Would like a new Nikon Camera lens?

I have a Nikon D3000, and i have the 18-55mm lens, and i'm looking for a lens with a smaller f-stop, like an f-stop of 1.4, so i found a 50mm with an f stop of 1.8, the whole add says nikon 50 mm f/1.8d AF nikkor lens for nikon digital slr cameras. Do i need to know anything else about it before i buy it? Like will it work with my camera? And should i go for a lower f-stop to get a better depth of field?

Since Nikons first were sold 50 years ago, the lens mount hasn't changed. BIG selling point.

http://www.nikonusa.com/...F1.8D.html

The lens should work fine for you. It will auto-focus without a problem. It's smallest f-stop is f22, which will be more than enough. As f-stop numbers get higher, the actual opening (aperture) gets smaller and the depth of field increases. An f1.4 will allow a little more light in than an f1.8. I doubt you'll need the difference.

Look for photo classes at a local community college or other school. They're a good way to learn the basics.

Be aware that your camera has no internal focus motor. The 50mm F1.8 does not have the integrated focus motor. It will not auto focus on your camera. The 50mm F1.4 on the other hand is a "AF-S" lens. It has the internal focus motor. Look for lenses that are "AF-S" or be prepared to manually focus. Nikon also puts out a 35mm AF-S lens that is not too expensive. It is F1.8 and will run about $200 new. Look at KEH.com for used lenses to meet your needs.

While you have hit on a fantastic lens, there's a hitch that isn't well-advertised by Nikon. On the D3000, D5000, D3100, and anything older than a D80, that lens will NOT autofocus. If you manual focus anyway, no problem. Otherwise, check out the 50mm f/1.4 instead. It will be a little sharper, give you close to twice the amount of light, be built a little better, and most importantly, autofocus on your camera. It will also cost significantly more than the f/1.8 (though it is by no means overpriced).

The depth of field differences will be pretty much unnoticeable between f/1.8 and f/1.4.

An alternative is the 35mm f/1.8.It will autofocus on your camera, and it gives a perspective very close to "normal" on a crop-frame sensor like the one in the D3000.In other words, if you look through a 35mm lens on a crop frame camera, you will see almost exactly what you would see looking through a 50mm lens on a full-frame or small-format film camera.