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Old 03-08-2008, 09:56 AM
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wulf wulf is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeM View Post
Then again I could also pick up a used manual focus 50mm 1.7 for around $100.
That might not be a bad option. Fast glass means a minimal depth of field at the open end unless you are quite a distance from your subject, so it is often easier to set the focus yourself rather than relying on the camera to select the right point to make sharp (and, certainly on my lenses, those designed for manually focusing make the job much easier than the tiny focus ring on the kit lens).

The other advantage is that it is much cheaper. If you really like it, you come out ahead; if you decide that you do want the auto-focus ability you are not too far down and will have a much better idea of whether 50mm or 30mm will best meet your needs.

Wulf
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Wulf Forrester-Barker << Sites: blog / flickr >>
Gear: Nikon D40, Nikon AFS 18-55mm f/3.5 - 5.6G, Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8, Nikon AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6G, Vivitar 90mm f/2.5 macro, Raynox DCR-250, Lensbaby 2.0k, SB600
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