Nikorr has a great, cheap 50mm prime 1.8. I paid around £100 over 10 years ago for one and it is still going strong. I sling it onto film cameras and my DSLR. It's plastic and feels a bit shit compared to all-metal ones, however, being plastic means it is light and great for travel. It's also small and unobtrusive if you want to do some street/candid. It will be fine for portrait too but something around 85mm may be better. You will never regret buying the 50mm prime. As for the 70-300, what will you use it for? If it is the one I just saw on google search for around £120 or so, I wouldn't bother. At 300mm 5.6 you will need stabilisation to get a decent shot. My advice is to buy the 50mm prime, play around with the aperture on it and see how that affects your shots. Learn your camera and decide what type of photography you want to use it for then think about spending money on glass. I would always recommend buying the fastest lenses you can afford and stay away from the budget stuff, it will only disappoint. Second hand is always an option.Just invested in a Nikon D3500 camera with the standard 18-55mm kit lens.
great set up, not too expensive and suits my needs. I'm a novice to photography so learning the ropes.
in time might invest in other lenses. I've heard 50mm prime lenses are good for portrait (bokeh).
Also thinking of a telephoto lens. The Tamron 70-300 gets good and bad reviews. Anyone used it and can comment
not in a position to spend hundreds of pounds on lenses so my yardstick is decent quality budget (if there is such a thing)
any advice appreciated.
Bryan
You have been given some sound advice above - if you are serious about becoming a better photographer - in my opinion - another approach is to ditch the zooms initially - get two second hand prime lenses - ie fixed focal length - in terms of image quality versus cost - they will be vastly superior to zooms unless you get into the fully professional versions - with the matching price ticket - a 35 or a 50 - I own the version @Boab recommended and fully agree with his comments on it - light, cheap and pin sharp - I used to teach photography and our students were only allowed to use a 50mm for six months or so before they were given access to more exotic glass - but I personally would go for a 35mm - it better matches the way humans see - a wee bit wide but you don't get distortion problems at the edge of the frame - as can happen when you start getting wider. If you are interested in knocking out good portraits the other lens you need is a short telephoto - 85, 105 or 135mm - something like that - incidentally - bokeh has very little to do with the length of the lens - it is a function of the number of aperture blades in the design - the more the better. Often overlooked - buy good UV filters - I use B&W ones on all my lenses - and get appropriate lens hoods - they help with image quality - and also if you drop a lens nose down they will absorb some of the impact - cheaper to replace than the whole thing - oh - and in Scotland they help keep rain off the front element. I'm a press photographer based in Glasgow - I know of what I speak! With a 35 or 50 and a short tele there is very little you can't photograph well - in my experience - cheap zooms are just that. There is no point in buying a decent body and then sticking a milk bottle in front of it. As @owlman pointed out - the best sort of set up is one that you are happy to carry around with you - primes are compact, light and much more discreet - one lens on the camera - the other in your pocket. Hope this helps - cheers - I.Just invested in a Nikon D3500 camera with the standard 18-55mm kit lens.
great set up, not too expensive and suits my needs. I'm a novice to photography so learning the ropes.
in time might invest in other lenses. I've heard 50mm prime lenses are good for portrait (bokeh).
Also thinking of a telephoto lens. The Tamron 70-300 gets good and bad reviews. Anyone used it and can comment
not in a position to spend hundreds of pounds on lenses so my yardstick is decent quality budget (if there is such a thing)
any advice appreciated.
Bryan
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