What lens will fit a nikon d90?
I'm looking for a lens with the largest aperture possible (1.4) to shoot in low light (concerts, night photography). I also want it to be able to zoom. I have never bought another lens before so I have no idea what I'm looking for. Any help much appreciated. Oh and don't worry about the price because at the moment I'm just looking at my options and then fromt here I will decide how much I want to spend… But not over $800:/
You've just given us an impossible situation.
#1, there are no f/1.4 zoom lenses.
#2, a fast zoom lens for a concert would be like the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8.It's way over your $800 budget, so perhaps we should worry about the price. ($1700)
You didn't state what your desired zoom range was. There are fast (f/2.8) zooms at wide ranges (17-50, 17-55)., medium ranges (28-75, 24-70) and telephoto ranges (80-200, 70-200, 180-300).In your budget, I'd look for a Sigma, Tamron, or used Nikon. Again, the zoom range is the next big key.
I use a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 for all my low light shots. I also carry a Nikon 35mm f/1.8 and a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 when the lighting gets more challenging.
Any Nikon F-mount lens will "fit" your camera. Low f/numbers are limited to prime lenses only, the type that doesn't zoom. The 50mm is the most popular "fast" lens. If you dig deep enough, you will discover an f/1.2.
http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2011/05/lenses-so-many-of-them-there-is-no-best.html
You might also consider the Nikon 80-200mm f/.28 zoom. I have this lens on a D90, and it's fast to focus. They sell new for around $1, 100, but their resale is excellent as even 10 year old 80-200mm lenses still go for $900.
And the current production 80-200 lenses (as opposed to 10yr old ones) have ED coating, which some feel work better with digital cameras.
The fastest zooms made are f/2.8, and even with those lenses, you will need some help in low-light with a camera that has good high-ISO capabilities.
The fastest f/1.4 Nikon currently makes is an 85mm, prime which is probably too short for concert needs.
Why don't they make fast-long telephotos, prime or zoom for that matter?
Cost, size, and weight are the primary factors.
You should know that the aperture is actually a ratio.f/1.4 is a ratio of the aperture to focal length of 1:1.4. Therefore a 200mm lens @ f/1.4 would have an aperture maximum opening of about 145mm, or about 6" in dia. Including the housing, the lens would be about 7" in diameter. That would be a costly, heavy, and cumbersome lens to carry around.
I have a D90 as a backup, and I shoot a lot of concerts.
After years of experience, my preferred concert zoom lens is the 70-200mm VR, but that's about double your price range. Luckily the D90 can take anything. You might then consider a used 80-200mm.
D90+large lens will limit the build in flash, not that you will want to use that for concerts.
For aperture, afraid only 2.8 is the widest constant for zoom lenses. You will want constant because of the lighting variable can be annoying. Messing with the shutter speed alone will be enough while you interpret the light quality on your subjects.
In low light situations I usually carry 3 lenses with my D90. A 80-200mm f2.8 which is invaluable at what it can do, a 14-24mm f2.8 (or 10.5 mm f2.8 as it is much cheaper) for those tight space situations, and a 50mm f1.8…
The 70-200mm is great but like the 14-24mm it runs $2100… My 80-200mm was purchased off ebay for $500 used and works fine…