Nifty Fifty AF or AF-S

[lynweber]

So I have made a decisision to invest in the 50mm lens however, I am still torn by weather I need to manually focus it or spend the extra couple on the AF-S? I mean it can't be that much more of a pain to manually focus it can it? I dont think I would do this on another lense but i just dont know which on I really like the AF-S but hate the cost. Thoughts?

[Chip]

I have some old Nikon lenses that I have to manually focus. For shots where the subject isn't moving moving, and where I have time, I find it pretty easy to focus these lenses. It's a bit more of a challenge, though, when I'm shooting moving subjects. It takes a good bit of practice, and my screw up rate goes way up - but I can still get some good shots this way.

So, my bottom line is that if you're photographing mostly things that don't move much, manual focus is not a problem. But, if you're photographing moving subjects (kids, etc) and can't afford, or don't want, to not mis-focus often, then I'd get the newer AF-S lens.

Just curious - what body are you using?

[lynweber]

Originally Posted by Chip

.

Just curious - what body are you using?

D5000 so I have to use the AF-S Models to auto focus

[Ray Dockrey]

Why not got the 35mm af-s lens. For $200 it is awesome and on your D5000 it will be closer to a 50mm lens.

[lynweber]

Originally Posted by Ray Dockrey

Why not got the 35mm af-s lens. For $200 it is awesome and on your D5000 it will be closer to a 50mm lens.

Never thought of that it would still produce the same results as the 50mm like good for portriats and such?

[vandergus]

The 35mm is more of an all around general purpose lens but can still do a decent job with portraits. If you're just looking for a low-light prime lens, get that. If you're specifically looking for something to do portraiture with and little else, get one of the 50mm's.

[kirbinster]

A 50mm lens is not a portrait lens. Portrait lenses are longer, probably a minimum of 85mm on a crop body like yours. Why do you want a 50mm lens anyway? Sure they are sharp, but highly inflexible, depending on your shooting style. What do you plan to take pictures of with the 50mm lens? As for manual focusing, while you can do it on the D5000, cameras today are not designed to manually focus. What I mean is back in the olden days cameras like my old Canon A-1 had split prism focus screens that made it easy to manually focus - today's cameras don't have that.

[LENAAPPLE1974]

Originally Posted by Ray Dockrey

Why not got the 35mm af-s lens. For $200 it is awesome and on your D5000 it will be closer to a 50mm lens.

I just got the 35mm AF-S because I didn't have the money for the 50mm AF-S. The 35mm is half the price! What I am learning about the 35mm, is that I need to above all, take a step back! I wish I had a 50mm to compare it to, because two months ago I was having the same argument with myself. Lots of people I know use the 50mm for weddings. I like the 35mm though, because it changes my photography a bit. For now, I am satisfied with it - until I can get the 50mm that is! First though, I want to upgrade my camera from the d40x to something better! This is my new problem! If all my problems could be so so "simple"!

[Almond.Butterscotch]

completely bypassing everyone else's comments, I've found that using a prime (after using nothing but zooms) makes it an infinite number of times easier to work with MF. Now that your lens itself doesn't have zoom, thats one less thing to have to play with on the body while taking the shot and playing with focus becomes 2nd nature- the 35 f/1.8 I have has full-time manual even when it's in autofocus mode, and i almost *NEVER* keep it in autofocus mode anymore.

just my 2 cents.