How Many Lenses...?

[BeeSwift]

I was just wondering how many lenses at the same focal length do I really need/want? I'm thinking of buying the 50mm f/1.8 for my D3100. I bought the lens kit with the camera so I have the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and also the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED. So I guess what I was really wondering was: Is it worth it for me to buy the 50mm f/1.8 when both of my other lenses, granted are zoom lenses, both overlap the 50mm focal length. Thank you in advance.

[inkista]

Depends on why you're buying the 50/1.8. While your other two lenses can do 50mm and zoom, they can't do f/1.8-f/4 when set to 50mm.

Your 50-200, when set to 50mm, is an f/4 lens. f/1.8 is 2.3 stops wider than that. That's 2^2.3 => 5 times more light. For the same exposure in the same situation, you could use a shutter speed 5 times faster, or an iso that's 1/5 what you'd have to use with the 50-200.

And then, there's the ability to create a thinner DoF with the lens, and the fact that its optical performance is optimized for 50mm.

Focal length isn't everything.

[BeeSwift]

I wasn't all that sure for what particular use I would put it to but I had heard such great things about the lens. I wanted to know if it would be a good fit for my style and other lenses. I usually shoot outdoors: landscapes, wildlife, sports things of that nature. I am still a beginner but I love to just get out and take pictures. I really was looking for a lens under $200 that was readily available for me. I did read the thread of under $200 lenses.

[dalmorloson]

As far as wildlife, sports and landscapes,...the 50mm 1.8 isn't going to help you much unless the sporting events are viewed from relatively close. The main advantage of this lens is the wide aperature for the low cost. You can shoot in low light conditions as opposed to the 5.6 on your kit lens. Not to say that you can't use this lens for landscape shots, but ideally they are wider angle lenses. Still, for the money, the 50mm 1.8 is hard to beat.

[inkista]

Just me, but I'd say don't get the 50/1.8 II unless you need it. It doesn't sound like you need it. Most people get it for available light photography and portrait shooting. If you do mostly outdoors or fast action photography, you probably don't want it--the 50/1.8 II lacks a USM motor and can be inaccurate or slow to autofocus.

Don't buy a lens just because you can afford it. Buy a lens because you need a lens to do something your current lenses don't do.

[BeeSwift]

Yes You are correct. I really want a wild angle or fisheye but they are so expensive even the Sigma or Tamron ones. It was supposed to be a birthday present but now I must think of something different. I do appreciate your quick response and vast knowledge though, I looked at your flickr feed and I really like your pictures. I did a project on a tilt shift photography time lapse this year. If I could just say as from what I learned if you have a higher vantage point it is very much more "miniature." Maybe later today I will post my project and some stills to show you my work as well. Anyway, thank you very much.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by BeeSwift

Yes You are correct. I really want a wild angle or fisheye but they are so expensive even the Sigma or Tamron ones.

Yeah, the cheapest fisheye I know is the Samyang/Rokinon/etc. etc. manual focus one. But it's substantially cheaper, and the DoF of a fisheye means manual focusing might not be so tough. It's the manual aperture control that's more of a PITA. But the Rokinon 8mm version can be found on Amazon for about $300, rather than the $600 that's more common for fisheyes.

... I do appreciate your quick response and vast knowledge though, I looked at your flickr feed and I really like your pictures. I did a project on a tilt shift photography time lapse this year. If I could just say as from what I learned if you have a higher vantage point it is very much more "miniature."

Yeah, it took me a while to figure that one out, as well as using tilt instead of swing. But I know what you mean. The thing is, I was doing it with a lens, not with post-processing.

Maybe later today I will post my project and some stills to show you my work as well.

Cool!

[BeeSwift]

Yes, sadly at this moment even $300 is out of my price range. Even though I would love to buy it.

And yes, I did all of my "tilt-shift" in Adobe After Effects, because the lenses are very expensive anyway. Here is the link to my other thread I just made:

Tilt-Shift Timelapse, School Project!