Advice needed for a D90 purchase

D

dust water wind fire

New member
I am completely new to the digital realm. I have been shooting for the last few years exclusively on super 8mm film (please dont laugh, I just love the feeling you get watching the natural medium even as gritty as it can be sometimes ). Anyway, it wasnt until I caught wind of the D90 did I ever consider coming over to the digital arena. Having been a lurker here for quite some time I have investigated all the pros/cons with the d90 and have come to the conclusion that I need to own this camera. It really has some sort of life to its images that I haven't seen in any of the digital video cameras (at least one within in my financial reach.)

Anyway heres my question. I am stepping into this with nothing (outside of some tripods and stabilizers etc..) Other than that I do not have any lenses or other equipment to speak of. Obviously, I am buying the camera body. I am not sure where to start in regards to a collection of lenses (should bother with the kit lens?). Any expert advice would be helpful. I want to use this camera solely for video so I am not afraid of the fully manual lenses that will only work manually in regular photo mode. I have read the d90 primer by Kholi and realize that we're going to get the best results with manual aperture etc. I want to start with 2 lenses kind of catch all lens and nice, fast prime (maybe 50mm 1.8?). I have about 1,500 total to spend starting out (body and lenses). So I guess this is a what would you do sort of question. thanks to anybody that would like to help.
 
You can buy tons of used Nikkors for 500 bucks. Stick to manual focus and you can do much better than two lenses. Those lenses also have some "life" in them that you don't find in the ultra sharp zooms they include. But keep the kit lens. It'll double your camera's functionality since it's much better for shooting some "run/gun" stills.

At least your kit should mimic the Zeiss offerings: 25-35-50-85, but if I was to start with two, the 35 and 85. The 50 is so cheap it's almost a no-brainer. Ok, so let's make it three: 35-50-85.
 
Just dont get any dust, wind, water or fire in your lenses and you'll be okay..

Seriously though, if you hit ebay you can purchase a nice selection of lovely fast glass to play around with.
 
Go D90 BODY ONLY

+

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens

Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens


That's just a bit over your budget but is completely doable and very very versatile.


Later on you can add a used Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens for fun and convenience and all your primes.

You can add them one at a time and each step of the way.


As always lenses are more important than bodies and tend to be much better investments dollar for dollar anyway.

All the Best to you!
 
Thanks for all the advice. Definitely picking up a 50 mm. And still thinking about the others. The older AIS 50mm 1:8 is around 50-60 bucks and is supposed to be super sharp. I know that the d90 in photo mode wont meter the AIS lenses but that shouldn't matter in d-movie right or am I wrong?
 
I'd recomend full manual, metal body, old and dependabe lenses. My set was very cheap on ebay and is a joy to use.
 
It does not matter at all in D-Movie, just for stills.

You might consider the f1.4 instead, not so much for the speed, but for the better dampened focus ring and more solid build. I was a bit disappointed with my f1.8 coming from a f1.4 which I replaced due to front element damage / flare. Either 50 is tack sharp, far sharper than this camera in D-Movie mode.

I ultimately want a 18-24-28-35-50-85-105-135 set... have half of them already, some of these old Nikkors are cheap. My 28mm is a Kiron f2 and focuses backwards so I'll probably replace it when I have the rest, but its a very nice sharp piece of glass and pretty cheap. Actually, I'll probably end up with a 55 f1.2 instead of a 50, they are not toooo expensive and I'm really liking the D90's low light abilities so I'll spend for another half stop.

If you decide on a zoom, make it fast (f2.8), and don't expect that it will necessarily hold focus while zooming- especially on the wide end most zooms are not "parfocal".

If you can, get your lenses from someplace that you can test them or at least return them to... look for oil on aperture rings (very bad), gritty feeling focus (since you'll be pulling focus), and excesive dust or any fungus on the glass (fungus is really bad). A small scratch will not normally be noticable except that the lens is worth half of what it otherwise was and is a real bargain.
 
taubkin said:
I'd recomend full manual, metal body, old and dependabe lenses. My set was very cheap on ebay and is a joy to use.
Click to expand...

For the current implementation of D-Movie yes indeed!


For future implementation/iterations and Stills.... maybe not so much! :beer:


But do get the Nikon ML-L3 IR Remote Control Transmitter.
 
Thebes said:
It does not matter at all in D-Movie, just for stills.

You might consider the f1.4 instead, not so much for the speed, but for the better dampened focus ring and more solid build. I was a bit disappointed with my f1.8 coming from a f1.4 which I replaced due to front element damage / flare. Either 50 is tack sharp, far sharper than this camera in D-Movie mode.

I ultimately want a 18-24-28-35-50-85-105-135 set... have half of them already, some of these old Nikkors are cheap. My 28mm is a Kiron f2 and focuses backwards so I'll probably replace it when I have the rest, but its a very nice sharp piece of glass and pretty cheap. Actually, I'll probably end up with a 55 f1.2 instead of a 50, they are not toooo expensive and I'm really liking the D90's low light abilities so I'll spend for another half stop.

If you decide on a zoom, make it fast (f2.8), and don't expect that it will necessarily hold focus while zooming- especially on the wide end most zooms are not "parfocal".

If you can, get your lenses from someplace that you can test them or at least return them to... look for oil on aperture rings (very bad), gritty feeling focus (since you'll be pulling focus), and excesive dust or any fungus on the glass (fungus is really bad). A small scratch will not normally be noticable except that the lens is worth half of what it otherwise was and is a real bargain.
Click to expand...


Excellent Post! :beer:
 
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