Buying your first lense - how do you go about it?

[Shokinen]

Originally Posted by vandergus

Actually you can. The timer button on the left hand side of the body can be reprogramed to change ISO. And the aperture and shutter speed can be changed with the rear command dial. No denying that the D90 has more dedicated controls for things like metering and autofocus mode but you can at least access the three points of the exposure triangle on both.

True, that's exactly what I was doing with my D60. I could have been more specific.

[CourtJester]

Originally Posted by Shokinen

I must admit I love my kit.

p.s. I have the 35mm not the 50mm

As much as I'd love to just start out with that set up, it just isn't in the cards budget wise (very nice though).

I think I'll stick with the D90 and just go with 1 lens to start, so much flip flopping, I know. So my 2 scenarios would be as follows, which makes more sense for someone in my position?

1. D90 + 18-105 VR kit lens - Then in the future pick up the 35 or 50mm depending on need

or

2. D90 + 35mm f/1.8 (heard great things about this lens, price is the same or less as the kit, but is a prime lens to begin with too limiting in terms of learning? I don't want to handicap myself and basically get in my own way of learning.

[Shokinen]

Like I said before, I would choose the kit. It will allow you to do more type of photography for now. Birds for example are tough to catch without a tele.

Photography is definitly not a cheap hobby.

[firebox40dash5]

If you have the money to buy the 16-85mm VR instead of the kit, I wouldn't hesitate to get it. It's a few hundred more, but probably money well spent in the long run. Not that the 18-105mm VR is a bad lens, or poor quality. I've had mine for about a year, and I like it for what it is- a relatively inexpensive wide-range zoom. But the 16-85mm is higher quality, both build quality and optically, and will hold its value better if you decide to switch later. If you're looking to save a little, there's nothing wrong with buying either of those lenses used. Especially the 16-85mm, which you could probably sell for what you pay for it if you bought used.

I second Osmosis' pick of either of those lenses along with the 70-300mm VR as well. I got a great deal on mine shortly after I bought my camera, and I find it's a great compromise of speed, size, and cost for a DX camera.

I don't know you, but I'd drive myself nuts having only a prime lens. But I play around, shooting anything from macros to landscapes. While I did like my 35mm AF-S, I couldn't imagine being confined to just one focal length. I haven't tried the 50mm yet, but for the size and cost of the 35mm, you can't go wrong, unless the focal length is just all wrong for you. I'd have to try out the 50mm to see if the extra few hundred is worth it for me.