Help me choose!

[sabrina860]

So im taking back my Nikkor 55-200mm zoom lens because I really don't need it right now. At the moment I have an 18-55mm.... and I want to get a 35mm prime, or an SB-600 speedlight. I can't choose! Which is more essential?

Oh and let me throw in the fact that I just bought a lightscoop the other day. So would I need the ext. flash? My god i had no idea...photography is such an expensive hobby!!

[Jim Poor]

Back up, slow down, and don't buy anything until you know what you want / really need.

Learn how to use what you have, then add to it.

To do things any other way is to commit to spending way too much on things that will just sit unused.

If you've got the money to waste, go for it and I'll keep an eye out for you in the for sale section.

Originally Posted by sabrina860

So im taking back my Nikkor 55-200mm zoom lens because I really don't need it right now. At the moment I have an 18-55mm.... and I want to get a 35mm prime, or an SB-600 speedlight. I can't choose! Which is more essential?

Oh and let me throw in the fact that I just bought a lightscoop the other day. So would I need the ext. flash? My god i had no idea...photography is such an expensive hobby!!

[RecurrentNerve]

Personally I'd go for the 35mm prime because I'm looking at getting one myself; I think a prime lens is a good first purchase after the camera itself. I rarely use the flash on my camera so a flashgun is low on my list.

It depends what you think you'll find the most useful I guess.

[sabrina860]

I now how to use what i have which is why im looking for more because im not getting the shots i want with what I have. Plus I bought the 55-200mm lens with my kit as a package deal but I don't need it. The 55-200mm price is around the same as the 35 prime and the speedlight so it would be an even exchange. I do mostly indoor shots and am looking to use my home as a studio. I know the prime 35mm would be good because my house doesn't get much natural so the low ap. of the 35mm would help with the low lighting. A flash would solve my lighting problems too, but I just bought a lightscoop (not in yet). So im just stuck and need advice!

[Jim Poor]

If you bought your kit recently enough to still be able to return, I guarantee you've not mastered what you have.

The 35mm doesn't have a "low" aperture it has as "WIDE" aperture, but you're missing multiple parts of the equation. More light via wider aperture can be great, but it can also be severely limiting in terms of DoF.

A single flash won't solve your lighting problems, in fact, it will just create more until you figure things out.

That said, no reason you can't use your pop-up flash with the light scoop to trigger a speedlight. I'm not sure if the SB-600 has a built in slave or not, but you could either add a slave or go with an SB-900 or used SB-800. At least you'd have a two-light solution.

[Kretch]

First:
Take a photography class.

[sabrina860]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

If you bought your kit recently enough to still be able to return, I guarantee you've not mastered what you have.

The 35mm doesn't have a "low" aperture it has as "WIDE" aperture, but you're missing multiple parts of the equation. More light via wider aperture can be great, but it can also be severely limiting in terms of DoF.

A single flash won't solve your lighting problems, in fact, it will just create more until you figure things out.

That said, no reason you can't use your pop-up flash with the light scoop to trigger a speedlight. I'm not sure if the SB-600 has a built in slave or not, but you could either add a slave or go with an SB-900 or used SB-800. At least you'd have a two-light solution.

It does have a low aperture. "LOW" as in a low number aperture. The opening is a 1.8. I think you knew what I meant. But I agree with you about the DoF. Even shooting the subject I would probably get some blur.
Anyways, i do know my camera like the back of my hand. Im a quick learner and I also took photography in highschool, so im not new to this. Lighting is what is challenging me. The popup flash is crap and i just need solutions.

[sabrina860]

Originally Posted by Kretch

First:
Take a photography class.

ahhahahahahahha

[Jim Poor]

Two days ago you asked about a light scoop verses a flash. Today, you've "just got" the light scoop and are already asking about flash.

Looking at your posting history, you don't seem to really want advice and your mind seems to be made up.

See you in the for sale section . . .

[RecurrentNerve]

What Jim says is correct though. If you're 'not getting the shots' you want it's unlikely to be just because you have the wrong lens.