Zoom Lens

So I've decided to purchase the F75 body without the kit lens. I'm

going to use the money I save to purchase a zoom lens. Problem is I

don't know where to start. If you read my other post you will get a

sense of what I'm looking for. 28-80 or 28-90mm zoom, max $400

canadian, and new (i just don't want to buy used... I like

warranties). $300 would be ideal though. Here's the link to my other

post http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=006mxd

Thanks for your help

 

Ryan

28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D is a good lens to start with. A 50 mm f/1.8 AF-D is even better.

Can someone also give me a basic overview of what features on the lens I should look for.

 

Thanks

 

Ryan

Which (zoom) lens to get highly depends on how you are going to use it; that is, what type of photography you are into: portrait, landscape, travel, etc. Please take a look at <A HREF="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=006pIZ">this thread</A> from just a few days ago from someone in a similar situation. If you are not sure about your photographic specalty and just want some general zoom, once again I would suggest the 24-85mm AF-S, which is in the US$300 range in the US and maybe a bit out of your price range in Canada.

The second post has my vote, I have the 28-105 and use it much more than I though

it has a nice range and can focus very close at the flip of a button, with the 50 1.8

for avalible light would be a real nice set up

 

Enjoy the new camera

The 28-105 is a noticably better lens than the 28-80 or 28-90 lenses, but the barrel of the 28-105 lens will block the light from the built in flash of an F75 body. So you will also need an external flash unit to use with the 28-105mm lens if you want to use flash.

The 28-105 is an excellent lens. I use it for most of my shots. I don't know how the body of a F75 differs from my N70, but the lens barrel does not block the built in flash from my N70 body. Flash results are excellent with this combination. The pop-up flash unit is spring loaded. If you are wearing a ball cap or similar hat brim you have to be careful your hat brim is not pushing the flash unit part-way back into the body.

Re the barrel of the 28-105 zoom blocking the flash light...Does this happen all the time, or just when the lens is extended? Thanks.

The 28-105 does NOT block the flash on my N70 even at 105mm.....but if you have a hood on, big-time blockage. But then how often would you shoot with the built-in flash with the lens hood on? The 28-105 is a wonderful lens for the price. Add a 50 1.8 and you're all set.

Re the 28-105 lens with F75...I'm a newbie who is considering this combination. I checked the weights of the body and the lens. The body weighs 13.4 oz. (380g) while the lens weighs 16 oz. (450g). Will this combination be front-heavy? Thanks.

I don't consider it front heavy but it is all in how you hold it and how big your hands are. If you rest the heel of your left palm under the body and can comfortably grab and rotate the zoom and/or focus control it will balance nicely. Even a much longer and heavier lens like the 80-200 f/2.8 will balance on your left palm out under the barrel even on a much lighter and smaller body like the FE (definitely a front heavy combo if you are just holding the body!).

There're potato chips people and there're doritos people. Just like there're those who prefer zoom lenses and folks who dislike them (I'm of latter kind, btw). Since you're just starting out, Nikkor 28-105 AFD is very sensible choice. Next <best> lens would be already mentioned 50/1.8 AFD which gives very different idea about how to shoot. Whatever your pick is, keep using that lens for a while before asking another question "what lens to buy". Most likely you'll be able figure it out yourself.

For an F75 either go with a 50mm 1.8 which will help you get crafty in photography through having a wide f/stop range, or save up some $$$'s and get the 24-85 AF-S as then you'll be utilising the features of the F75 over earlier bodies (ie. actually being able to use AF-S lenses).

The 24-85mm and the 28-105mm af lens seem to be the popular choices. Someone metioned that the 28-105mm is a better lens than the 24-85mm. Why? If any of you had to choose between the 2 lens which one would you pick and why? Thanks for the input. I'm getting closer to making a decision.

 

Ryan

Ryan, I suggest you take a look at Todd Peach and my responses in the middle of <A HREF="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=006pIZ">this previous thread</A> from several days ago.

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The difference between 24 and 28mm is not trivial. For most photographers, the widest lens you'll need (for a 35mm film body) is 24mm; anything wider such as 20mm belongs to the super-wide, more specialized category. Therefore, the 24-85 is a very versatile lens. In the future, you can add something like a 80-200 or 70-300 to cover the long end and you'll have a very good two-lens system.

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If you get the 28-105, you'll still need a longer lens to reach 200 or 300mm and you may find 28mm insufficient. In that case you'll need to add either a 24mm prime or some sort of 18-35 type zoom.

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Finally, the 24-85 has the advantage of being an AF-S: faster AF speed and easy manual focusing override. Keep in mind that it is a G lens and cannot be used on MF bodies should you ever go that route.

Well the problem is I see too many votes for a 28-105mm setup and majority may rule on this one. There is no convincing argument for the 24-85mm setup and the extra reach that the 28-105mm would give me when outdoors would probably help (whales don't tend to pop their heads up where you want them to!). However, I won't rule out the 24-85mm, but I need more convincing. What type of shots would I take using the 24mm focal length of the zoom (Sorry but I'm still quite green in the field of photography)? And is there a large difference between 85mm to 105mm? Would the difference be noticable? Thanks, Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays Everyone,

 

Ryan

I feel like I need the 24mm focal length. You can use it for almost anything, mostly landscapes, cityscapes (careful with distortion!), or anywhere when you need the wide field of view. I personally found the 28mm focal length irritating, because it was not wide enough for a lot of things, but was too wide for others. But the 24-85 has a pretty bad distortion at the 24mm end, which makes it a bad choice for photographing buildings, but is still a fine lens for landscapes and general photography.

 

I only use the 85-105 range (that the other lens gives in addition) for portraits, but at the same time, the 28-105 is not a good lens for portraits because of its small aperture at the long end.

 

If I needed one of these two lenses, I think I'd buy the 24-85, but for $300 I would start with a 50mm F/1.8 and a 24mm F/2.8. Actually I did start this way after I dumped my 28-80. But that's just me, and it depends highly on what you want to photograph. For example, if you like portraits, change that 24 2.8 to an 85 1.8. This is the very general recommendation, but your taste may differ: I find the 85mm short for portraits and use 105mm instead. You may be different from me, and may need a zoom lens, like you said you did.

 

Sorry, got a bit far off-topic

Well if the 24-80mm has bad distortion at 24mm focal length is it really a good lens? Does the 24mm have a significant advantage to the 28mm when taking landscapes? Is there much of a difference? Is the extra 25mm of zoom that the 28-105mm provides noticable (like I said I photograph lots of animals that don't always perform the way I would like)? Are they comparible lenses in terms of price, quality? Any other opinions on what the advantages/disadvantages are of these two lenses?

Thanks,

 

Ryan