Prime lens for D40?

[tom_yuan]

I just purchased a new D40, and now I don't know what to do. I was on the edge

between a Pentax K100D and the Nikon D40, and I sprang for the Nikon because

almost nobody would go for the K100D. Personally, I didn't go for it because of

the slow auto-focus and lack of continuous shooting, and I went for Nikon. But

now I'm really starting to realize there are NO prime AF lenses for the D40.

I'm just looking for a cheap 30mm or 50mm lens from the 80's or 90's that will

give me decent portrait shots in low light. The Sigma 30mm is there but f/1.4

which is a bit too expensive for me, I really only require an f/1.8 (the Sigma

sells for upwards of $400).

 

At first I saw the old Nikon 50mm f/1.8 (non-D) that I THOUGHT was AF-I, which

would autofocus. ( http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5018af.htm )

Unfortunately, I don't think it is anymore. Does anyone know if there are any

wide - standard AF-I prime lenses? I don't think they exist.

 

If anything I guess I could get one now, use manual focus, and when I upgrade

the body in the next 3 or 5 years, I'll could use it then. But it still feels

like I'm paying for something I can't even use. Man what if I end up going to

Pentax? Hahaha... funny thing to say in a Nikon forum. Any suggestions?

[peter_daalder]

Plenty of Nikkor 50mm f.1.8 lenses on eBay...

[kfoster70]

The only AF-I lenses ever introduced by Nikon were the 300, 400, 500, and 600mm AF-I lenses back in 1992. These were replaced by AF-S versions a few years later. Nikon does not have any wide/standard prime lenses that are AF-I or AF-S. And if they did I bet they would be at least $400 or more, especially if you consider that the current 20mm AF is in that range.

[iancoxleigh]

Your options are:

 

1. Live with AFS zooms only.

2. Use AF lenses as Manual focus lenses.

4. Buy the Sigma lens -- but, it isn't all that well reviewed given its price.

3. Buy Manual Focus lenses and loose metering.

4. Switch bodies to a used D50 or D70 and live with a smaller, dimmer viewfinder and LCD review screen, poorer menus, and weaker image rendering (esp. ISO).

5. Switch to Pentax.

6. Spend more for a D80.

7. Live with the zooms for now and hope Nikon releases some wide/normal AFS primes priced for the D40 market? But, you might be waiting for something which will never come.

 

I think that's your total list of choices. If you really JUST purchased your D40 (and can return it for full price refund) and you can not raise your total budget (to get a D80 and a 50 1.8), I'd go for the Pentax. Pentax seems to be getting their act together now (with new lenses and camera) and it looks like there will be room for you to grow in their product line for quite a while. All and all they seem to be on better footing since and just before the takeover by Hoya.

[anthony_bez]

"Man what if I end up going to Pentax? Hahaha... funny thing to say in a Nikon forum."

 

Pentax does seem to be the best bet to match your criteria, but Shun had some information that put there longterm future in photography in doubt. You would not want to build up a system that may become obsolete.

 

If it is possible to return the D40, and you could raise some cash the D80 would allow you to purchase the $100 new or even less used 50mm 1.8AFD.

[geoffs1]

Another possibility is a <a href="http://www.adorama.com/Refby.tpl?refby=rflAID062012&sku=INKD70R">refurbished D70</a>, $500 - GSS

[tonybeach]

Least expensive camera with most expensive lenses; seems like cognitive dissonance to me.

 

Pentax 14/2.8

$525

 

Pentax 21/3.2

$420

 

Pentax 31/1.8

$780

 

Pentax 35mm f/2.0

$300

 

Pentax 40mm f/2.8

$225

 

Pentax 43/1.9

$380

 

Pentax 50/1.2

$690

 

Pentax 50mm f/1.4

$200

 

Pentax 50mm f/2.8 Macro

$350

 

Pentax 70/2.4

$490

 

Pentax 77/1.8

$590

 

Pentax 85/2.8

$440

 

Pentax SMCP-FA* 300mm f/2.8

$4550

 

Pentax SMCP-A* 300mm f/2.8

$5150

 

No 100mm, 135mm, 185mm, or 200mm Pentax primes. As intriguing as some of Pentax's lenses look; I'm happy using Nikon.

[sam_thompson2]

As far as the future of Pentax. I bet a dozen donuts that if Pentax goes out of the camera business the K mount will live on in Samsung DSLRs similar to how Sony took over the Minolta mount.

 

I would get a used manual focus lens and forgo metering. If it's dark enough where you need to use a 1.8 lens at 1600. Metering and/or focus will not be very accurate anyways.

[ShunCheung]

At least so far, the way Sony has taken over the Minolta mount is very disappointing. In a year Sony has only introduced one mediocre DSLR while Canon and Nikon are rapidly improving their consumer line.

 

If all you need is one consumer DSLR and a few lenses, maybe which brand doesn't really make a whole lot of difference. If you have any long-term plans, I simply see no reason to take some unnecessary risks outside of Canon and Nikon.

[tom_yuan]

Thanks guys for the responses. I think you hit a point there about the camera having trouble auto focusing and metering at such low light anyways. I think I'll just get one and manually focus it for now, it should teach me a thing or two anyhow. I'm new to photography as a whole but I'm planning on building a lens collection through the years and learning as I go.

[lester_hawksby1]

The Sigma 30/1.4 is good stuff for the specific role it's meant for - walkaround in available darkness. Focus seems very fast and accurate on the d40 even in abysmal light, it never needs the assist lamp. The very short depth of field at 1.4 really does mean you have to take more care. I've not had metering troubles with it, and the build seems pretty solid. It's not a cheap lens, but it IS cheap for a 30/1.4 - there's no directly comparable Nikkor, but those that get close are rather more expensive.

 

If you don't need f/1.4, the old manual 35/2.8 and 50/2s (among other 50s) are a good bet. Histogram metering really isn't particularly slow or difficult.

[cabophoto]

Have you looked at the Sigma 30/1.4 ? It has HSM which is the Sigma equivalent of Nikon's AF-S, so it will AF on a D40(x).

 

Carsten

[mark_firley]

I agree with the Sigma 30/1.4. I did a few night shoots in Charleston and was very pleased with the results.