Super Clear Lens

[Shannon_A_S]

I'm looking into getting a new lens for my D90. I'm mainly gearing my photography towards babies and children so a portrait lens would be best. But the main thing I'm looking for is clarity. After alot of practice and comparing to others, I've realized that it might not be my skills that are lacking, but the clarity in my kit lens. No matter what I do I just can't get it to look crisp the way others can. So does anyone have any suggestions on a lens that might help me out? (Price isn't an issue, as I don't mind saving more money to get what I'm looking for)

[gturner]

what are you taking pictures of? Do you just want a general all purpose / walk around lens?

[Dave C.]

Originally Posted by Shannon_A_S

I'm looking into getting a new lens for my D90. I'm mainly gearing my photography towards babies and children so a portrait lens would be best. But the main thing I'm looking for is clarity. After alot of practice and comparing to others, I've realized that it might not be my skills that are lacking, but the clarity in my kit lens. No matter what I do I just can't get it to look crisp the way others can. So does anyone have any suggestions on a lens that might help me out? (Price isn't an issue, as I don't mind saving more money to get what I'm looking for)

for purely portraits it is had to go wrong with the Nikon 50 f/1.4, plus it is a great walking around lens too!

otherwise for crystal clarity i would go with the 70-200 2.8 (but it is much more $$) it is probably the sharpest piece of glass i have ever used. works great for portraits, but you need a lot of working room.

[scootermcq]

Drop by Henry's with your camera and try some images.... take the card home and look at them on screen, don't trust the LCD....

I personally would suggest the 50mm 1.4 as well. It has to be the cleanest lens I have used in the Nikon line up. For babies, it works well even in confined spaces, as the model is so small. The 1.8 is great too for portraits and you would not be in low light, so could shoot at f3.5 & up where that lens become magic.

I in no way pretend to be a newborn photographer, but this was shot with a 50mm 1.8 on a D90

[OsmosisStudios]

Less about the lens, more about the light.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Less about the lens, more about the light.

Amen to that! I use my 50mm f/1.8 a lot, but in tight spaces I use my kit lens and the sharpness is perfectly acceptable. Technique helps, too - holding the camera properly and using a fast enough shutter speed to prevent camera shake will help in sharper images.

Shot with kit lens:

[JFSanders]

Sharp pictures come from having the lens in its sweet spot (usually 1 to 2 stops up from wide open). Using a tripod. Using a remote shutter release. Like OS said light is the most important thing, next is using the best technique (sweet spot, tripod, remote shutter release). Tack sharp just doesn't come with the lens.