50mm f1.8 v f2

[yoshi]

Hi all, new here so be gentle ;-)
I have had my Nikon D40 for a while now and am looking to ebay for some lenses, I have been after the fabled nifty 50, but what would be the main difference (or advantages/disadvantages) of going for a 50mm f/2 instead of the usual 1.8?

Also should I get a 50mm or go for a 10-20 straight off the bat?

Thanks in advance for any help

Lee

[hypnotic]

Might help if you told us what type of shots you intend on taking with this new lens.

[yoshi]

aha yes it would :cuckoo:
landscape & portrait mostly but would also like the ability to get in close for some macro type shots.

[cherryrig]

With the 1.8 you get an extra stop so quite good in low light. People would say get the 50mm but it depends on what your shooting. Portraits 50mm, landscape 10-20mm

Gives us some more info

[hypnotic]

For landscape work the 10-20 would be the best choice.

The 50mm would work better for portraits.

In an ideal world a macro lens would be the choice for close up stuff. You could try extention tubes on the 50mm though.

Given the prices and uses ... I would suggest the 50mm .... Then save up for the 10-20 ... :D

[yoshi]

Thanks hypnotic


@cherryrig: to be honest I am too new to all this to say exactly where my 'skills' are.

Basically I want to add to the range of photography available to me by adding another lens to the bag (I am too excited about my new hobby to just have the kit lens).

I like portrait work and love some (read all) of the work I have seen using the sigma 10-20

So I guess I could ask the question another way...as a beginner which lens would I get the most out of in terms of range of shots available?

[CT]

With the 1.8 you get an extra stop so quite good in low light.

You'd actually need an f1.4 max aperture to gain a full stop over f2.

[hypnotic]

Have you looked at a super zoom?

Take a look at a Tamron 18-250mm.

Good reviews and should cover most of what you want.

[ruvor]

might be worth waiting a while and checking out the sigma 50mm as it is HSM equipped so will autofocus on your D40. It will a bit more expensive though.

[rikki1q]

yeah worth looking at the sigma as the nikon nifty wont auto focus on a d40 and if your manual focus skills are anything like mine you will miss auto focus :razz:

[Little Man]

Sure I read on here that one of the advantages of the 50mm f/1.8 is that it makes you work for your photo's due to it being a fixed focal length, which should improve your composition skills because you'll have to think more to frame the right shot.

I'm falling in love with the nifty verrrrrry quickly, and it's starting to stay on the camera longer and longer. Plus, at 60 dabs you can't really knock it.

[TheKrikkitWars]

Go for the 50, I've had the pure luck to have a father who bought a very fast 50mm lens (the 0.95 eek) a long time ago... and also to use our physics dept.'s camera with a 50mm 1.8 (much more relevant), both are absolutely superb to use.

[Albino-jay]

I'm after a fifty for my D40 too, but would prefer one with a built in motor to autofocus, all the ones I can find don't have it :(.

[Blapto]

Nikon don't make an AF-I or AF-S 50mm I'm afraid.

[NorthernNikon]

I'm after a fifty for my D40 too, but would prefer one with a built in motor to autofocus, all the ones I can find don't have it :(.

Have a look at both the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and the new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 with HSM. The 30mm will give you near as damn it the same focal length of a 50mm on a full frame for the traditional 50mm feel.