Seek advice on upgrading d50 kit lens.

[thunderdell]

Hi,

I am thinking of upgrading my d50 kit lens to achive longer range.
Would like to seek advice from more experience people here
budget will be around $500, and also considering 3rd party lens.
Would like to get a sharp lens, since I really like the sharpness of a prime lens
currently only having the kit lens 18-55mm, 50mm, and 70-300mm
Can anyone advice ?

I have seen the review of Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
by kenrockwell, but it is over the budget

btw what makes a lens sharp?

Thanks

[ortega]

Looks like you already have it covered up to 300mm

If you are looking to replace your kits lens, then a good replacement would be the 18-70 D70s kit lens

or one of the 18-200s

[westwest1]

Originally Posted by thunderdell Would like to get a sharp lens, since I really like the sharpness of a prime lens

Prime lens are sharp...

You may want to have a look at the 105mm f2.8 Macro lens... its confirm sharp..

[solarii]

Originally Posted by thunderdell Hi, I am thinking of upgrading my d50 kit lens to achive longer range. Would like to seek advice from more experience people here budget will be around $500, and also considering 3rd party lens. Would like to get a sharp lens, since I really like the sharpness of a prime lens currently only having the kit lens 18-55mm, 50mm, and 70-300mm Can anyone advice ? I have seen the review of Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED by kenrockwell, but it is over the budget btw what makes a lens sharp? Thanks

Let me translate your request into real terms... I'll use cars since people seem quite familiar with them.

You want a Mercedes SLK... that perfroms like a Ferrari 360... but costs about as much as a Honda Civic.

I dunno how to advise hor, sorry.

Either raise your budget or lower your expectations. You want Prime lens sharpness for the price of a consumer grade zoom... and you want the lens to cover a decent range to boot... such things don't exist.

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by ortega Looks like you already have it covered up to 300mm If you are looking to replace your kits lens, then a good replacement would be the 18-70 D70s kit lens or one of the 18-200s

I am thinking of selling the 70-300mm too since It is under utillized.
and 18-200 is way way over budget.
How about AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED ?
Is it sharp? I saw people selling in B&S.
Even saw Nikkor 24-120mm non VR has the same price as D70s kit lens $300.

How about third party lens,
with the same budget surely i can get a bigger apperture than from nikon lens, rite?
wouldn't that be better?a bigger apperture..

Thanks

[solarii]

Originally Posted by thunderdell btw what makes a lens sharp? Thanks

The photographer's skill.

If you're skillful, you can get a kit lens to be as sharp as a Pro zoom, under the right conditions of course.

If you have no skill, even with a 17-55 f2.8, you'll mess the whole show up.

I'm not trying to be funny... ask any decent protographer around and he'll tell you that.
Newbies like to obsess over equipment, without realising that the guy behind the camera is far more important.

[ronaldjace]

the 24-120mm is a good no... great piece of a lense. sell away both your d50 kit lens and get one!

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by solarii Let me translate your request into real terms... I'll use cars since people seem quite familiar with them. You want a Mercedes SLK... that perfroms like a Ferrari 360... but costs about as much as a Honda Civic. I dunno how to advise hor, sorry. Either raise your budget or lower your expectations. You want Prime lens sharpness for the price of a consumer grade zoom... and you want the lens to cover a decent range to boot... such things don't exist.

that's why third party lens comes into the picture
some more question, i hope you don't mind (newbie asking)
what are the factor you should consider when you want to buy a lens?
1. the range (of course)
2. the apperture (are we considering this only to get shalow depth of field and works on dim light? or it has other purpose of having big apperture)
3. please advise (can't think of any other )

thanks in advance

[westwest1]

Originally Posted by thunderdell I am thinking of selling the 70-300mm too since It is under utillized. and 18-200 is way way over budget. How about AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED ? Is it sharp? I saw people selling in B&S. Even saw Nikkor 24-120mm non VR has the same price as D70s kit lens $300. How about third party lens, with the same budget surely i can get a bigger apperture than from nikon lens, rite? wouldn't that be better?a bigger apperture.. Thanks

bigger apperture then nikon lens? bigger then f1.4 lens? what focal length do u need?

Care to tell us your budget since u want to get a third party one..

[solarii]

Originally Posted by thunderdell that's why third party lens comes into the picture some more question, i hope you don't mind (newbie asking) what are the factor you should consider when you want to buy a lens? 1. the range (of course) 2. the apperture (are we considering this only to get shalow depth of field and works on dim light? or it has other purpose of having big apperture) 3. please advise (can't think of any other ) thanks in advance

Let me quote u an extract from my guide, regarding apertures:

By far one of the least understood concepts among new photographers. The size of the aperture controls the amount of light that hit the sensor. Lenses with large apertures, (f/2.8 and below) are often called fast lenses since they allow you to use faster shutter speeds for low light and action photography.

I won't go into detail about how aperture, shutter speed and other variables come together to give the desired exposure, or how the concept of exposure works. For that, refer to this website when gives a very detailed explanation:
http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_2_005.html

What you need to know is that fast lenses are considerably more expensive and allow you to capture images in low light without flash, freeze action (outdoors), and produce images with very shallow depths-of-field.


Haha I can't write any more cos then my readers will kill me and demand refunds. I've got about 4 pages worth of stuff to discuss if u want to talk about criteria for choosing lenses. So acutally I can't list it here even if I wanted to.

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by solarii The photographer's skill. If you're skillful, you can get a kit lens to be as sharp as a Pro zoom, under the right conditions of course. If you have no skill, even with a 17-55 f2.8, you'll mess the whole show up. I'm not trying to be funny... ask any decent protographer around and he'll tell you that. Newbies like to obsess over equipment, without realising that the guy behind the camera is far more important.

I am asking that question because I heard some people could say "this lens is sharp"..."this lens is not sharp"...
I wonder if they are made by the same manufacturer, why can the lens have different sharpness. there must be other factor.
Maybe those people has experienced the lens themself so they knew. But for me, no experience. that's why I asked

[westwest1]

Originally Posted by thunderdell I am asking that question because I heard some people could say "this lens is sharp"..."this lens is not sharp"... I wonder if they are made by the same manufacturer, why can the lens have different sharpness. there must be other factor. Maybe those people has experienced the lens themself so they knew. But for me, no experience. that's why I asked

people just say not sharp....maybe want u can do... go try out the lens for yourself and see whether its sharp enough for you...

Yes lens are made by the same manufacturer... you pay peaunts u get peanuts...

its marketing man...cheap lens = lower specs...

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by westwest1 bigger apperture then nikon lens? bigger then f1.4 lens? what focal length do u need? Care to tell us your budget since u want to get a third party one..

What I mean is with the same budget and the same focal length I can get a bigger apperture from a 3rd party lens than Nikon lens. Am i rite?
My budget is $500, as I have written in my first post.
for focal length, considering 18mm/24mm - around 100mm?

Thanks

[westwest1]

Originally Posted by thunderdell What I mean is with the same budget and the same focal length I can get a bigger apperture from a 3rd party lens than Nikon lens. Am i rite? My budget is $500, as I have written in my first post. Thanks

for budget of $500.... which focal length u intend to get?? and what aperture...

i think u keep your 70-300 lens better...

cause i believe u like to have a f2.8 lens right?

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by westwest1 for budget of $500.... which focal length u intend to get?? and what aperture... i think u keep your 70-300 lens better... cause i believe u like to have a f2.8 lens right?

Yes I DO, I DO

[westwest1]

Originally Posted by thunderdell Yes I DO, I DO

what focal length u need?

70-200mm f2.8 sigma lens?

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by westwest1 for budget of $500.... which focal length u intend to get?? and what aperture... i think u keep your 70-300 lens better... cause i believe u like to have a f2.8 lens right?

forgot to answer the focal length, over excited
should be good enough for wedding/event photography I guess.
if possible would like to have more than 70mm.
any reason why u suggest me to keep my 70-300mm?


Thanks

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by solarii Let me quote u an extract from my guide, regarding apertures: By far one of the least understood concepts among new photographers. The size of the aperture controls the amount of light that hit the sensor. Lenses with large apertures, (f/2.8 and below) are often called fast lenses since they allow you to use faster shutter speeds for low light and action photography. I won't go into detail about how aperture, shutter speed and other variables come together to give the desired exposure, or how the concept of exposure works. For that, refer to this website when gives a very detailed explanation: http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_2_005.html What you need to know is that fast lenses are considerably more expensive and allow you to capture images in low light without flash, freeze action (outdoors), and produce images with very shallow depths-of-field. Haha I can't write any more cos then my readers will kill me and demand refunds. I've got about 4 pages worth of stuff to discuss if u want to talk about criteria for choosing lenses. So acutally I can't list it here even if I wanted to.

haha ..i understand...thanks anyway

[ortega]

Originally Posted by thunderdell I am thinking of selling the 70-300mm too since It is under utillized. and 18-200 is way way over budget. How about AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED ? Is it sharp? I saw people selling in B&S. Even saw Nikkor 24-120mm non VR has the same price as D70s kit lens $300.

First you need to find out what focal lenght you need
What do you like to shoot?
How do you shoot it?

D50 kit lens, not enough reach, 70-300 under utilized ...
so you actually want the D70 kit lens 18-70mm

Originally Posted by thunderdell How about third party lens, with the same budget surely i can get a bigger apperture than from nikon lens, rite? wouldn't that be better?a bigger apperture..

Yes you are right on this

Lets take for an example

Nikon AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED - $2550 (Grey, TCW, Sept05 - jaycegoh)
Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED - $515 (w/o GST, AP, Oct05 - wiz23)
and
Tokina AF 28-80mm F2.8 - AT-X 280 AF PRO ($860 w/GST CP, $780 w/GST TKPhoto)

but you mightalso be interested in this

Tamron AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] Macro (MS - $625 inc.gst)
Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC - (MSC $560 w/gst)

[thunderdell]

Originally Posted by ortega First you need to find out what focal lenght you need What do you like to shoot? How do you shoot it?

I like to shoot potraits,wedding, event. basicly like to shoot people
what do you mean by how do I shoot it?

Originally Posted by ortega D50 kit lens, not enough reach, 70-300 under utilized ... so you actually want the D70 kit lens 18-70mm

70-300mm is underutillized because I am lazy to change
that is why i am thinking of replacing my kit lens to a longer range.
wide enough and long enough to shoot in wedding/event.

Originally Posted by ortega Yes you are right on this Lets take for an example Nikon AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED - $2550 (Grey, TCW, Sept05 - jaycegoh) Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED - $515 (w/o GST, AP, Oct05 - wiz23) and Tokina AF 28-80mm F2.8 - AT-X 280 AF PRO ($860 w/GST CP, $780 w/GST TKPhoto) but you mightalso be interested in this Tamron AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] Macro (MS - $625 inc.gst) Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC - (MSC $560 w/gst)

more interested to the tokina ...f2.8
didn't know the price could be that high..
Thanks though for the lens recommendation