Need recommendations for expanding my lense kit

[Starbuck1975]

Back in 1997, I started getting into photography, and purchased a Nikon SLR (dont recall the model number) and two lenses to get started:

Nikon ED AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 D
Nikon AF Nikkor 24-120mm 1:3.5-5.6 D wide angle

About two years ago, I switched to digital, and purchased the D70. The kit came with:
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G ED

The new lense is somewhat redundant to my wide angle, but I actually find uses for both. One thing I have noticed is that the autofocus sometimes struggles on my older lenses, so I typically switch to manual focus on the older lenses, and autofocus for the lense that came with the D70. Otherwise, I am very happy with my older lenses, even though they are over a decade in use.

I do find conditions where my lense kit doesn't fit the bill, usually for close-up shots.

I don't know enough about lenses to determine as to whether or not my current setup covers most typical conditions. I just know that with trial and error, I can usually get the shots I want with the lenses I have, with the exception of close-up shots.

Questions for the forum:

1. Would you recommend getting a Micro lense to complete my kit, and if so, which one?
2. Given the three lenses I already have, would you recommend upgrading and/or supplementing my existing kit with another lense, and if so, which one?

 

[slashbinslashbash]

In general, my recommendation to someone with 3 zooms with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 would be a good prime. The Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is about $200 and would greatly enhance your ability to take photos in darker environments. It would also give you a good deal more DOF control than your current lenses.

 

[Starbuck1975]

You know, I've often noticed that it is difficult for me to get good shots even in moderate indoor lighting conditions. Never thought that the zoom would have an impact.

How would the 35mm f/1.8 do for close-up portrait shots...not talking micro detail, but closer than I can seemingly focus with my existing setup?

 

[OulOat]

You know, I've often noticed that it is difficult for me to get good shots even in moderate indoor lighting conditions. Never thought that the zoom would have an impact.

How would the 35mm f/1.8 do for close-up portrait shots...not talking micro detail, but closer than I can seemingly focus with my existing setup?

You don't want a wide angle (not that the 35mm is wide) for portraits due to distortion and changes in proportions. You want 85mm and beyond zooms for portraits, since they tend to compress faces a tiny bit. Subjects like the results (instantly thinner).

 

[slashbinslashbash]

A lens at aperture f/1.8 lets in roughly 4 times as much light as a lens at aperture f/3.5. This means, that, keeping ISO the same, you can use a shutter speed 4x as fast, which means less motion blur and less camera shake. The fastest zoom lenses you can get max out at f/2.8. The fastest primes go to f/1.4 or f/1.2. Anything under f/2 is pretty fast.

A good prime for portraits would be the 50mm f/1.8. It is also quite cheap ($120 or so?). It will be on the long side for general use, but for portraits it will be quite nice. (50mm on a crop body like your D70 is about 80mm equivalent on 35mm). If you wanted to spend a bit more, go for the 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8.

For close-up portraits, you need to look at the MFD (Minimum Focus Distance) for the lenses you own. For example, your 18-70 has a MFD of 15", which at 70mm ("zoomed in" all the way) gives a magnification of 1:6.2. A true macro lens will get down to 1:1. 1:6.2 isn't anything to write home about, but still it's not too shabby.

I don't really see how you're having problems with close-up portraits of humans, unless something is wrong with your AF. To get an idea how close your lenses focus, I would recommend turning off autofocus and manually focusing each lens as close as it will go. Then walk around the room, looking through the camera, and see how close you have to get to things for them to be in focus.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Ok you have definitely convinced me I need a prime. Just trying to rack and stack the options.

Would you say:

50mm f/1.8 < 35mm f/1.8 < 50mm f/1.4

Having trouble figuring out which is the best price/performance sweet spot. From what I can tell, the pricing for each option is:

50mm f/1.8 ~ $125
35mm F/1.4 ~ $197
50mm f/1.4 ~ $456

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Price/performance is very good with both the 50/1.8 and the 35/1.8. To choose between these two, you have to decide what focal length you prefer. Take your 18-70, set it to 35mm and walk around with it, seeing what framings you get. Then set it to 50mm and do the same thing. They're not hugely different, but the 35mm is designed to be a crop-body "normal" lens (approx. what the naked eye sees) while 35mm will be a little long (on a crop body like the D80). But neither will be very extreme.

You can also look through your existing photo library and look at the EXIF data. Pick 10 of your favorite photos; do they tend to be more on the wide-angle end or the telephoto end?

 

[Starbuck1975]

Price/performance is very good with both the 50/1.8 and the 35/1.8. To choose between these two, you have to decide what focal length you prefer. Take your 18-70, set it to 35mm and walk around with it, seeing what framings you get. Then set it to 50mm and do the same thing. They're not hugely different, but the 35mm is designed to be a crop-body "normal" lens (approx. what the naked eye sees) while 35mm will be a little long (on a crop body like the D80). But neither will be very extreme.

You can also look through your existing photo library and look at the EXIF data. Pick 10 of your favorite photos; do they tend to be more on the wide-angle end or the telephoto end?

Forgive the newbie question, but how exactly do I set my existing 28-70 lens to 35mm and then to 50mm?

As for my favorite photos, I tend to favor my wide-angle lens for everything except portraits. So I am guessing I would prefer telephoto for my prime.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

It should have markings on it. Look at the photo at the top of this page:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1870.htm

I am hoping that that's what your 18-70mm lens looks like. See the ring marked 70 (big space) 50 (space) 35 (space) 24 (line thingy) 18? It is a hard plastic ring between the rubberized zoom and focus rings. Whatever number lines up with the little white dot underneath it, that tells you your focal length. So if you put "50" right over the dot, you are at 50mm (more or less -- you might be off by a mm or two). If you look closer to the back of the lens, between the gold "Nikon" and "DX", you can see an infinity (sideways "8") sign. That is where you read your focus distance, i.e. how far away you are focused.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Slash and everyone else, thank you for the inputs.

Last weekend I picked up the 35mm F/1.8. I had a chance to experiment with both 50mm recommendations as well a the camera store, but liked the look and feel of the 35mm the best. The 35mm autofocus was definitely the most responsive with my D70. I took some photos over the weekend under low light conditions, and it resolved many of the problems I was having with taking indoor shots with my zoom lenses.

I showed all of my lenses to the gentleman who helped me at the camera store, and he immediately pulled out the 35mm F/1.8.

I am very happy with my purchase. Thank you.