matt_tippin Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 I just purchased an N90 for my girlfriend as she has had the desire to get back into photography. I only bought the body, however, and need a lens to pair it with. What would you all suggest for a good "all-around" lens. I would like to spend less than $200 as the body itself cost more than I was planning on spending, but will consider upping the ante if it's overwhelming that I need to go that direction. I would rather not, though, as this has become a fairly expensive Xmas gift already! :) Thanks for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lance_a1 Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 Nikkor 28-105mm. Good quality for a consumer lens, and with the current rebate, you might be able to pick one up for a little less than $300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thidglance Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 I could trot out the familiar and say - Get her a 50mm F1.8 ... If she doesn't care about autofocus then there are some bargains to be had. Personally on my F90x I use 24mm, 50mm and 85mm. The 50 was almost never used. A 35mm F2 would never be a bad choice. I think starting with a zoom is a bad idea - not for quality reasons, but for vision reasons. A zoom offers too much choice - so you never learn how different lenses change the way a picture looks, but you just 'zoom' until it looks ok and snap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_tippin Posted November 1, 2002 Author Share Posted November 1, 2002 She wants AF to pair with the capabilites of the N90 but not zoom. I was thinking of a standard 50mm, but would like to hear all sides of the story before I lay my $ down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hal_bissinger Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 I second the recommendation for the 28-105. Great all around lens. Great performance for the money also. Wouldn't even bother with a 50mm prime unless she needs something faster and couldn't afford a faster zoom. If she had both the zoom and the 50mm prime I'll bet the 50mm never gets used. Rediculous also to even coinsider a MF lens at this point. Standard focus screen in most AF bodies is not that great for MF anyway. Besides, why limit yourself. If you don't want to use AF turn it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_gifford Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 Get the 50mm f/1.8 AF-D lens, just about $100 and the best bang for the buck in the whole Nikkor line. Sharp, crisp, versatile, lightweight and compact. As an "all around" lens without zoom for less than $200, it's the obvious choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hkbmac Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 Can't go wrong with a 50mm 1.8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_bridge Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 Depending on her previous experience level, she may have a preference for a 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm. Ask her, or give her money toward a lens, or go with a 50mm AFD f/1.8 best lens for the price. I had to pick one up last year because my wife and daughters were hogging our ancient manual focus 50mm f/1.4 and 55mm f/2.5 macro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted November 1, 2002 Share Posted November 1, 2002 Obviously your mileage may vary, but I don't like 50mm lenses at all. I had a 50mm/f1.4 along with my first SLR, a Minolta, from 30 years ago and that was my least useful lens. A few years later I switched to Nikon and never bought any 50mm Nikon lens in the next 25 years and counting. To me, a good alternative would be the 35mm/f2 AF. Otherwise, something like a 24-85 zoom would be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_tippin Posted November 1, 2002 Author Share Posted November 1, 2002 Thanks for the help, everyone. We (my girlfriend and I) went to a local camera shop she used to work at and tried out a few different lenses. We went home with this: Sigma EX 28-70mm F2.8 DF It's a very nice lens...she loves it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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