Would a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D coupled with a D90 be a good combo?
I have a Nikon D90 with the 18-105mm VR and I'm planning to buy the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D. Somebody told me not to go for it saying that the 18-105mm already has 50mm in between so i shouldn't spend the extra money. However several other people told me to get it saying it would yield great shots. What is the benefit/are the benefits of having this lens(Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D) and the kind of pictures i would be able to take with it.
Well, if 50mm works for you is easily found by setting your zoom on 50,. What the f1.8 gives you is exactly that, f1.8 unlike the zoom which is f4 or something at 50mm.So, more light, shallower dof
A D90 with a 50mm 1.8 is a great piece of kit. Very versatile; that lens is a must-have for ANY bag.
It's an effective 75mm on that camera. It's sharp, excellent in low light and very light. Plus it's one of the most affordable lenses in the lineup. A perfect portrait lens.
You need this lens.
Yes, the 50mm is within 18-105mm. It is 32mm longer than 18mm and 55mm shorter than 105mm. What that somebody told you is precisely true.
However, those several people who told you the shots are great with a 50mm f/1.8 are also correct. This is because science dictates that a lens can only function optimally at a single focal length (those numbers measured in mm). That means prime lenses (like the 50mm) are better than zoom lenses (like the 18-105mm).
One added benefit of the 50mm f/1.8 is speed. Due to its larger maximum aperture size (f/1.8), you can blur backgrounds much more easier in portraits, take faster action shots and shoot in lower amounts of light. The smaller that f/number is, the better.
It works great.
It gives you a wider aperture which means you can shoot in low light with reasonable settings.
Wider aperture gives you better control over depth of field.
The 50 f/1.8 is noticeably sharper than the 18-105 kit lens.
For general shooting, 50mm is a bit long on an APS-C camera. Set your lens to 50mm and use some blue masking tape to fix the zoom setting. Now shoot at 50mm and see if this suits you. For general shooting, the 35mm f/1.8 lens may be better for you. The 35mm is a very nice lens and has better boke than the 50mm. If you do portrait shooting, the 50mm is the way to go for a cheap, but quality, lens.
Not a good party lens, but if you are willing to take time to set up your shots, the 50mm or 35mm are good choices.
If you don't care about shooting at low light levels, having better control over DOF, need those razor sharp images, then stick with the kit lens. It's a good all around lens for many.