fast lens anyhow.
cute capture though
My aperture was at f/4.5 for this shot (check EXIF). ;p Baby was about 5.5 months old. The disadvantage of fast aperture is by the time you lock focus, baby would move out of the DoF. So fast aperture may not be required in this instance. ;p I think he was trying to crawl forward in this shot.
dreamzcape
New Member
oh ok...yea i forgot to check exif...silly me. thanks for sharing!
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