D700 all-prime plan

Natalie,

 

Sounds like you like low light and fast lenses. I do as well, used to shoot an FE2 with tmax 3200 and a 50/1.4 - lots of fun, and I bet the D700 will be even more so.<p>

 

I would get the 85/1.8, then the 24/2.8. A 24 on a full frame camera can let you get some shots indoors that you wouldn't be able to get with a 28, and the perspective for indoor shots with people is different than the 28 without being "weird". A 24 and a 90 were my favorite focal lengths for people with 35mm.

<p>Edward.... You are getting into seriously soft diffraction issues at f/22, even on the cameras with large pixel sites such as the D40 and D3/D700. You might "always be in focus" at f/22, but the results will suck (loss of contrast and details) with any lens at f/22.</p>

<p>Eric, I've uploaded a few photos to my gallery. Just to be clear, I'm not unhappy with my photography. I'm getting good results from the D40 under certain conditions, but I feel limited by it.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?user_id=4588660">http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?user_id=4588660</a></p>

<p>I would go with the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 D. Its a superb lens that can be found anywhere from $415-$480 new. Since Landscape and wide angle isn't an issue it would be a decent lens to have. You could shoot Landscape with it, its just not wide. </p>

<p>Primes are great! I totally second you on your decision to stick with primes, that is what I am doing as well. I have zooms but primes can be very liberating, aside from image quality, primes prevent Lazy Photographer Syndrome! your zoom is your feet!<br>

I just bought a 20mm f2.8 nikkor and i'll have to say give it a try it is a superb optic! Also I would second your desire for an 85mm f1.8 great lens, although you might want something a little longer say 180 f2.8?<br>

Depending upon the type of shooting you do you may want to pick up some manual focus lenses.. if auto focus isnt an absolute nessecity. By grabbing some manual lenses you can fill out your collection for a very reasonable cost, and upgrade each lens to auto focus as you have the money. And you arent sacrificing any quality at all in the meantime. May I suggest a 105mm f2.5, or a 24mm f2.8 AIS, or even a 200mm f4 AIS, all excellent lenses and can be had for a very reasonable sum!<br>

Hope this helps! Good luck, would love to see some pictures! If you would like samples from that 20mm I'd be glad to supply them!<br>

Josh</p>

<blockquote>

<p>There seems to be something overlooked by some, and that is that some people just prefer shooting with prime lenses. I think I may be one of those people. I also greatly prefer a full frame over DX. I vastly prefer shooting with my N80 to my D300, and it isn't just because I like the results film produces. I also just plain like the focal lengths more.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I love prime lenses. They have many advantages.<br>

- speed<br>

- size<br>

- simpler design usually means less distortion<br>

- depth of field scale<br>

- a definite purpose (i.e. I'm a 24 mm lens. Take me out and make some 24 mm compositions!)<br>

- encourages composition by moving around instead of twisting a ring<br>

- manual-focus primes have a more solid feel than motor-focused lenses</p>

<p>The problem is that no matter how careful I am, I end up with dust on my sensor after a small number of lens changes. For this reason and this reason only, I tend to restrict myself to zoom lenses when shooting with a digital camera. It's a shame, and I hope that dust-cleaning technology advances to a point where this becomes less of a problem.</p>

 

<p>I rethought your question and still think that you're on the right track. If you want a good low-light capability and want to do some general photography then your suggested way is the way to go. Pick up an 85/1.8 AFD and if you don't mind manual focus a 28 AI or AIS and you're all set. Just don't expect the 35/1.8 to perform miracles on FX, but if you have 50 and 28 you probably won't need 35 anyway.</p>

<p>I think the D700 is really a fantasy camera. Smallish for a pro camera, great image quality, tremendous existing-light capability.</p>

<p>I'm a prime shooter when I can be, and it's my preference. My prime kit can be simple, which I enjoy the most...D700 and 35mm/f2. But, I find I really never need more than this (which fits in a smallish bag):</p>

<p>D700<br>

24/2.8<br>

35/2<br>

50/1.4</p>

<p>Pretty much an existing-light setup for most working distances. And, easier on the shoulder. All three lenses are lighter than a 14-24 zoom, and it makes the D700 "feel" smaller and more nimble.</p>

<p>I have D700 and 5 lenses, all Nikkor af-d models<br>

20/2.8<br />28/2.8<br />50/1.8<br />85/1.8<br />105/2.8<br />if i would have to pick up three of those, they would be 20, 50 and 105.<br />They are all very good and they do what I need: Portraits, landscape, close-ups.<br />Sincerely, jukka</p>

<p>Why are people recommending manual focus lenses? Is it just because they are cheap because I can't see any other reason? If you want manual focus with an autofocus lens you just flick the switch; if you want autofocus with a manual focus lens you're stuffed. If you want a high number keepers and you are taking pictures of people in action autofocus is a must.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>A test at f/8 won't show a darn thing! But it does. The quality between the three is noticeably different (if you can't see it right away, look for color fringing and sharpness). Tests like this are important to remind us, myself included, that a prime does not necessarily outperform a zoom lens. </p>

</blockquote>

<p>Not a fair test. Most lenses perform their best about 3 stops down. A 50mm f/1.4 performs best around f/4 while the f/2.8 zoom sees its sweet spot around f/8.</p>

<p>Natalie,</p>

<p>Based on the information you gave I'd say go for D700 and a 1.4/50 mm lens. Whether the lens is AF or manual it's up to you. I doubt you would regret.</p>

<p>FX is significant only to those who shoot with prime lens at 50 mm or less, because DX will turn them into short tele photo lens.</p>

<p>Good luck to your decision.</p>

<p><em> A 50mm f/1.4 performs best around f/4 while the f/2.8 zoom sees its sweet spot around f/8.</em></p>

<p>Not always. The 17-55's best aperture is around 4-5.6. I think the newer zooms are basically putting the old "stopped down is best" idea out to pasture. Consumer zooms still need to be stopped down a good deal to look their best, but pro zooms hit their peaks earlier. </p>

<p>People choose to get manual focus lenses because some of them are very sharp, and at focal lengths that are highly desirable to many. The AIS 105/2.5 is still popular, and I just recently saw a sharpness test between it and the 70-200 2.8. They were basically identical in sharpness.</p>

<p>Different photographers have different needs, and manual focus isn't a deal breaker for some.</p>

<p>I understand about primes. I had the 70-200 and sold it. Great lens. Too big. I had a D300. At the wide end I was either at 18 (24; on my 12-24) or 24 (35). My 50 1.4 was not quite right. My 180 2.8 was a bit long. I got a D700 and find 35 wide enough and use the 10.5 (DX hold over) when I really want wide. The 28 should be fine. The 50 was not doing for me so I got the 85 1.4. Perfect. The 85 1.8 should be fine for you. The 180 is still good. Brilliant lens. I would consider it or the 300 f/4. If you want wide, consider the 20 2.8.<br>

I enjoy my D700 much more than the D300 but it is a bit bigger. I am not sorry I made the switch. You won't be either.</p>

<p>Dust tends to be more of an issue if you are shooting stopped down. I don't tend to notice it on my d300 if I'm shooting handheld at f1.4-f5.6. If I'm working with lighting and I'm shooting f11/f16 then it can become a lot more of a prominent issue.</p>

 

<p>Update: I've had the D700 for a few days now and am completely blown away by it. No regrets at all.</p>

<p>I will likely get a couple more primes by the end of the year, but I'm not in a hurry, as I've fallen in love with my 50s all over again. Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. I certainly have a lot of options!</p>

<p>Do you happen to have an 85mm, Natalie? I love my 85/1.8 on my N80.</p>

<p> That the D700 has less than 100% coverage in the viewfinder will be normal for me, because the N80 has about the same degree of actual coverage in the viewfinder.</p>