Lens comparision help

[brian_blalock]

I'm beginning to start focusing more and more on my photography. I have a nikon

n65 and a d50. The d50 came with a AF-S nikkor 18-55 1:3.5-5.6 G ED. The n65

came with a AF nikkor 28-80 mm 1:3.5-5.6 D. I'm curious as to which lens you

would chose to walk around with if you could only carry one. I stuck with the

default lens from the d50 for a while now, but I tried out the one from the n65

and I seem to be getting sharper images. Is this a user error (my mistake?) or

is there some difference in the lenses themselves?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Brian

[shuo_zhao]

The D50's 18-55 kit lens is a DX lens, that means it will vignett at certain focal lengths when used on a film body such as the N65. Essentially the 28-80 is by-definition the lens that will work with both cameras.

 

The 28-80 is pretty much unheard of or forgotten by today's DSLR users, because of its age and non-professional status. I don't know anything about how good/bad it is. The 18-55, on the other hand, gets relatively respectable reviews for a kit lens.

 

*My father used a 28-90 (kit lens on his N75), which is probably similar to your 28-80. He claimed that it was the "least sharp" of all lenses he used.

[eric_arnold]

i would think the main advantage of a 18-55 would be faster focusing on a d50 due to af-s and the fact it starts at 18mm. but if you're getting sharper images with the 28-80 and dont mind losing the wide end (28mm on film is 42mm on DX), then go with that.

 

yes there are differences in nikon glass, but it's impossible to answer your question w/out seeing samples and knowing your settings, because of the many variables involved.

[Peter_in_PA]

18-55. definitely

[rene gm]

I had both lenses. The 28-80 is surprisingly good, but it was not wide enough for my purposes.

[brian_blalock]

Thanks for all the help. I got tired of lugging them both around and never using one of them.