Looking for a New Lens

saul01

saul01

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Sohail
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Hello to All,

Currently I own a Nikon D7000 with the standard 18-105mm kit lens. I wish to upgrade the lens to a faster lens that can act as my everyday lens, and also be suitable for portraits. I classify myself as a keen amateur, but don't really have any idea when it comes to lenses. So far have looked at the Tamron/Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 (secondhand) or the the other lens I have seen is the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 but am unsure how this will cope for portraits. I have a budget between £250-300.

Would I be better off purchasing 2 seperate lenses?

At present I mainly shoot the family on days out, or at a wedding etc , but am aiming to progress into portraiture at home.

Any advise will be much appreciated.

Saul.
 
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If it was me i would go for an Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 as my all round fast lens,then add the Nikon 50mm F1.8 for portraiture work :)
 
I guess using the crop factor that would make the 50mm a better lens?
 
I had the sigma 17-50 2.8 and it was superb. Or you could look at the old tamron 28-75 2.8. You would lose quite a bit at the wide end but It Would Give You The 35mm Equivalent of 42-112 which would be better for your portraits. But would depend on how much you need the wider end
 
What if I was to keep the current lens and just look for a lens for the portraits? Would the 50mm be okay?
 
saul01 said:
What if I was to keep the current lens and just look for a lens for the portraits? Would the 50mm be okay?
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Another good value lens currently with the cashback is the Nikon 85mm 1.8g. The 85mm are usually used for portraits if you have a little room to step back if needed when using crop cameras. @minnnt will hopefully advise further as he owned this lens I believe on the D7000.

Have a play with your kit lens at different focal lengths and see what's your prefrence for portraits. Also, the 18-105mm lenses are no too bad and are more than useful for for out and about shooting. So I would keep and buy the 85mm prime if it was me.

I have owned the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 mentioned by Adam and also used it on the D7000 and I found it a fantasic lens. I prefered it for my style over the 17-50 Sigma which I thought was a heap, I probably had a friday afternoon jobbie.
 
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I had a fair few portrait type lenses on my D7k.

Nikon 18-105
Tamron 17-50 f2.8 vc
Nikon 17-55 f2.8
Nikon 35mm f1.8
Nikon 85mm f1.8

If you have the space then a second hand 85mm is absolutely awesome for portraiture. The bokeh from it is really nice and sets the subject apart from the background.

The 35mm f1.8 is also a very nice small lens with good performance and IQ. You wouldn't go far wrong adding either. All depends on the space you have available i guess.

I have some very nice pics from my 17-50 also.

Not really helped have i. :LOL:

If it was my money i would buy the 35mm for about £100 second hand and see how you get on.
 
minnnt said:
I had a fair few portrait type lenses on my D7k.


Not really helped have i. :LOL:

If it was my money i would buy the 35mm for about £100 second hand and see how you get on.
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Lol no not really. In terms of space I think once it's all set up I will only have approx a metre and a bit to play with. The 35mm is this on the DX format ?
 
If i get chance I'll throw up some pics from the combination. Never really got on with the 18-105 so it was sold. I bought the 17-50 f2.8 vc Tamron from DigitalRev for £231 iirc but always had the 35. The Nikon 17-55 was simply fantastic and was incredibly quick to focus, even in low light. Never missed a beat and it was covered in filth a fair few times too!
 
I had a D7k and I used a Nikon 16-85mm for everyday use. Nice and sharp and a used copy will fall within your budget. I also had a 35mm and a 50mm prime. The 50mm was a great little lens that I think cost me £50 used. Really sharp, light and produced lovely colours - great for portraits.
 
Would this lens be any good for the portraits? Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC A HSM Lens
 
simonblue said:
For longer length portraits yes,but for close up maybe to much distortion :)
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How close would you be referring to?

So as it stands now, I will keep the 18-105mm as my everyday lens. And the following 3 (all with similar prices, last been offered as 2nd hand) are the main contenders.

Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX = No crop
Nikon 50mm f1.8 = 75mm equiv.
Sigma 30mm f1.4 = 45mm equiv.
 
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Sorry Have just found out that the Sigma is for aps-c sensor. So there is no crop factor so this or the Nikon 30mm?
 
saul01 said:
Sorry Have just found out that the Sigma is for aps-c sensor. So there is no crop factor so this or the Nikon 30mm?
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Focal length is a fixed property of the lens. A 35mm lens is a 35mm lens no matter what sensor it is used on. Both the Nikon 35mm DX f1.8G and the Nikon 35mm f1.4G will have the same field of view and on a DX body that will be approx. equivalent to 52mm on full frame. The siggy will be approx. 46mm fov equiv.
 
PaulButler said:
Focal length is a fixed property of the lens. A 35mm lens is a 35mm lens no matter what sensor it is used on. Both the Nikon 35mm DX f1.8G and the Nikon 35mm f1.4G will have the same field of view and on a DX body that will be approx. equivalent to 52mm on full frame. The siggy will be approx. 46mm fov equiv.
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This being the case between the Nikon 35mm and the Sigma 30mm which would you guys recommend? This is a bit too over head territory for me
 
saul01 said:
How close would you be referring to?

So as it stands now, I will keep the 18-105mm as my everyday lens. And the following 3 (all with similar prices, last been offered as 2nd hand) are the main contenders.

Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX = No crop
Nikon 50mm f1.8 = 75mm equiv.
Sigma 30mm f1.4 = 45mm equiv.
Click to expand...

Say if you wish to make a tight crop on just the face :)
 
I loved the tamron 17-50 on a crop. Also the 50 mm f1.8. Both excellent. Didn't get on with the 18-105!!
 
Nikon 85mm f1.8

Dean and Louise's Wedding by David Raynham, on Flickr


Dean and Louises Wedding by David Raynham, on Flickr


An Autumn Lily by David Raynham, on Flickr

Nikon 17-55 f2.8

Ooooooo by David Raynham, on Flickr


Lily by David Raynham, on Flickr


Big Smiles! by David Raynham, on Flickr


These guys were nuts! by David Raynham, on Flickr


Time... by David Raynham, on Flickr

Again, not sure if that helps, but it gives you a good idea of what each lens produces on the same body as you have.
 
The 85mm looks good to me for the two shots you have, they seem to have more of a pop. When clicked on large to Flickr you can count the eyelashes, thats one of the ways I look at lens performance. I know different lighting etc........ will effect the different photo's, but it's a way I pixel peep.
 
Swanseajack said:
The 85mm looks good to me for the two shots you have, they seem to have more of a pop. When clicked on large to Flickr you can count the eyelashes, thats one of the ways I look at lens performance. I know different lighting etc........ will effect the different photo's, but it's a way I pixel peep.
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Ditto!!
 
minnnt said:
In that case then you best sell up and buy an Olympus OMD if you want detail. :D

85mm is coolio, such a sweet lens, but it's long on a crop sensor for indoors.
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I loved my 85 on the d90, but agree it's a tad long!

I'm probably about to get the 1.8g for the d800 [emoji106]
 
I love the pics on the 85mm, but as minnnt stated might be too much for indoors on my camera. The workspace I have is around 7ft X 7ft otherwise it will mean furniture needs to be moved etc. I think will stick to the Nikon 35mm and rightfully spend the rest on the modifiers and triggers.

Would like to thank all for your input and advise, all is very much appreciated.

Is there a rough guide for distance between subject, subject to light, etc?
 
YouTube will give you more info than you can shake a shoot through umbrella at.

Distance is a style thing. As said, don't get too close to your subject. The closer the light is to the subject then the softer and more flattering the light will be. The bigger you can make the light source the better. Obviously different people need different light and a lot depends on the look that you are going for.

I would recommend trying to get a copy of Zack Arias' One Light Workshop and One Light 2.0 and also Joe McNally The Language Of Light. Simply excellent tutorials and you will learn a lot of stuff.

The 35 will serve you well. It makes the D7k nice and compact.
 
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