Alternative lens for Nikon 50mm f/1.8 for D5000

[nkavilan]

Hi guys...

I need some advice here on what lens should I buy.

I own a D5000, and my 18-55mm kit lens has been serving me well so far. I am looking at buying a new lens for portrait shots. I will be going to Tasik Kenyir next week, and I think it's about time I invested in another lens. I gotta get a lens with motor inside as D5000 doesnt have it.

The lens I have in my mind is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Autofocus. I've tried my hands on it, and it looks great in low light (I love taking candid shots around the dinner table).

I'm still a learner, and I prefer not to break the bank and get a high-end lens. Is there any alternative lens to the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D? Any other Nikkor lenses or anything from Sigma, Tamron or Tokina? Please advise.

Thanking you guys in advance.

[AGGR]

nikkor afs 35mm 1.8

[ijnek]

i was going to say tat too...

nikon afs 35 f/1.8...

alternatively, u can also look at the tamron sp 90 f/2.8 marco.
it's great as a portrait len and also as a marco len.

[jee848]

i own a d5000 too and i was about to say 35mm 1.8 too. brand new is about RM750. not as much as the af-s 50mm 1.4. were u mentioning af 50mm 1.8? that wan doesn't have motor and u need to do manual focus.

[SherM]

No motor in body then you'll have to get a G lens. I have a friend using D40 that owns a 50mm f/1.8D. He said that he does not use it that often as its hard to be on MF all the time. A cheap portrait lens? My safest bet is 35mm f/1.8. Haven't used it before but most threads in this forum have nothing but praise for it.

[nkavilan]

i've contacted Boeing Electronics in Sq Wang... so far, they have cheaper price for 35mm f/1.8 - RM 780. That's lesser than what Photo Selangor and Tarita had quoted me.

Is there any other place that gives a cheaper price?

[nkavilan]

what about the ghosting or flare that people are saying about the 35mm f/1.8? Is it really that bad? The 50mm f/1.4G is too pricey for me now. And the manual focusing with the D lens will prove to be a headache for me.

[ahteh]

had u tried Jone in amcorp mall?my fren got it for 750~

[SherM]

J One offered me 780 the other day. And that was after I bought a 70-300 and a Nissin di622 from him!! Its around there I guess.

[evolutionfx2001]

50mm 1.4G is good & expensive but it worth it dude.. 50mm 1.8D wont work with D5K.. have to manual focus all the time..

[Kok Yoon Lee]

Originally Posted by ijnek i was going to say tat too... nikon afs 35 f/1.8... alternatively, u can also look at the tamron sp 90 f/2.8 marco. it's great as a portrait len and also as a marco len.

If you want a lens for portraits, a 35mm may be a bit short. The ideal distance to take a portrait is from 10 to 15 feet. At that distance, a 35mm on a DX would be anything from full to 3/4 body. Since you already have a 18-55, then the SP90 would do you well. I heard (unconfirmed) that J-One at AmCorp sells the SP90 at RM1.4K. I have the SP90 myself, and I love it.

Yoon Lee

[wbk]

I own D5k also. 70-200mm f2.8 should be the best portrait lens, but very pricy. I used cheaper 70-300mm VR for portrait outdoor, 35mm f1.8 for indoor. Like both. If you ask me which one if I can only choose one for now, I will go for 70-300mm VR.

[nkavilan]

im going with the 35mm f/1.8G.... thanx a lot guys!

[pppieee]

afs 35mm f1.8g or afs 50mm f1.4 g

[chakatak]

here's what ken rockwell is thinking about the 35mm 1.8

Compared to the 50mm f/1.4 AF-S The $500 50mm f/1.4 AF-S is the same thing, just bigger, and 2.5 times more expensive. It adds a focus-distance scale, but that's it. The 50mm also works on film and FX, as well as being 2/3 of a stop faster. On DX, the 50mm lens becomes a short tele or portrait lens, while the 35mm is a normal lens on DX.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-f18.htm

[planb2]

have compared the flickr photos on 35mm 1.8g and 50mm 1.4g...... what i can say is that the 1.4g is really impressive.

[planb2]

am currently using the 50mm 1.8d on d5000, it's a real pain in the arse to manual focus.... things look good on the lcd but on pc it looks terribly out of focus.

[yayie]

only AF-S is auto focus on D5000 and below.

[ijnek]

sigma has a 50 f/1.4,...not sure if it has HSM...

[bkhong]

Originally Posted by ijnek sigma has a 50 f/1.4,...not sure if it has HSM...

Yes. The Sigma 50 f1.4 is HSM. I used it for 6 months before selling it.
IMHO, the bokeh and sharpness wide open is the best of the fifties, (I've used 50 f1.8, 50 f1.4D, 50 f1.4G, Sigma 50)

But do be wary of the focusing issues that is widely reported with this lens.
But for us who have a good copy....damn...it is the closest to a 85 f1.4 on a DX cam.