Recommend a lens (or two) for a camera noob using Nikon D5200

[Grooveriding]

One of the gifts to my wife this year was a Nikon D5200 I grabbed on a great sale from Amazon. She wants to play around with doing some photography and I am under the impression the stock lens is not that great for all use cases ?

I know nothing about cameras. Are there any 'recommended' lenses for a beginner that will allow them to take decent pictures outdoors, indoors etc ? I don't think she needs anything crazy like a great big honking telephoto lens, but I know nothing about cameras.

Just looking for some good suggestions on a couple lenses that would be appropriate for different uses for a beginner.

Thanks.

 

[Berliner]

What does she take photos of? Which kit lens do you have, the 18-55?

In general, either a 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 will be a great help indoors and don't break the bank.

 

[Grooveriding]

What does she take photos of? Which kit lens do you have, the 18-55?

In general, either a 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 will be a great help indoors and don't brake the bank.

It came with the 18-55. I know she'd like to do some indoor pictures of pets she works on (she's a vet). She also wants to do some outdoor photography, I'm not entirely sure of what, but I'm pretty confident it is more nature-oriented and not pictures of buildings

I was looking at the 55-200: http://www.amazon.ca/Nikon-55-200mm-...s=nikon+55-200

I can't make sense of any of it though honestly as I have no clue what the different lenses are appropriate for and tailored to.

Thanks

 

[Keysplayr]

It's like reading Latin until it's explained to you. I've heard the 18-55mm stock lens isn't very good although it was not explained why that is, and I also heard that the 50mm is the most all around recommended lens although that wasn't explained why that is either. The most versatile. I'm eyeing the Nikon D3300 for my wife. Comes with the 18-55 and a 70-200mm. So I'll probably just pick up a 50mm and we need a Macro lens as well. Make sure you get lenses that have AF (autofocus). I've been out of the photography loop for a while and not even sure if they make them without it anymore. heh. Nice Camera Groove.

 

[Berliner]

Indoors pet pictures for work? I would probably take them with the kit and a flash setup of some sort, which is kind of advanced. A used SB600 can be a good starting point. Or try the internal flash, but that will look like an internal flash (bad).
Unless you mean "artistic" pictures, in which case go with my first recommendation of a lens with f/2.0 or smaller.

The 18-55 is a quite capable lens, but it is too dark (f-stop) for indoors use.

I would NOT get a 55-200mm tele zoom or similar for the beginning. They are quite hard to use because they need a lot of light. Image quality in general is poorer than the shorter (kit) zooms.

Anyway, the best recommendation is to use the camera and what else you have for some time and then figure out what you need. You can also always rent great optics before you buy them. Or just try some in a store.

 

[biostud]

The standard lens is good for a beginner, because you don't need to spend cash on a lens that doesn't fit your needs. You can play around with the 18-55 and if you start to find limitations, then invest in a lens that circumvents these limitations.

When I started to take photos I was using the 18-105mm, but I found that the 35mm f/1.8 + 85mm f/1.8 was much better suited for what I like to do. I don't think I would have known if I hadn't started with a kit lens.

I sacrificed zoom for better aperture, and better quality of pictures. Not all people want to to run around without any zoom though.

Maybe invest in a good flash if you like to take indoor pics, that really helps.

 

[CuriousMike]

The least fun response is "Don't buy anything but use the camera for a bit."
But it's true.
She needs to learn about shutter speed and focus modes.
If she doesn't, she'll likely "get a few good photos and some meh photos".
Why are my photos sometimes in focus?
Why are the blurred?
Why isn't it focussing fast? I thought DSLR's focused faster?

Honestly, get her a good resource so she can
a) Learn how to look at her shutter speed and know, "Oh shit. That's too slow. I'll have a blurry photo. I better up the ISO to make the shutter speed faster!" (Or, learn how to turn on auto-iso)
b) Learn how to use her focus modes. Auto Focus will lead her to "Why isn't it focusing on what *I* want?" Learn about Continuous-AutoFocus so she can have the camera track moving objects
c) Learn how to turn on burst mode so she can take a burst of photos at moving subjects.

If she has any queestions, post here. If she has photos turning out how she doesn't like them, post examples and wee can help.

 

[finbarqs]

i took some of my best shots with factory kit 18-55 3.5/5.6 lens! (granted it was on canon) but stilil, factory is pretty good.

 

[Imp]

Got my first DSLR a month ago and will stick with the kit lens for a while because the cheapest lens I want is $800. If I had a Canon or Nikon, I would seriously consider getting a 50 mm or 35 mm prime lens because there are pretty affordable options for APS-C cameras.

Why? For the artsy, big aperture (small f/xx number) to blur things. I have a compact super zoom and don't shoot distant objects often, and high zooms are usually bulky and expensive.

But I did months of reading on what all the numbers for lenses mean before buying a camera. Probably a good idea to learn that stuff first and properly "grow out of" the kit lens.

Check this site out to get an introduction to the numbers on lenses:
http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/

I link to that a lot because I found it really useful, not trying to hawk anything.

 

[Berliner]

A 50mm can give you nice bokeh (out of focus blur quality) shots, so it's almost never a bad purchase.

 

[Syborg1211]

The least fun response is "Don't buy anything but use the camera for a bit."
But it's true.
She needs to learn about shutter speed and focus modes.
If she doesn't, she'll likely "get a few good photos and some meh photos".
Why are my photos sometimes in focus?
Why are the blurred?
Why isn't it focussing fast? I thought DSLR's focused faster?

Honestly, get her a good resource so she can
a) Learn how to look at her shutter speed and know, "Oh shit. That's too slow. I'll have a blurry photo. I better up the ISO to make the shutter speed faster!" (Or, learn how to turn on auto-iso)
b) Learn how to use her focus modes. Auto Focus will lead her to "Why isn't it focusing on what *I* want?" Learn about Continuous-AutoFocus so she can have the camera track moving objects
c) Learn how to turn on burst mode so she can take a burst of photos at moving subjects.

If she has any queestions, post here. If she has photos turning out how she doesn't like them, post examples and wee can help.

^This. Every photographer is different and each different photographer requires different gear. The kit lens has quite good picture quality when used in the right conditions, and it offers good versatility covering a good set of focal lengths. As CuriousMike said, each issue your wife will run into will have its own solution and the answer is not always the lens.

If you are considering getting a fixed focal length lens such as the 35mm or 50mm (both excellent lenses), then try locking your zoom lens to that focal length and see if you're happy with that field of view. A prime will give the same view but typically be able to take photos in lower light as well as achieve more of that "pro camera" background blur that really separates dedicated cameras from phone cameras and point and shoots.

Personally, my first lens after the kit was a 35mm prime which I loved for indoor shooting at first because of the low light capabilities, but I eventually discovered that for something like walking a trail the kit lens was better because it could take much wider angle shots.

 

[NAC]

I agree with what others wrote - I would wait on getting a second lens or a flash. If you want to buy somegthing - get her a book instead. But there are lots of free online sources.

Later, once she has learned the basics, she can experiment some and decide what she wants next. If she enjoys the creative side of photography, I'd recommend thinking about a 35mm 1.8, a 50mm 1.8 or a flash - each of which is about $200. Or she may decide she likes telephoto, and wants something like a 55-200. Or she may decide that she doesn't want to be inconvenienced with changing lenses, and just wants more reach - like the 18-140.

And if she gets really into it, she'll likely want all of the above (and then some), so it will just be a matter of priority on what to get first.

 

[turtile]

The 35mm F1.8 DX, 50mm F1.8 FX and 85mm F1.8 FX are the best cheap primes with great quality. Although, it might annoy your wife that she can't zoom.

Along with one of these primes, an external flash will help greatly.

 

[Grooveriding]

Thank you everyone for the input. One of her main concerns are the indoor shots of cats and dogs, so I'm looking at this http://www.amazon.ca/Nikon-50mm-1-8G...9774223&sr=1-3 towards that end. I suggested she go with the kit lens for now and see how she feels about the results.

The 50mm I linked is a good choice for taking portrait shots indoors I believe ? If we end up getting the additional lens I'll pick it up elsewhere than Amazon as I see it for quite a bit less from local shops here. I'm also checking out the flash options, these are as confusing as the lenses to me So many options and it's hard to discern what is not good enough and what is overkill for an amateur.

 

[Syborg1211]

A 50mm on a crop sensor such as yours is quite zoomed in. I personally find that focal length too much for indoors most of the time. Try putting your kit lens on 50mm and seeing if that is too much zoom. My guess is with it set to 50mm you'll be backing up into walls and wanting more space to back up into.

 

[Imp]

Watch out for compatible lenses for your Nikon. When I was considering getting a Nikon DSLR, there was something about lenses with motors and without.

 

[biostud]

Watch out for compatible lenses for your Nikon. When I was considering getting a Nikon DSLR, there was something about lenses with motors and without.

Only if you go with old version of the lenses.

 

[biostud]

Thank you everyone for the input. One of her main concerns are the indoor shots of cats and dogs, so I'm looking at this http://www.amazon.ca/Nikon-50mm-1-8G...9774223&sr=1-3 towards that end. I suggested she go with the kit lens for now and see how she feels about the results.

The 50mm I linked is a good choice for taking portrait shots indoors I believe ? If we end up getting the additional lens I'll pick it up elsewhere than Amazon as I see it for quite a bit less from local shops here. I'm also checking out the flash options, these are as confusing as the lenses to me So many options and it's hard to discern what is not good enough and what is overkill for an amateur.

No matter what you lens you use, you still need a good amount of light when taking indoor portraits. The flash I have in my sig is a good for a beginner.

 

[CuriousMike]

Getting a flash and learning how to use it is certainly an attractive option for indoor work.

Getting the 50mm f/1.8 is another fine option but you need to be sure you're OK with that focal range; on your sensor, it might be a bit "zoomy" for indoor work.

Also ( and this is that last time I'll nag about it ), if she doesn't understand shutter speed or ISO, she's going to be sorely disappointed with indoor shots ( excepting if the camera comes with auto-ISO set to on, and you're OK with semi-sharp photos. )

 

[zCypher]

The stock 18-55mm VR is a great lens, perfect for beginners. That's why it comes with it. Don't let haters tell you otherwise. I have the D5200 + 18-55 for the past year and a half, and I've taken a lot of pics that would have been more or less impossible with a phone or even a point and shoot camera, and I've learned a ton about photography and editing in the process.

Only after spending this time and gaining this experience have I really developed a good idea for what kind of lenses I actually would make good use of.

If you want the best quality and performance for your dollar, then the 35mm and 50mm lenses mentioned are hard to beat. They're fast, sharp and cheap compared to most any lens that can zoom. 35mm means you get only that one focal length. You can't zoom in or out.

I would recommend playing with that 18-55 if you already have it. Learn the ins and outs. Don't start buying lenses without knowing anything. Everyone has a different style, and enjoys different types of photography. It might turn out that a big honking telephoto is exactly what she wants. Or maybe not. You gotta play around and see what you like.

nothing wrong with the kit lens at all. i'm still learning stuff every day myself, but you can get an idea of the kind of pics I've taken with the 18-55 here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/durbonpix/sets


it is a ton of fun though. hope she enjoys!

 

[turtile]

Thank you everyone for the input. One of her main concerns are the indoor shots of cats and dogs, so I'm looking at this http://www.amazon.ca/Nikon-50mm-1-8G...9774223&sr=1-3 towards that end. I suggested she go with the kit lens for now and see how she feels about the results.

The 50mm I linked is a good choice for taking portrait shots indoors I believe ? If we end up getting the additional lens I'll pick it up elsewhere than Amazon as I see it for quite a bit less from local shops here. I'm also checking out the flash options, these are as confusing as the lenses to me So many options and it's hard to discern what is not good enough and what is overkill for an amateur.

The 50mm is great for a portrait lens. 85mm is considered the ideal focal length for portraits on 35mm so the crop sensor gets close to that.

You'll get distortion if you go under 50mm. If I have space and light, I'll use focal lengths over 100mm with great results.

A used SB600 is a great option. It's been replaced by the SB700 but it's really expensive.

 

[NAC]

Note that if you want to take pictures of animals, a fast lens like the 35mm 1.8g will likely work better than a flash. My dog and cat don't like the flash (even bounce off the ceiling), but they are very patient when posing and there is no flash.

 

[Syborg1211]

I'm going to make a suggestion of another place to spend your money instead of lenses or flashes that I'm betting everyone will agree is the better spot for now - get some good software for organizing and editing your photos.

Adobe Lightroom is a fantastic program that organizes your photos for you and offers editing capability. It can adjust exposure, color, correct for lens distortion, apply noise cancellation for high ISO shots, etc etc. The only thing it can't do is the hardware photoshop stuff like changing out the background of a photo or replacing a cat's face with someone else's.

I guarantee you this will be a better investment than any lens you buy.

Edit: The point I'm trying to make here is that an organizing/editing program is more ubiquitous across photographers than any singular lens. There's many things like this that people don't consider such as a lens cleaning cloth or a new neck strap that is 10x more comfortable than the factory provided one.

 

[Berliner]

While a good software is needed in the long run, my advice to any beginner would always be: get it right in camera.

Also no software will help you overcome lens and knowledge limitations. It can make a few fixes, but if you only have a 55mm f/5.6 the software won't give you shallower DOF and faster shutter speeds.

 

[Syborg1211]

While a good software is needed in the long run, my advice to any beginner would always be: get it right in camera.

Also no software will help you overcome lens and knowledge limitations. It can make a few fixes, but if you only have a 55mm f/5.6 the software won't give you shallower DOF and faster shutter speeds.

Getting it right in camera goes hand in hand with learning how to edit photos. As people have stated already in this thread, photography is an adventure where you go out taking pictures and run across problems that need solutions.

When you're starting out, finding those solutions at that very moment is quite difficult. So let's say you're taking a picture inside a hotel with some crazily colored lights that are throwing off your white balance. Suddenly all your skin tones are coming out purple. If you've never heard of white balance, chances are you won't fix it in camera at the hotel (and even if you know what white balance is, it's way easier to just fix it when you get home).

So you get home, upload the photos, and everything's purple. Then you show it to people on Anandtech, and we all say the white balance is off. Without editing software, those purple photos will always be purple and be deleted most likely. With editing software, you can fix the purple hue with the click of a button.

I don't want to get into the argument of whether post processing a photo is 'right' or not, but the truth is that most of the professional photos you see across media don't look anything like what came straight out of camera.

Also, I think the software is more important for organizing photos and having all your stuff in one place that allows you to easily preview and find any of your old photos quickly.