Lens quandary

Folks,

 

I am new to the world of photography. I recently purchased a Nikon

FM2n and a Nikkor 28mm/2.8 wide angle lens. I am planning to use the

camera both indoors/outdoors, but predominantly outdoors.

 

Based on what I have been reading, I am really having a difficult

time deciding which lens to buy for outdoors. At one glance, a 70-

210mm zoom seems good because you can go for close up shots from a

large distance (with this lens, the maximum magnification is about

4x) but at the same time the aperture of 4.5-5.6 makes me wonder if

this will be limiting because I will be using slide film (Fujichrome

Velvia 50 and Kodak E100VS).

 

On the other hand, for indoors, I have no idea how well will this

lens work with the films mentioned above.

 

Or the other option could be to start building up a collection of

prime lenses.

 

Any thoughts on this greatly welcome.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Samarth

In the long run, option #2 is the most sound.

 

Brian -bmacphoto.com

There is a third option as well. You could always go for the high quality zooms

such as the 80-200 f2.8.

You might look for the 75-150 f/3.5 series E as a used lens. Relatively inexpensive, very good optically, takes the same 52mm filters.

There are several nice, inexpensive lenses that could be purchased 2nd hand in the 70-150 or 70-200 range that are much faster than f4-5.6

 

Todd's suggestion of the 70-150 Series E lens is a good one. Other nice ones for moderate cost would be the Tamron SP 85-210 f3.8~4 or the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f2.8~4 None of these lenses should cost you more than $125 purchased 2nd hand in excellent shape.

 

Of course, you could always just start with the either the 85mm f2 or the 105mm f2.5 Nikkor, or a 90mm f2.5 or f2.8 Macro lens from either Tokina, Sigma, Vivitar, or Tamron. It so happens that the 90mm Macro lenses are the best lenses made by most of the leading 3rd Party brands.

 

If it were me, I'd get an inexpensive but moderately fast speed 70/85-200/210mm zoom lens (personally, I went with the Tamron 85-210 SP), and a really high quality prime the 85-105mm range. You can't really beat the Nikkor 105mm f2.5

 

These 2 lenses together can be gotten for $200 on the famous auction site.

 

FYI,

As you think about what to do, don't forget that if you buy a lens and regret having got it you can resell it on the great auction site. Further, if you buy used and don't overpay you may break even or better.

 

When you shop, be very cool, in the sense of coldblooded, and don't pay/bid more than perhaps the 40th percentile eBay price. All of the candidate lenses are fairly common, if you don't get the one whose auction ends today there will be more of the same real soon now.

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

i don't understand why people buy lens for indoors and buy lens for

outdoors. i say just buy one set and be done with it. save up and

get the 2.8 zoom or better yet go prime!! you don't have to get the

1.2 or 1.4 and spend big $$. there's a bunch of budget lens available

like the 100 f2.8, 85mm f2, 35mm f2 and such.

 

since you got the 28mm, i say you add a 50mm 1.8, 100 2.8 or (105mm

2.5) and then a ultra wide or long tele depending on your liking.

 

hm...now if you get a 2nd body, maybe i would go for a good consummer

zoom and leave it on 1 body and fast prime on the 2nd. i personally

hate changing lens in the middle of shooting.

 

good luck!

Ill suggest four lenses: a 50/1.8 AI or AIS, 50/1.4 AIS

(late compact), 75~150/3.5 E Series (mid and late version), 105/2.5

AI or AIS. These lenses are fast or moderately fast and have

superior optical performance. <br>

<br>

A lens as slow as f/4.5 can cause problems with the split image

rangefinder on the FM2n black out on top or bottom unless ones

eye is well centered. An aperture of f/5.6 is even worse. I personally

would not be interested in owning 70~210/4.5~5.6. As far as esthetes go I prefer the option of a fast aperture and shallow depth of field if I want it. f/5.6 won�t give me that. <br>

<br>

If a zoom of this range is desired Id recommend an 80~200/4.0

AIS or for a prime lens 200/4.0 (late compact version) or even

better an 180/2.8ED AI or AIS. There was also a 70~210/4.0 Series

E and a 100/2.8 Series E. I�ve never own the last two but I understand they're good lenses. <br>

<br>

For some of the best lens reviews on the net check out...<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html"

target="_new">Lens Survey And Subjective Evaluations</a> By Bjørn

Rørslett<br>

<br>

Hope this helps,

As always, it depend what you want to do....

 

I've got the FM2n as well so like me I doubt your into sport or wildlife photography. Most of my photos are portrait/society type subjects.

I have two zooms one 28-85 and a 80-200, I always carry these around with me becaue I always think "they're handy to have" in case your grabbing shots on the street or the like but in reality 85% of the time I end up using my primes.

 

These are:

20mm 2.8

28mm 2.8

50mm 1.4

85mm 1.8

135mm 2.8

 

These are more than adequate for me and I get what I want. Personally I would advise you to buy at least a few primes (on that auction site..whats it called?) and if you don't like them re-sell them. simple.