Help me pick a lens

[twenty12]

I am new to the whole world of photography. I recently purchased a Nikon D90 with the kit lens. I have been taking various pictures and learning as I go about shutter speed, apeture, etc.
I have a new baby on the way and want take a lot of pictures of the baby (as he/she grows). But I am looking for pictures were the point of interest in focus and background distorted as well as support in lower light (pictures of feet, hands, etc). As a result I have determined based on searching and my limted experince that I want to get a lens that is somewhere in the 35-50mm and f/1.4 to 1.8 .
My questions are as follows....
1. Which lens would you recommend as price can greatly vary. 35 f/1.4, 35 f/1.8, 50 f/1.4, 50 f/1.8, or something else completly. I want to buy decent (not cheap, not highest end).
2. When I research and look i seed AF, AF-S, AF DX, SIC. What should I be looking for in the lens? I know AF is auto-focus. But what is AF-S? What is SIC? Do I want any of these?
3. I read somewhere that on some of these lenses the AF is not supported, it will be manual only. Is this the case with the D90?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[sk66]

I would say for your camera a 35mm will be easiest to use.."what you see" is what the camera will see. In that I would probably go with the f/1.8 (and not use that unless needed for light)
AF is autofocus and probably requires camera motor drive (D90 has it). AF-S has built in motor, often faster and works with all. Dx means only works optimally with crop sensor (D90 has a crop sensor). SIC is a lens coating... somewhat irrelevant.

[TheMoons678]

If you have an iphone or ipod touch, I'd recommend the Nikon Learn and Explore app, or go to Camera Technology and Photography Education Information from Nikon
It has a lot of basic info to help you decode their products, along with tons of articles that I have enjoyed as a beginner.

Check out the flickr group and their shots at "The NIKON D90 & 50mm 1.8 Club":
I'm not a member of their group, but I imagine you'll see some good work.

Flickr: The NIKON D90 & 50mm 1.8 CLUB Pool

[Almond.Butterscotch]

hmm... I might actually say the 85mm f/1.8 would be your best bet. It's a "portrait lens" for full sized people, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for your purposes. It'll really cream the background out for those detail shots of the fingers and toes.

though, depending on the size of the spaces in which you'll be shooting (since it'll mostly be indoors), it may be a bit too long. The 50mm f/1.8 (dirt cheap) or the 35mm f/1.8 (also cheap) will be a bit wider and be able to get the same effects.

[OsmosisStudios]

Almond.Butterscotch: The 85 is rather tight, especially for babies. With adults, you can tell them to sit still a few feet away; with babies they tend to move and they tend to be close by.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Almond.Butterscotch: The 85 is rather tight, especially for babies. With adults, you can tell them to sit still a few feet away; with babies they tend to move and they tend to be close by.

fair enough.

[TheEagleSpirit]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

hmm... I might actually say the 85mm f/1.8 would be your best bet. It's a "portrait lens" for full sized people, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for your purposes. It'll really cream the background out for those detail shots of the fingers and toes.

though, depending on the size of the spaces in which you'll be shooting (since it'll mostly be indoors), it may be a bit too long. The 50mm f/1.8 (dirt cheap) or the 35mm f/1.8 (also cheap) will be a bit wider and be able to get the same effects.

I plan on buying the f1.8 85 mm from nikkor for my D90 and also use it on my new D7000. It is great for low light portraits and regular portraits providing for other great opportunities. I won't buy a lense with less than 2.8 wide aperature as variable aperature of zoom lenses have cost me great shots. I have a tamron F2.8 18-50 mm and a nikkor f2.8 70-200 mm lense so the 1.8 85 mm will round out any photos I would wish to take.

[danbaileyphoto]

For what you've specified, I'd recommend the 85mm f1.8. It's a great portrait lens, it's fast and softens the background very nicely. One of my favorite lenses and definitely my go-to lens for shooting people.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by danbaileyphoto

For what you've specified, I'd recommend the 85mm f1.8. It's a great portrait lens, it's fast and softens the background very nicely. One of my favorite lenses and definitely my go-to lens for shooting people.

As I indicated earlier: people yes, babies, not so much.

[Mefistofeles]

Go with the 50mm f1.4... It's cheap, it has grea quality...you'll find more usefull than the 85 f1.8. You won't regret it.