mon castillio? if we are talking the same person, he is from SLR (samahan ng mga litratista sa rizal) camera club, also peter_ob (one of the moderators) is also a member of this club.
Good day, Sir Leo! Someone is selling me a second-hand Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G prime for a good price (mint condition). I don't own zooms at the moment, the 35mm f/1.8 is the "kit lens" that came with my Nikon D7000 body. What's your take on the 28mm as a do-it-all, general purpose lens? Indoors, I find the 35mm a bit tight in certain situations and might sell it to get the 28mm. But someday, when budget allows, it will become part of the Prime-tastic Four setup I have in mind: Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G (in lieu of the 24mm f/1.4) Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D Nikkor 105mm VR Micro f/2.8 For the kind of shooting I find myself in, these are the ranges I use often and I figured the above-mentioned line-up will give me a good spread across the range without breaking the bank. I'll consider a zoom too like maybe a second-hand Nikkor 17-55mm and/or 24-70mm f/2.8 but that will probably be years down the road.
Hey Shadowfox! Wow, that's an expensive line up. If you complete that, you have a more expensive setup that some pros I know ;-) In any case, the 28mm is a good lens and it's a good replacement for your 35. Having said that, I don't see the 28/1.8 very often, it's more of a specialty lens than a general purpose one. Most people I know would rather go to a 24-70/2.8 long term; it's a more versatile lens. I used to have a 28mm/2.8 which I decided to let go. The 24-85 3.5-5.6 Kit I have seems decent enough with almost the same coverage and a minimal effect on light. Finally, the general rule is: the more lenses you have, the more you will not use them. In my work, I use 2 lenses 85% of the time. The next one is about 13% and the last two is 2%. It would help if you can figure out what your main lens is. Having a lot of lenses is NOT a requirement to be a good photographer. For example, Mark Nicdao uses the 50/1.4 for practically 90% of his work. Something to consider. Leo
This is true. That's why I only have one, my 35 f1.4. If I would use a combination though, I'd get a Nikkor 24-70, 35/1.4, and an 85/1.4 on a D800.
Hehe! Di naman, Sir. Nataon lang kuripot ako and walang ibang bisyo, I don't even smoke. Anyway, if I'd only own one nice piece of glass, hands down, it would be the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8. This glass is so nice, you rarely see people letting go of them and I'm more likely to run into a couple of Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 DX lenses up for sale and most likely the reason for selling is they'll use the funds to get the Nikkor 24-70mm.
Good for you. In photography, you are better off with one lens you will actually really use very often, versus having many. I suggest sell all your primes and get the 24-70/2.8 if that's what you really want. Leo P.S. Wait till your photography evolves, and you'll eventually hit your limits. That's the time maybe you can consider a second lens. Don't buy extra lenses "just in case". Forget trinity. A big exception to that rule though is the 50/1.8 since it's so darn cheap!
^ couldn't agree more.. i got my primes for m43rds but having an all around lens like the 45-200mm make me stay on 1-2 lens. I rarely used my other lens.
^how about having 2 primes with you? will that be a good idea? btw, Putakti, your inbox is full. been PMing you since 2 days ago hehehe
Really depends on your style. If you use those 2 primes often, then go ahead. If you use one 99% of the time and the other 1% of the time, maybe it's time to reconsider. Which reminds me. You know what is the most resold, the most disposed of lens of all time? It's the 85mm/1.4. This is a wonderful lens. If you read the reviews, people will say it's one of the best made lens ever. It's tack sharp, the bokeh is creamy, and it's fast to focus. ...but a lens is only useful if it matches your style. So many buy this one based on all the reviews and all the feedback because it's the "Best lens". The reality however, is that many end up finding it hard to use and it eventually gets resold (ang mahal pa naman niya). This is a wonderful lens, but it's a specialist lens. You know what is the most kept, hard to find second hand lens? It's the 18-200/3.5-6.3. This lens gets "ok reviews". It's one of the softest lens, isn't the best in focusing and some people go far as calling it a consumer lens vs a pro lens. But it's the most used lens by many. It's very versatile, and can handle a lot of things you throw at it. I know people who just use this one lens. Everyone I know who has it loves it. People love it because it matches their style. Something to consider. Leo
I was one of those who used to have just this Nikon lens as my all-around lens. Its versatility was extremely convenient. Until it got stolen and I got a new Nikon camera with the kit 18-105 lens, but somehow it wasn't the same. Now that I have shifted to m4/3 with the EM5, I use mainly the 25mm prime. And for times I need a wider lens, the 14mm prime. The constant "foot-zooming" took some getting used to, but now I prefer those two lenses over my two zoom lenses, the kit 12-50mm and the 40-150mm I bought cheap but have not really used extensively.
less is more i couldn't agree more .... Eventually you can't have it all.... buy a lens that you will use 95% of the time.... for me 17-55mm f2.8 canon EFS lens fits the bill ..... Sometimes i wish to have more premium lens lineup but i have to face reality and rationalize my spendings....
nailed it! i think 45mm is the equivalent of 85mm in m43rds and that's the reason why i'm not using it. yes 45mm is sharp along with its creamy bokeh but i'm not using it most of the time.
The number of lens you will have will depend on what field of photography you want to pursue. If you're new in photography or just starting out, it's always better to buy an all around lens until such a time you have decided what field of photography you want to concentrate on.Learn the basics in photography (lights,composition and proper exposure) and try to master the functions and features of your camera.
Hey Leo! Congrats and thank you in advance for this thread. I'm browsing through it and I'm learning a lot already! Keep up the great work!
Couldn't agree more. Believe it or not, I once had a student with at least 4 Canon L lenses (!). After taking my class he decided to sell all except one so he can focus on his eye, lighting, and composition. Na-realize niya that he's been going about photography the wrong way. He's a pro now in the Middle East. Leo
