john_narsuitus

<p>Stefan,<br /><br> My situation was the opposite of yours – I needed to “downgrade” to the kit lens.<br> <br> I had been using the following Nikon lenses:<br> 14-24mm f/2.8<br> 20-35mm f/2.8<br> 35-70mm f/2.8<br> 50mm f/1.4<br> 35mm f/1.4<br> 28mm f/2.8<br> 24mm f/2<br> 18mm f/3.5<br> <br> However, I purchased the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 to 5.6 G AF VR DX lens because I needed:<br> </p> <ol> <li>A zoom lens that gave me the same coverage on my DX digital SLR that my 35-70mm f/2.8 gave me 35mm film SLR. The 18-55mm meets this need because on a DX body it is equivalent to a 27-82mm lens on an FX body or a 35mm film body.</li> <li>Vibration control and none of my other lenses had this feature.</li> <li>An inexpensive zoom lens that I could use when I did not want to put my more expensive zoom lenses in an environment where they could be lost, damaged, or stolen.</li> <li>A backup lens for the lenses that I used to shoot weddings.</li> <li>A lightweight lens to go on a lightweight digital body when I needed to carry a lightweight photographic load of one lens and one SLR body.</li> </ol> <p>The 18-55mm was the perfect lens to meet these needs. In fact, I thought this lens performed so well for the low price that I bought a second one so I would have a back-up lens for my back-up lens.</p> <p><a href=" <div></div>

<blockquote> <p>"I was looking into the wide lenses? Any suggestions?"</p> </blockquote> <p>Your 18-55mm lens should be wide enough for your group shot. Below is a group photo I took with my wide-angle zoom lens set at 20mm.</p> <p> </div>

<blockquote> <p>"Which AF lens is best for the Nikon F4?"</p> </blockquote> <p>I prefer to use manual focus prime lenses on my Nikon F4 for portraiture. However, there are two auto focus lenses that I use when I need auto focus.</p> <p>Nikkor 35-70mm Zoom f2.8 AF</p> <p>Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 D AF-S</p> <p> </div>

<p>35mm f/1.4 on a classical manual 35mm film camera</p> <p> <div></div>

<blockquote> <p>"Who has switched from Nikon and liked it... I am thinking of divesting myself of my nikon stuff and loading up on a tele zoom and maybe a portrait prime and/or ultrawide and an OM-D.</p> <p>Alternatively, I might just keep this little PEN and add the tele zoom and keep all the Nikon stuff for more "serious" photography."</p> </blockquote> <p>Years ago when I shot 35mm film, I shot with a 35mm SLR and a 35mm rangefinder. Today, instead of a 35mm SLR, I now primarily shoot with a digital SLR.</p> <p>Today, instead of a 35mm rangefinder, I primarily shoot with a micro 4/3 Olympus E-p3 and E-p1. The micro 4/3 is great for the times when I need smaller, lighter, quieter, and better video.</p> <p>Just like my 35mm SLR and rangefinder could never replace each other, my dSLR and my Olympus micro 4/3 cannot replace each other. Therefore, my decision was to add a telephoto zoom (45-200mm f/4 to f/5.6 Panasonic) and keep all my Nikon stuff.<br> <br /> </div>

<blockquote> <p>"Does anyone else still have their first camera ?"<strong><br /></strong></p> </blockquote> <p><strong> Yes and No!</strong></p> <p>I still have the first camera I ever used -- my Father's Kodak Bullet.</p> <p>I got rid of the first camera that I owned -- a Kodak Brownie.</p> <p>I still have and use my first rangefinder -- a 35mm Argus C3.</p> <p>I got rid of my first 35mm SLR -- a Miranda Sensorex, because it was not reliable.</p> <p>I still have my first digital camera -- a broken 2.1MP Vivitar Vivicam 3615.</p> <p> <p> <div></div>

<blockquote> <p>"I have a 20mm 2.8 and 80-200mm 2.8 af-d (fx body) and am looking for a lens to fill the gap. Which fits better: 35mm or 50mm?"</p> </blockquote> <p>Early in my photographic career, the two lenses I used most often were the Nikon 35mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8. I also used a 20mm f/3.5 when I needed wider and a 180mm f/2.8 when I needed more telephoto. All were manual focus lenses.</p> <p>Later, I added 80-200mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.4 auto focus Nikon lenses. I liked the auto focus and extra f/stop of the 50mm but I preferred the angle-of-view of the slower manual focus 35mm. When I replaced the 35mm with a faster f/1.4 version, I rarely used the 50mm again.</p> <p>Therefore, in answer to your question, the 35mm does a better job filling the gap for me.<br /> <br /> </div>

<p>At comparable focal lengths, my 14-24mm f/2.8 is sharper than my 18mm f/3.5 and my 24mm f/2 Nikon prime lenses.</p>

<p>When I find a camera that meets my photographic needs, I usually buy two of them – one to use and one to keep in reserve as a backup. When I shoot events or I am shooting in a dusty environment, I may use them both so I do not have to change lenses so often.</p> <p>When I shop for a backup camera, I usually consider the following listed in order of priority:<br> <br />1. An identical camera (for example, an identical Nikon D7000 body)</p> <p>2. A functionally identical camera but with a different appearance (for example, a chrome body to backup a black body or vice versa)</p> <p>3. An identical body but with a different accessory (for example, an identical body but with a different battery grip)</p> <p>4. A similar body but with similar functions (for example, a less-expensive consumer-quality SLR to backup a pro-quality SLR)</p> <p>5. A different body with similar functions (for example, an FX body to backup a DX body or a digital compact to backup a digital SLR)</p> <p>Therefore, in answer to your question, provided I was satisfied with the performance of the D7000, another D7000 as a backup is higher on my list than a D7100 or a D610.</p> <p> </div>