What’s Your Preference?

keyshka · #11 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 10:00 PM

Thank you Kirbinster for you comment!!

I was looking at the AF 50mm f/1.8D lense and saw that it wasn't a AF-S and that I would have to auto focus it myself. And I think majority of my shots will come from this lense as I'll be photoing my daughter.

I'm just worried that I'll get more "out-of-focus" shots than "in-focus-shots" if I don't have auto-focus and I have to manual focus. But if I can find the majority of common lenses that newbies like me would use with the ability to auto-focus then I'll be fine. But I'm unfamiliar of what's available....

inkista · #12 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 10:03 PM

Philz, if travel and family are the main purposes, I'd say take a good hard look at whether or not a P&S camera might be a better fit. It cuts down on the luggage a fuss in a big way.

Keyshka, it's a matter of how much the autofocus thing bugs you. If you absolutely have to have all lenses autofocus on an entry-level (small) body, then go Canon. If you prefer the feel of Nikons more, and have to have autofocus on all lenses, then get the D80. If you love the D60's feel the most and have to have autofocus, then stick with AF-S lenses. Those are the choices. The chances are you can get used to and love all three of these possibilities.

I would also like to point out that autofocus has only been in cameras for the last twenty years. That means every photo you ever saw taken before 1980 was done with manual focus. It didn't stop Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, or Annie Liebovitz (or just about any other great photographer you can name) from taking great photos. It won't stop you from doing the same unless your vision is so impaired there's no other way for you to focus. It may limit you from taking certain types of photos, but I've done even bird-in-flight shots with manual focus. It's harder, but not impossible.

mr_lemon · #13 (**permalink**) 10-16-2008, 02:31 PM

Manual focus is not that difficult on these Nikon D-SLRs. In most cases I would think that you'd be able to focus faster and better then the camera sensor specially concidering you will be taking pictures of kids that don't stand around long enough for camera auto-focus

The 50mm f1.8 us a nice lense and once you get the general focus, adjusting it will be pretty quick. If your shooting a lot in out door sunlight, I would not discount the 18-55mm kit lens. It also takes great pics and does auto focus.

TOM...

jdepould · #14 (**permalink**) 10-16-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_lemon

Manual focus is not that difficult on these Nikon D-SLRs. In most cases I would think that you'd be able to focus faster and better then the camera sensor specially concidering you will be taking pictures of kids that don't stand around long enough for camera auto-focus

The 50mm f1.8 us a nice lense and once you get the general focus, adjusting it will be pretty quick. If your shooting a lot in out door sunlight, I would not discount the 18-55mm kit lens. It also takes great pics and does auto focus.

TOM...

The last post in this thread was in June.