which prime lens for d80

[bzolling]

Hi I appreciate any feedback I can get. I have the Nikon 50mm 1.8 and was about to upgrade to the 1.4 AD. But when I went to amazon.com I noticed there is now a 1.4 SIC as well, and then confused myself even more when I started looking at the 35mm 1.8 and 1.2. I am starting to lean towards adding a 35mm instead of the 50mm to get a wider angle but I just wanted to get some feedback as to which one would be better for the d80 (or if you think I should stick to the original plan of going with a higher end 50mm, and if so which one?). Again, any feedback is appreciated.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by bzolling

Hi I appreciate any feedback I can get. I have the Nikon 50mm 1.8 and was about to upgrade to the 1.4 AD. But when I went to amazon.com I noticed there is now a 1.4 SIC as well, and then confused myself even more when I started looking at the 35mm 1.8 and 1.2. I am starting to lean towards adding a 35mm instead of the 50mm to get a wider angle but I just wanted to get some feedback as to which one would be better for the d80 (or if you think I should stick to the original plan of going with a higher end 50mm, and if so which one?). Again, any feedback is appreciated.

Lens choice doesn't really boil down to what body you have, but more about what you want to do.
Since you are choosing primes, it will boil down even more to what type of shooting you want to do.

I have the 50mm f/1.8 D. I have battled that lens since I bought it. I still don't like it, but still try to use it because so many people like it, and want to be part of the "nifty fifty" bandwagon. That fact still has not changed my mind yet.

I also have the 85mm f/1.8D, and to be honest, this is the one that stays on my camera most of the time. I like portraiture, but I am weird about personal space, so this has been the most comfortable lens for me to use yet.

I have the 35mm f/2D as well. I love this lens mostly for the sheer fact that the minimum focus distance is less than 1'. I love it for shooting my pets. I usually get better shots if i compose right on top of them.

So those are, in a nutshell, the reasons I chose what I did.
Hope that helps a bit.

[bzolling]

thank you for your input. I noted the d80 as I seem to pick up that one of the 35mm may be better than the other 35mm for this model but I was confused as to which one and why. I am going to look into the 85mm though as well. Thanks!

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by bzolling

thank you for your input. I noted the d80 as I seem to pick up that one of the 35mm may be better than the other 35mm for this model but I was confused as to which one and why. I am going to look into the 85mm though as well. Thanks!

I tried the af-s version, and didn't too much like the color reproduction i got from it, so I went to the f/2D. It's a little slower, but it's tack sharp, and the tones aren't too sterile looking. If you have a chance to try both, I would highly reccomend it.