D40/40x/60 users, what lens do you own?

[keltong]

Hi,

I have just started photography and as got myself a D60 with kit lens. Now thinking of adding 1 or 2 lenses into my inventory. Just curious to know what lens you guys use since there are limited set of lens that can AF with our camera.

Anyone using MF successfully? Is AF-S lens still the way to go? Will you go for a AF-D 50mm F1.4 or AF-S 50mm F1.4 prime lens if you still have not own one?

Which other lens did you get first? Any particular reason? How many lens do you own now? All AF-S? Mixture?

Cheers!

[lambchop73]

18-200 Nikon VR
70-200 F2.8 Nikon VR
10mm F2.8 Sigma Fisheye

Cant go wrong with this line up

In fact i didn't even bother with the kit lens.....they are nothing but paper-weights now.

[luna_sea83]

18-55 VR and 50mm 1.8 only

[zhaowei]

Welcome to the club!

I think the lenses you buy depend on what you want to shoot. Don't buy a lens simply because it has good reviews - it may not suit your shooting style and it may just end up sitting in the dry cabinet as a white elephant.

I have two AFS lenses and one AF, as you can see from my signature. I didn't like changing between the two kit lenses so eventually got the 16-85 as my regular zoom replacement. The 60mm is for flowers and portraits. I also think it's usable as a walkabout prime lens with a moderately fast speed. Lastly, I got the fisheye because it's such a fun lens to use - try it for yourself! I think my usage of the three lenses is about equal. Each is useful for a different occasion, but when I'm just out shooting I bring all three as they fit perfectly into my Lowepro Stealth Reporter 200.

At the moment I don't really have any more lenses I want to get. I'm thinking of getting a flash next.

I think AFS is highly preferable for anything other than the fisheye (don't have a choice there, since there is no AFS fisheye) because personally, I don't like MF except when doing macro. But there are some users here who use the 50/1.8 with their D40/60 and have no problems with MF. So you need to think about your personal preference again.

But I would just like to emphasise again that lens buying should always depend on your needs, not because a lens is cheap (think the 50/1.8) or is highly rated. Good luck!

[alvin]

I have used a 28/2.8D on my 40x, it focuses seemingly fine, but I haven't pixel peeped for critical focus. I doubt I can focus a MF lens as accurately without a split prism focusing screen like my dad's old slr so I'd take the af-s 1.4 lens on my 40x...

Personally, I was deciding between the AF and MF 28mms from Nikon, in the end, I got the AF because my other camera has the required af drive screw. (rant: Wishes N has a fast 28mm like C :P)

YMMV!

PS: Kit lens does have some advantages. When I was in Melbourne shooting from the Eureka Skydeck, the external deck had a thin wire mesh that would cause a loss of contrast with my heavier duty lenses as the wires, thin as they were, were in the way. But the kit lenses with their small filter sizes could go through the holes in the wire mesh. And the kit lenses that come with the 40x are pretty good imo. This is an example when a big ass camera and lens craps out to the smaller **** lol

[jtchoy]

Just got a 18-200mm for my D60.

If you can't afford the 18-200mm VR, then go for the 55-200mm VR to pair with the kit 18-55mm VR... Just that have to swap lenses...

[lambchop73]

Originally Posted by zhaowei Welcome to the club! I think the lenses you buy depend on what you want to shoot. Don't buy a lens simply because it has good reviews - it may not suit your shooting style and it may just end up sitting in the dry cabinet as a white elephant. I have two AFS lenses and one AF, as you can see from my signature. I didn't like changing between the two kit lenses so eventually got the 16-85 as my regular zoom replacement. The 60mm is for flowers and portraits. I also think it's usable as a walkabout prime lens with a moderately fast speed. Lastly, I got the fisheye because it's such a fun lens to use - try it for yourself! I think my usage of the three lenses is about equal. Each is useful for a different occasion, but when I'm just out shooting I bring all three as they fit perfectly into my Lowepro Stealth Reporter 200. At the moment I don't really have any more lenses I want to get. I'm thinking of getting a flash next. I think AFS is highly preferable for anything other than the fisheye (don't have a choice there, since there is no AFS fisheye) because personally, I don't like MF except when doing macro. But there are some users here who use the 50/1.8 with their D40/60 and have no problems with MF. So you need to think about your personal preference again. But I would just like to emphasise again that lens buying should always depend on your needs, not because a lens is cheap (think the 50/1.8) or is highly rated. Good luck!

I currently work with the Aussoe Chapter of the "girls gone wild" series. We're based in Bondi, Sydney so theres a lot of beach/surf type activity that I capture. So decent zoom lens and wide angle views are what I use my d60 for.

BTW, the sigma 10mm has AF-S like features and is probably what D60/D40 owners may have to opt for if they are looking for a fisheye with AFocus functionality.

[keltong]

Thanks to the reply so far! I totally understand that I should only buy what I need. But just interested to know what kind of lens people own on our camera that can use a more limited range of lens.

Originally Posted by lambchop73 18-200 Nikon VR 70-200 F2.8 Nikon VR 10mm F2.8 Sigma Fisheye Cant go wrong with this line up In fact i didn't even bother with the kit lens.....they are nothing but paper-weights now.

Will the 18-200mm make the camera heavy as a walkabout lens? Do you use to 200mm often? Or find yourself shooting more in between? Reason is I am also considering the 18-105mm VR or the 18-135mm.

Originally Posted by luna_sea83 18-55 VR and 50mm 1.8 only

Did you find it tough to MF the 50mm 1.8? Was thinking about getting this too but the MF kinda throw me off a bit, tried to MF with my kit lens and it was not easy, esp when I try to capture my kids.

Originally Posted by zhaowei Welcome to the club! I think the lenses you buy depend on what you want to shoot. Don't buy a lens simply because it has good reviews - it may not suit your shooting style and it may just end up sitting in the dry cabinet as a white elephant. I have two AFS lenses and one AF, as you can see from my signature. I didn't like changing between the two kit lenses so eventually got the 16-85 as my regular zoom replacement. The 60mm is for flowers and portraits. I also think it's usable as a walkabout prime lens with a moderately fast speed. Lastly, I got the fisheye because it's such a fun lens to use - try it for yourself! I think my usage of the three lenses is about equal. Each is useful for a different occasion, but when I'm just out shooting I bring all three as they fit perfectly into my Lowepro Stealth Reporter 200. At the moment I don't really have any more lenses I want to get. I'm thinking of getting a flash next. I think AFS is highly preferable for anything other than the fisheye (don't have a choice there, since there is no AFS fisheye) because personally, I don't like MF except when doing macro. But there are some users here who use the 50/1.8 with their D40/60 and have no problems with MF. So you need to think about your personal preference again. But I would just like to emphasise again that lens buying should always depend on your needs, not because a lens is cheap (think the 50/1.8) or is highly rated. Good luck!

Thanks for the advise, pardon me asking, fisheye is use for what situation? And why do you use 60mm? Is it because there are no 50mm with AF-S? I was told 50mm gave the best picture without distortion, do you have any distortion with your 60mm when you shoot flower up close?

Originally Posted by alvin I have used a 28/2.8D on my 40x, it focuses seemingly fine, but I haven't pixel peeped for critical focus. I doubt I can focus a MF lens as accurately without a split prism focusing screen like my dad's old slr so I'd take the af-s 1.4 lens on my 40x...

Hi, what do you mean by "haven't pixel peeped for critical focus"? Also, what do you think about fixing focusing screen like the Katz Eye or equivalent for MF?

Originally Posted by jtchoy Just got a 18-200mm for my D60. If you can't afford the 18-200mm VR, then go for the 55-200mm VR to pair with the kit 18-55mm VR... Just that have to swap lenses...

I was considering the 55-200mm VR or the 70-300mm VR, but obviously there is a huge price difference, and I am also thinking how much of the zoom will I be using at the present moment. If not too much, maybe I will hold on for a while and wait till I am more clear of what I want before saving up for the right zoom lens.

[Kenneth83]

My D60 came with the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm. Saving up for a nikkor 50mm prime f/1.8 and the tamron 17-50 f/2.8

[keltong]

Originally Posted by lambchop73 I currently work with the Aussoe Chapter of the "girls gone wild" series. We're based in Bondi, Sydney so theres a lot of beach/surf type activity that I capture. So decent zoom lens and wide angle views are what I use my d60 for. BTW, the sigma 10mm has AF-S like features and is probably what D60/D40 owners may have to opt for if they are looking for a fisheye with AFocus functionality.

Guess you will need fast lens to capture the actions too.

Originally Posted by Kenneth83 My D60 came with the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm. Saving up for a nikkor 50mm prime f/1.8 and the tamron 17-50 f/2.8

With the Tamron 17-50 F2.8, will you give up your 18-55mm?

[ziincx]

Originally Posted by keltong With the Tamron 17-50 F2.8, will you give up your 18-55mm?

with Tamron 17-50 f2.8, for sure i'd give up and sell the kit len.

[Viru5]

i have kit + 50mm f1.8 (MF focus is fun once u get the hang of it)

Planning to get tamron 28-75 f2.8.

[mutant]

Mine the stock 18-55VR and bought a 18-70mm ED. Try not to use very wide range lens, etc 18-200, image quality not as good and distortions are more prominent.

[zhaowei]

Originally Posted by keltong Thanks for the advise, pardon me asking, fisheye is use for what situation? And why do you use 60mm? Is it because there are no 50mm with AF-S? I was told 50mm gave the best picture without distortion, do you have any distortion with your 60mm when you shoot flower up close?

Hi Keltong, there's no fixed rule for using a fisheye, really. Just like for any lens! I like the distortion and pure width of a fisheye image - some ideas include shooting pictures of people looking up from a higher perspective, close-focus shots of flowers against the sky (from the ground up perspective) and so on. That said, I think good composition esp. with a fisheye is not easy but I'm still learning.

I chose the 60mm because I wanted a macro lens for flowers. The 50mm is not a macro lens and therefore wasn't even an alternative, even if it really gives the best image quality without distortion as you were told. I think the charm of the 50mm during the film days was because the focal length replicates what you see with your eyes. On the crop sensor this is no longer true - you'll need a 30-35mm lens to emulate that. I would have gotten the AF 35/2 if I wanted a prime lens for everyday shooting.

It's funny you asked about distortion. I've heard some people say there is distortion with the AFS 60mm but tests on the internet (that I have seen) have shown little to no distortion and personally, I haven't noticed any either.

Originally Posted by lambchop73 BTW, the sigma 10mm has AF-S like features and is probably what D60/D40 owners may have to opt for if they are looking for a fisheye with AFocus functionality.

Hi Lambchop, thanks for pointing it out. I limited my discussion to Nikkor lenses so I forgot to mention that Sigma HSM lenses (and some Tamrons, and now Tokina's upcoming 12-24 DX II) can autofocus on the D40/60.

But that said, it's not difficult to MF the fisheye because there is so much depth of field given that it's such a wide lens. The only problem is when you're shooting from some weird angle and can't look into the viewfinder and do the MF - in such cases you probabaly can pre-focus based on the estimated distance and if possible, take burst shots with micro adjustments. That's how I do it anyway.

[keltong]

Originally Posted by ziincx with Tamron 17-50 f2.8, for sure i'd give up and sell the kit len.

Originally Posted by Viru5 i have kit + 50mm f1.8 (MF focus is fun once u get the hang of it) Planning to get tamron 28-75 f2.8.

Just wondering, how do I know which Tamron lens can AF on the D60? I know Sigma ones are those with HSM (or at least that is what I think I know), but not sure about others.

Originally Posted by mutant Mine the stock 18-55VR and bought a 18-70mm ED. Try not to use very wide range lens, etc 18-200, image quality not as good and distortions are more prominent.

Hmm...ok...this is new to me...so you mean it's better to 'break' them up? say a 18-70mm + a 70-300mm, something like that?

Originally Posted by zhaowei Hi Keltong, there's no fixed rule for using a fisheye, really. Just like for any lens! I like the distortion and pure width of a fisheye image - some ideas include shooting pictures of people looking up from a higher perspective, close-focus shots of flowers against the sky (from the ground up perspective) and so on. That said, I think good composition esp. with a fisheye is not easy but I'm still learning. I chose the 60mm because I wanted a macro lens for flowers. The 50mm is not a macro lens and therefore wasn't even an alternative, even if it really gives the best image quality without distortion as you were told. I think the charm of the 50mm during the film days was because the focal length replicates what you see with your eyes. On the crop sensor this is no longer true - you'll need a 30-35mm lens to emulate that. I would have gotten the AF 35/2 if I wanted a prime lens for everyday shooting. It's funny you asked about distortion. I've heard some people say there is distortion with the AFS 60mm but tests on the internet (that I have seen) have shown little to no distortion and personally, I haven't noticed any either. But that said, it's not difficult to MF the fisheye because there is so much depth of field given that it's such a wide lens. The only problem is when you're shooting from some weird angle and can't look into the viewfinder and do the MF - in such cases you probabaly can pre-focus based on the estimated distance and if possible, take burst shots with micro adjustments. That's how I do it anyway.

Looks like I have more to learn! Haha...I love to take flowers too so may try to explore a little. The prime lens thing is still confusing to me despite reading a lot. Some will say with DX lens better to use a 35mm lens (due to the 1.5 factor), some will say stick to 50mm coz best image. Guess I have to find out myself (slowly of coz).

Pre-focus...even more chim for me...heehee...cool...already learning bit by bit here....

[Kenneth83]

Originally Posted by keltong With the Tamron 17-50 F2.8, will you give up your 18-55mm?

yup will sell it off since the tamron 17-50 f/2.8 is to replace it

Originally Posted by ziincx with Tamron 17-50 f2.8, for sure i'd give up and sell the kit len.

thats what lots of people tell me... heh

[nakedtoes]

i am using 18-200mm VRII and Sigma 30mm f1.4.. the 18-200mm is a superb walkaround lens and for night and portrait i use the sigma..

[samtcy]

I'm using Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens for my D40.

[takeshi.lum]

my D40 is with the 18-105mm VR only. kit lens sitting in a corner.

[keltong]

Originally Posted by takeshi.lum my D40 is with the 18-105mm VR only. kit lens sitting in a corner.

Yeah...the 18-105mm VR is a good affordable lens compare to the 18-200mm VR. Something of a in between. Tempted to get the 18-200mm VR since it is highly recommended but has also consider the 18-105mm VR. Extra reach vs affordability...