Nikon SLR Cameras

Lens Recommendations for a DSLR User?

Chrispy
Chrispy

I'm planning to order a Nikon D7000 very soon (Tomorrow), I've been set on this camera for many many reasons!

Of course I've been researching for the lens that will suit most of my needs. I plan to take pictures of Weddings, Parties, Ceremonies, Concerts, Clubs (Venues), and Wildlife. I'm not a big fan of landscape photos but when the time is right and at the right place, why not right?

I'm planning to get:

Nikon D7000 (Body Only)
AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Zoom Lens
AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX Lens

Do you think this is a good set up for now? I guess if I get the D7000 with the kit lens 18-105mm the 18 would be good for wide angle shots of groups and whatnot. Also 50mm are great for portraits. But I feel like I could survive with these 2 lenses and get the 50mm later on (Most likely Christmas!), then a wide angle lens. I would get a good wide angle lens but it costs too much right now!

What are your opinions?

35mm for close stuff and a good/fast lens to work with.
55-300mm for the VR long range goodness, and make wildlife and other stuff that much easier to take from a distance.

Then later on a 50mm for portraits and then a wide angle lens for landscapes/large group pictures.

Guest
Guest

I would suggest you dump the 35 mm f/1.8 lens and get the 50 mm f/1.8 instead.

It is very rare that photographers actually use a so called "normal" lens witch is what the 35 mm is when attached to your fine D7000.

Of all the lenses I own, I use the "normal" lens the least. The last time I used it was in 2004.In my case that would be the 50 mm on a full frame dSLR.

Guest
Guest

Soon you'll find out why pro's use fast zooms, save your money
for a good one. You can increase the ISO but you'll get more noise
too, and you don't want that on a wedding picture. Get something
like the 17-55 f/2.8 and it probably will become your only lens.

Guest
Guest

The 35 will be good for a walk-around/low-light lens but I don't think it will fill the rest of your needs. When you're doing things like weddings or parties (i.e. Any fast event where you're not posing and in low light), a fast pro-zoom lens is really the only way to go. I prefer prime lenses myself (Sigma 85 being my main workhorse) but when I shoot weddings, I always rent the Nikon 17-55mm and I use it almost exclusively. You could check out the Sigma and Tamron equivalents but, from the reviews I've read, they aren't as sharp as the Nikon when shot wide open.

I think you'll really like the 35 in day-to-day use but find that the "foot-zoom" requirement get's old at events (and you have to be careful about the facial distortion in close pictures as well). Likewise, the 55-300 VR will be good outdoors for bright days but don't expect to shoot to many non-stationary objects (the VR will avoid your shake but not compensate for motion-blur due to low-light/long exposure).