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Nikon Lenses Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
Hey guys, got a quick quesiton for the Nikon peeps out there, my old man is going to Hong Kong tomorrow and he asked me if i wanted to bring him back any lenses (since he really supported me with my love for photography).

I thought i'd ask him to grab a Nikkor 18-200mm VR and a 50mm f1.4D

that way i can pretty much replace my kit lens and my current 50mm 1.8D

Is that a good choice? i just wanted an all purpose lens (hence the 18-200 VR) and a better low light lens (1.4D)

Or do ya think i should stick with the 1.8 and grab a fish eye or something?

Or maybe i should grab a SB600... though i'd prefer not using flashes...

help me out guys.
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
it would be better spending money on a flash, then on a lens thats only slightly brighter

I'm the proud and happy owner of a Nikkor 50/1.2, but I doubt if so many people can use such lenses to their fullest advantage. do you often shoot indoors, or in dim light?
>> Anonymous
Man, if you don't know, then obviously you don't need. Get the flash, if anything.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>29472

yeah, i shoot alot of indoors for my university, like parties and band gigs, we get alot of big name bands playing at our uni bar and i'm one of 4 guys that get called up to do publicity shots.

Because of that nature i rarely ever use flashes as most bands will not allow flash photography.

Only time i've ever used the flash has been the inbuilt and that's just for house party shots where candid shots are fine.

Like i definintely want the 18-200mm VR.. that will own... but i guess i'm deciding on the 1.4d or the Sb600...

Just convince me why i'd need the external flash.
>> Anonymous
Could someone explain the point of fisheye lenses ? Sure, 180° is nice, but what about the terrible distortion ?
>> Anonymous
pick up the sigma 30mm f1.4 before you get the 50mm f1.4,

Since you already have a 50mm f1.8 its almost inconsequential.
Also since the 30mm is wider angle it can use even slower shutter speeds without camera shake, AND its F1.4, So it will actually be a big difference, and you can be closer to the stage and still get everyone in.

Also the Sb-600 is an awesome flash, and its focus assist lights work fucking AWESOME even in the worst conditions ever. So even if you cover the flash, or set it to minimum output for that extra tiny bit of fill, Its worth getting.

don't bother with a fisheye, rectilinear lenses are much more fun, I have the sigma 10-20mm, and its CRAZY wide.
>> Anonymous
That's the same two lenses I'm planning of getting. The 18-200mm VR is good for most conditions (+ the extra bonus of VR) and 50mm 1.4D is awesome at low lights. Check out the Flickr group named 'Nikkor', and there are lenses links on the main page. The 50mm f1.4D pictures there are awesome. I should be getting my 1.4D next month.

If you're comfortable shooting without flash, why should you start using flash now?
>> Anonymous
200-400 f/4 VR, 500 f/4 AFS

or the 70-200 f/2.8 VR if you're not living in fantasy land.

Good luck getting a 18-200, they're as rare as longcat is loooooong.
>> ??????? !KEBab7wem6
>>29491pick up the sigma 30mm f1.4 before you get the 50mm f1.4

Be aware though. Sigma's autofocus tends to be a tad crappy at times when you need it the most, like in low-light situations. I'm not the only one who's had wandering autofocus with this one, even in daylight shadow. This is not really noticeable usually, since you compensate for the larger depth of field with a smaller aperture, but it kindof defeats the purpose of f/1.4, doesn't it?

My personal experiences with it has been that it tends to focus too much in the front in dim light. In daylight it's a pretty nice lens, albeit it has some color fringing and border softness.
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
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>>29509
almost every AF lens has trouble AF focusing in low light. coupled to the high aperture, you're better off with MF

best guess would be a fast wideangle. you can use longer shutter, but motion blur will increase as well. and the flash, well. sometimes you even can't cut it at ISO 3200 and a 50/1.2 like i experienced once

posting of of my best shots from then. focus and motion blur are perfect IMO. though, I don't recall if i used flash on that shot, or not
>> ??????? !KEBab7wem6
>>29513

Most lenses do have troubles, but there's a pretty big difference in between Canon's L-series primes?and Sigma's EX series.

Awesome photo, though! What strikes me the most is the black background and well as the pose.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
Hey thanks guys, that's helped a fair bit.

I know i stil definitely want the 18-200mm VR (and FYI theres no chronic shortage of them in Hong Kong or China) so it was a toss up between the 50mm 1.4D or the SB600... i'll see how much they are... i may just grab the speedlite instead of the 1.4D.

Or maybe i'll just grab the 1.4...jesus...decisions decisions :D
>> Anonymous
>>29518
Our local shop imports those 18-200mm from Singapore. So no shortage in Singapore either.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
WOOHOOO i get my 18-200mm VR, 1.4D and SB-600 tomorrow when my mum comes back...

i'll take shots and offer them as gifts! :)
>> Anonymous
That pretty much covers the non-extreme condition you'd be shooting in. Glad to be of assistance.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
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>>30133

Non-extreme?... as in weather wise??

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D70sCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern822Focal Length (35mm Equiv)27 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:10:30 17:30:28Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/3.5Exposure ProgramNot DefinedExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashFlash, Auto, Return DetectedFocal Length18.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width752Image Height500RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastSoftSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Anonymous
>>30138
Extreme is considered to be ... Low lighting, very wide angle, Macro, or very telephoto, or slight combinations of Depth of field, (aiming for narrow)
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
ahhh roight, well... what other lenses do ya think i should get now?

speaking of which, anyone wanna buy a 3 month old 1.8D lens?
>> Anonymous
>>30140
None, just work on your pics
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
>>30138
very nice. it's nice when you can afford such stuff, isn't it? :)

>>30143
I second that. all you might need now is a decent tripod, and you're equipped with some very good gear. start practising photography already, good gear doesn't make you a better photographer.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
yes yes yes... i shall start posting every now and again... and hopefully i will have improved :)
>> Rawr !pBDDkuoH3.
>>29509

Evaluating focus is handled by the camera, not the lens. The camera says "seek to..." and the lens says "yessir". "Faster" lenses provide more light for focusing, hence a f/1.8 lens will focus better in low light conditions than a f3.5-5.6.

As for buying lenses in Japan and bringing them back, a)Nikon USA will not touch them. Period. You will have to send them to Japan to be serviced; you may even have to send them from a Japanese address. b)You will be charged at least 3-4% import duties if you properly declare them. If you don't, enjoy your seizure.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
Well, thank the lord for International Warranties and that fact that i don't live in the US.