richard_e Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 For portrait photography, would you go with the 18-70mm lens that comes with the kit or just get a 50mm lens? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaius1 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 What about the 60mm f/2.8? That gives you the "classic" portrait focal length of 90mm and it's sharp and contrasty with a deep built-in hood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vasilis Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 50mm 1.8 which is cheap or 85mm 1.8 that will also extend the reach of the zoom you have now. The 60mm above I would take it only if you like to combine portraits with macro work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 This question has been discussed many times. Nikon currently has no dedicated portrait lenses for its DSLRs yet. The 50mm lenses are the closest substitutes at the moment. The 60mm/f2.8 is a macro; in portrait photography, sharpness is not always a virtue. Moreover, it lacks the really large apertures for a very shallow depth of field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard_frank Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 What Vasilis said. I also use a Tamron 28-75/2.8 on my D2X, which is a great zoom for its price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_e Posted July 7, 2005 Author Share Posted July 7, 2005 Thank you....would the 18-70mm work for portaits? I'm buying a D70..dont have it yet. Not sure which body/lens combo to get. I have an old nikon AF 35-70mm. I plan to use my d70 for portraits. I can get a good deal on the d70 18-70 kit but of course if a dedicated 50mm would be better, I'd get that instead. help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 For those who are getting a D70 or D70s and are not sure which lens to get, the 18-70 DX is a good "default" lens to have. It covers a nice range and is quite affordable. It is a bit of the slow side for portrait work if you like shallow depth of fields. Richard's 35-70mm/f2.8 AF can be used for portrait work also. Again, a good portrait lens for digital is really missing at the moment. We need something like a 60 or 70mm/f1.4 or 1.8 from Nikon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vasilis Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I would say get the 18-70mm, it is good for an all-round zoom. For portraits maybe it is not fast enough although of course it can be used when needed. And then, eitherway, I would get the 50mm 1.8, because it is fast, relatively good for portraits and for low light situations, and most of all cheap at about 80$. Afterwards you can decide about the 85mm (if you need it or not). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Your 35-70 should very well as a portrait lens. Don't waste your money on the kit zoom. Though it is a wide till 18mm, it isn't all that great at the lower end. It does quite well at the long end though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klix Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Don't know if you have a chance to borrow/rent a lens, but check to see if the angle of view (AOV) offered by an 85mm works for you... Yes, the AOV is equivalent to that of 128mm, but if you can make that work, then there is nothing better than the 85mm/1.4 AFD. Otherwise, for the "traditional" AOV, the 60mm is kind of an intriguing option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourfa Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 is this the 35-70 2.8 or the old cheap 35-70 3.5-4.5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_e Posted July 7, 2005 Author Share Posted July 7, 2005 The nikkor lense I have is an AF Nikkor 35-70mm/1:3.3-4.5....dont know if this would work. I can get a used d70 kit with the 18-70mm from a friend of mine for about $760..in good shape. Also could just get a new d70, use my old nikkor lense and get a 50mm. doesn't sound like I could go wrong either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_e Posted July 7, 2005 Author Share Posted July 7, 2005 The cheap one. Bad lense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Sorry, my fault. I thought we were talking about the 35-70mm/f2.8 AF/AF-D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_e Posted July 7, 2005 Author Share Posted July 7, 2005 Does that change your answer? Choices are: used D70 kit with zoom (good condition), new D70 w/50mm, my old zoom, new d70s w/50mm. This would be used for still family portraits...close ups of grand children, etc. But, mostly still subjects. I'm buying this for my Dad who is a photo buff..appreciate the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watermelon Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Comming from the 35-70 you already own (as do I) the 18-70 kit with AF-S and reasonably good build quality is miles ahead. I own and enjoy the 50 1.8 but use it very rarely compared to the kit lens. Dont miss the great price you get it for with the camera! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Hey, someone sold that 35-70 zoom for >$200 recently on eBay. You may take your chances there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_e Posted July 7, 2005 Author Share Posted July 7, 2005 Thank you all. I decided to pony up for a NEW d70 with the 18-70 zoom lens kit. I can always pick up a 50mm. The used one for $770 already has 3900 exposures, which is about as many as my father would take in two years. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_liao Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 does it matter if the 50mm is a manual AI/AIS or the AF-D? which one is better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charrisi Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Good choice. 18-70mm is a great lens, & you can't go wrong for what you paid ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charrisi Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I'm just now hitting the 8000th shutter release on the D70. No problems. I've had it for around 8mths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 In this case it matters; any AI/AI-S lens without CPU will not meter on the D70. No metering is not the end of the world, but you might as well get a lens that meters with your camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_liao Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Shun, Thanks for the response. But image sharpness/quality wise, which is better? I have a 28mm AIS and 105 AIS lens, it blows my mind how sharp these older lenses are. I could honestly say they are way sharper than any of the newer lenses I own. I wouldn't mind carrying a handheld meter if the AI/S will yeild sharper images. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 "But image sharpness/quality wise,.." Best bet is the 75-150mm f/3.5 E-series lens. Plenty sharp and much better than the 105/2.5 on D70, even wide open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Tardio Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I've been using a 50/1.8 but wish it was bit longer. A 60mm would be ideal if wasn't a micro lens. <p> For something longer I find the 105/2 DC lens to be outstanding. Here's a sample.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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