50 vs 35

[GreatMoloko]

I'm debating about buying many things and 1 thing would be a new, cheap, lens.

Currently I have a Nikon D60 w/ the 18-55 and 55-200 kit Lenses. I use the 18-55 the vast majority of the time and love it. But I keep reading articles about how prime lenses are better in some areas and how everyone should have the "nifty fifty" lens.

So I was going to go with the 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor but then I read something saying that 35mm is really 50mm on DX Cameras. So I started looking at the 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX.

I'm also thinking about saving some more and getting a D7000 for the iso, AEB, and remote flash control.

So what do people think? 35, 50, or D7K?

Thanks!

[lil red bird]

Nikon has 2 lens lines the DX and FX
Now if the lens says DX on it it is designed for the aps-c cameras like the d60 so a dx lens on a aps-c camera is a 35 mm lens but 35mm non DX lens is 1.5 times larger or 50 mm effective lens. Hope that hellps.

[GreatMoloko]

ah I see.

So does Nikon not make a 50mm DX lens? I'm not seeing one anywhere on Amazon.

Also, assuming I eventually find a 50mm DX lens, the question still remains, all other things being equal, do I go 35 or 50?

[sk66]

You do not need DX format lens for a DX body. A FF lens will work just like a DX lens. However, a DX lens will not work (properly) on a FF body.

IMO, save your money until you find something you "need" or really want for a specific reason..... Buy stuff because "people say" or just gear lust and you'll be throwing away a lot of money.

FWIW, I've been taking photos for close to 30 yrs. I can buy the best gear there is and I only own 1 prime lens. It's a 150mm Macro....Primes just don't work "for me".

[dbevisjr]

I have an AF 50 f/1.8 that I use on my D60. It doesn't autofocus (D60 requires AF-S for autofocus) and it is difficult to focus the D60 manually without the Katzeye. There is an AF-S 50 f/1.4 but the price is higher. However, it will autofocus on your D60. If you plan on getting the D7000 I would be sure that any glass you buy will function well on that camera also.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

The 35mm on a DX body (like your D60) will give you a "standard" angle of view on a DX body. (Where "standard" is what you get when you use a 50mm on a FX or 35mm camera).

I heavily recommend the 35mm- its cheap ($200) and very flexible in terms of depth of field. Also, it weighs next to nothing and the rubber gasket helps keep the innards of your camera as dust free as possible. I use it for pretty much everything and since getting it, the amount of time my other lenses have spent on my camera can be considered negligible. Since I've already gained a bit of a reputation here for it, I may as well go ahead and plug my D40 + 35mm f/1.8 set: D40 + 35mm f/1.8

[nikonodactyl]

I was trying to make a decision between these two as well and ended up with the 35. The 50 doesn't auto focus on my camera either (d3000) and I can say I haven't regretted the decision. I think everyone should own a prime lens.

[nokiN]

A couple of points:

A 35 mm lens is a 35 mm lens on both a APS-C image sensored camera (DX), and a FX or full size image sensored camera. However, the DX camera's image will have the same field-of-view as a 52.5 mm lens will have on the FX camera.

The 'baby' Nikons - D40/D40X/D60/D3000/D3100/D5000 - do not have an in-the-body auto focus motor. They need lenses that have a focus motor in the lens.

Nikon made/makes 2 kinds of lenses that have focus motors in them that will AF on all the baby Nikon's. Those lenses are designated AF-I and AF-S.

Lens designated just AF, like the AF 50 mm f/1.8D, do not have a built-in focus motor, but the D after the 1.8 menas the lens does have a CPU and it will send distance information to the camera's CPU and the AF, D lenses will light the in-focus indicator in the viewfinder when manual focus hass been achieved.

[GreatMoloko]

Due to the DX vs FX issue with the 35 vs 50 I've decided to go with the 35mm. $190 on Amazon with a free UV filter woot!

Should be here Friday, I'll post a reply with my feelings about it after a couple days.