Need Lens Recommendation.

Ben Sliker

Ben Sliker

Pain In The Ass 2.0
Ok, it looks like I'm going to move on from my D70s and pull the trigger on a D7000 when it comes out. Right now I have a D70s and an old F3 film camera. Here are the lenses that I have currently:

18-70mm f3.5-4.5 ED AF (DX lens)

35-105mm f3.5-4.5 MF
50mm f2 MF
80-200mm f4 MF

We've obviously just used these for photos so far, but any lenses I buy from now on I'd like to make sure are solid for video as well, here are some of the lenses I have been looking at (p.s. don't care about zooming much, MF doesn't bother me either, and I'd rather stick to Nikon glass).

For what I am looking to spend, I could get 2 of these lenses:
older 105mm micro f2.8 MF
35mm f1.8 AF
50mm f1.8 AF
55-200mm f4-5.6 AF VR

or one of these:
85mm f1.8 AF
50mm f1.4 AF
105mm micro f2.8 AF

Of course, I'm completely open to any other lens recommendations as well, I've got a buddy with an 80-200mm f2.8 AF that i could probably use when I wanted to.
 
i would try and get a wide range of primes. i own a 24/2, 35/2, 50/1.8 and 85/2 myself and use all of them all the time, plus a 70-210/3.5 zoom that i rarely use for video but it's obviously necessary to have something long for when you can't get close, like sports and nature. so based on what you already have i'd definitely look for a 24 or 28, then get that 85, or a cheaper one for that matter, for video it's better to have more lenses than the best ones imo. as long as they are "good enough" of course, but most nikkors are.
 
Since you already have a 50mm f2, I would not get another 50mm. In order to space things out, I would go for a 24mm next (I have the AF 24/2.8 which is good). I understand there are advantages to having an MF lens for video. I don't know if that is still the case for the D7000. Others may know. Has anyone found VR to be useful? I tried it once and found that you hear the VR motor if you use the internal microphone.
 
Rider said:
I understand there are advantages to having an MF lens for video. I don't know if that is still the case for the D7000.
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manual focus is still nice, since even if you can focus af lenses manually the rings aren't typically as good. manual lenses also let you adjust aperture while in live view, which the d90 doesn't otherwise allow, and i understand the d7000 can't either. af lenses that do have aperture rings require a workaround, probably the same on the d7000 for the same reason.
 
mattsand said:
manual lenses also let you adjust aperture while in live view
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I was worried that this capability would not exist in the D7000 because the D7000 (like the D300s) can meter with MF lenses. Do you know whether the D300s allows the aperture to be changed on MF in live view?
 
Rider said:
I was worried that this capability would not exist in the D7000 because the D7000 (like the D300s) can meter with MF lenses. Do you know whether the D300s allows the aperture to be changed on MF in live view?
Click to expand...

I would assume so, unless the D7000/D300s comes with some sort of troll that bites your hand when you try and move the aperture ring.

The ability to meter with older Ai MF lenses is a huge plus for me with the D7000. (for photos)
 
Ben Sliker said:
I would assume so, unless the D7000/D300s comes with some sort of troll that bites your hand when you try and move the aperture ring.

(for photos)
Click to expand...


Could it be the same troll that bites your hand when you try to move the aperture ring on an AF lens that has an aperture ring (unless you use an annoying work-around)? I am just asking cause I dunno. But the D7000 metering with Ais lenses is very cool.
 
no that's not because of metering but because it wants to control the aperture and that means it has to be set to f/22. i don't think the d7000 controls the aperture with manual lenses, even though it's theoretically possible.
 
I am very excited about the D7000 and can't wait for it to ship. Ben, I was looking at your list of lenses again, and IMHO opinion I don't think you *need* any more lenses than you already have. I would wait and see how they perform on the D7000 and if you're not happy take it from there.
 
lol, you guys are funny, I told the wifey to go ahead and pull the trigger on the 55-200 AF VR (she works at Best Buy, booyah discount), she likes the 80-200 MF but it's SUPER heavy and the minimum focusing distance is wicked far (like 4.5 feet). So, that checks off the list 'easy telephoto lens for the wife to take photos with' now, I'm looking at my best video option. (or another cool photo lens that will be equally cool for video)

105mm micro f2.8 MF - for taking great macro photos/neat video effects
35mm OR 85mm f1.8 AF- we always find ourselves in low-light situations, the expanded iso sensitivity of the D7000 and low f-stop of these lenses would be a blessing.
28mm or 24mm f2/f2.8 MF - cause you guys said so. :)
 
You should consider the Sigma 24mm f/1.8 AF or Nikon 35/1.8 AFS as a walk-around prime. I really liked the Nikon 35/1.8 AFS I previously owned (before it was stolen :( ), and I currently own the Sigma 24/1.8 AF. Both "delivered the goods" optically, and in terms of focus speed on D90, D300, D700, and D2H bodies.

I just preordered the D7000, and can't wait to shoot with the Sig24/1.8 on it.
 
Ok, secondary question. I'm looking at the 35mm equivalent for all the lenses that i have to get a better look at the range i have. Am I right that I would multiply both my DX lenses and older film manual lenses by 1.6x to get the crop factor? For Example:

18-70mm DX = 28.8-112mm (35 eq)

80-200mm MF film lens = 128-320mm (35 eq)

whereas the 18-70mm would be unusable on an FX camera but the older 80-200mm would still be 80-200 on it.
 
yes, which is why i recommend people to get a 24 for dx, it's a very natural wideangle whereas on film it's really wide.
 
excellent. My math isn't loopy.

still feeling like I'm missing a good low-light lens from my kit, but anything under f2 at 24mm is going to be super expensive.

Nikon 35mm f1.8 AF ~$200
Sigma 24mm f1.8 AF ~$450
Nikon 24mm f2 ~$350

hmm ... decisions, decisions ...
 
$100?!?! That's a freakin' steal my friend. The lowest I've seen for it is $139, and that was in 'ugly' condition. $300 or more for one that's in very good shape.
 
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