Nikon DX Digital SLR Recommended Starter Lenses
Best DSLR Budget Lenses for Beginners with D60, D3000, D5000, D90
Mar 14, 2009
The Nikon 18-55mm, 18-70mm, 18-105mm and 18-135mm kit lenses can produce good photographs. After learning the basics with these lenses, photographers can stretch their capabilities with the following affordable, and good, lenses.
Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX AF-S
This bright prime lens is 4 to 8 times brighter than the kit lenses. The intermediate 35mm focal length is equivalent to the classic 50mm "standard" or "normal" lens on full frame cameras, preferred by some photojournalists.
It allows the photographer to
- Take photographs in dim light without flash. This results in natural-looking photographs and avoids drawing attention to the photographer.
- Blur out the background in portraits, drawing attention to the subject for that "professional portrait" look.
Nikon 50mm f1.8 FX AF
This is equivalent to 75mm on full frame cameras (short portrait lens). The longer focal length makes it better for portraits compared to the 35mm f1.8. It allows a comfortable working distance between the photographer and the subject.
Usage-wise, it is similar to the 35mm f1.8: useful for low light and blurring out backgrounds.
The main difference is that it uses the older AF system and will not autofocus on the D40, D60, D3000 or D5000. It will autofocus on the D80, D90 and other advanced Nikon cameras.
Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6 VR DX AF-S
This lens is sometimes bundled with the 18-55mm f4-5.6 as the kit lenses for a DSLR.
It isn't brighter than the other kit lenses but does extend the focal length reach. It is bright enough for outdoor use but can be a stretch indoors when shooting fast action sports. It works well indoors with a flash at short distances.
The lens is useful for
- Sports and other outdoor event photography, where the photographer is far away from the action.
- Portrait photography, in place of the 50mm f1.8. Despite the small f5.6 maximum aperture at 200mm, blurred out backgrounds can be obtained because of the shallower depth of field at the telephoto end. The photographer just needs to back off further from the people he is photographing (30 to 50 feet) to accommodate the narrower field of view.
There is an older non-VR (vibration reduction) model, that should be avoided. VR is useful for reducing camera shake, especially at small apertures and long focal lengths.
Good and Cheap Nikon Lenses
Most Nikon lenses provide excellent image quality, even the cheaper lenses. The 50mm f1.8 is used by some professionals who prefer it over the more expensive 50mm f1.4.
Beginners should not rush into buying more lens than they know how to use. A few months experience with the lenses recommended here will allow them to decide for themselves which premium professional lens is right for their shooting style, which lens to upgrade to next.
- If they find f1.8 barely bright enough, they should avoid the f2.8 zooms and go for the f1.4 and f2 prime lenses instead.
- If they find f5.6 bright enough they can get the 18-200mm f4-5.6 VR super zoom and not worry about changing lenses.
- If somewhere in between the two categories above, they can get the 17-55mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8 or 80-200mm f2.8 zooms.
Experience with focal lengths from 18mm to 200mm will allow them to decide whether to get an ultra wide-angle lens (less than 18mm) or super telephoto (300mm and longer).
There is a good chance that they will never upgrade, preferring these lightweight lenses and realizing that the photographer is more important than the lens.
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