Wanting a new lens for my Nikon D40 - Digital Scrapbooking Community

KarenC · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 10:59 PM

I've been reading reviews and searching the web until I'm cross-eyed and still don't know what I want. lol...I'm looking for recommendations for an all around portrait lens. I don't really want to spend as much as I did on the camera, but would if I had too and I'm not sure I want to focus manually. Does anyone have a portrait lens that they really love? Thank you for any help.

katrinak · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 11:56 PM

What lenses do you already have Karen? Does the 50mm 1.8 only manual focus with your camera?

KarenC · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 12:14 AM

Hi Katrina,

I just have the kit lens (18-55) And yes the 50mm will only manual focus on my camera.

Maybe it would be cheaper in the long run to sell mine and get a refurbished d80?
I wonder if it's risky buying refurbished?

Aino · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 01:49 AM

There is a new 35mm f/1.8 Nikon lens that is very sweet and affordable - I think it would be nice for a portrait lens and I believe it will focus with the D40. I have read that people are very pleased with it! And it is a prime, and I think primes are always a good investment.

On the other hand, for portraits perhaps it is nice to get a little longer lens - how about the Nikon 18-105mm - it came out as the kit lens for the D90 - but everyone says it is a very nice sharp lens with a useful range?

I don't know what price range you are thinking of, but there are expensive, but very good lenses:
Nikon 16-85VR - expensive, one of the best
Tamron 17-50mm - sharp, afforable, comparable to Nikon, but half the price (the lens I got yesterday)
Then of course there is the Nikon 18-200mm - which is useful for anything.

There are other primes too, such as Tamron 90mm and Sigma 105mm which are great for portraits and double up as true macro lenses too. And reasonable priced.

If I had a limited budged, I think I might have gone for the Nikon 18-105mm because it is a good useful range and produces great sharp photos.

THAT-GIRL · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 05:03 PM

If you want for portraits then "Micro-Nikkor 105mm" is the best I love it and ratings are awesome too...!

artmidget · #6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 05:49 PM

I recently got the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G and LOVE it. I believe that it should work with the D-40 (it is an AF-S lens). It takes really great photos and works well for a portrait lens.

audrey77 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 08:39 PM

There's a new 50mm that WILL autofocus... but it's $$$
It was released in Dec?

YES. Erica mentioned it. It DOES autofocus on the D40.

I would go with a prime lens for portraits.
I got a Sigma 30mm HSM for my D40. It auto focuses, but it's heavy.

Starlite9711 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 08:52 PM

Hey Kris, I have the D40x and I ran into the same issue with lenses. My first lens (aside from the kit) was the 55-200VR lens. I loved it, but I really coveted that nifty 50. When the 50 1.4g came out (that does autofocus) I knew I wanted it, but really had to decide to upgrade body (I considered the D80 too) or get the lens. Ultimately, I chose the lens 50mm 1.4G. I chose b/c even if I spent the money on a refurb D80 I would still have to buy a $100 50mm 1.8 Which would all end up costing me more than the 50mm 1.5g. I figure this way I have the best glass (thats what they say is important right!? ) and someday when I upgrade my body, I will still have the best glass. Just my thought process, sorry so long

KarenC · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 10:52 PM

Thank you, everyone for the input. I decided for my first lens to get the non-auto focusing 50mm 1.8 and save some $$. Then I can purchase Lightroom, too. I used to manually focus with my old 35mm, so I'm hoping I can get the hang of it. If not, then I guess I'll have to upgrade someday.

Thanks again!

audrey77 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kchris

Thank you, everyone for the input. I decided for my first lens to get the non-auto focusing 50mm 1.8 and save some $$. Then I can purchase Lightroom, too. I used to manually focus with my old 35mm, so I'm hoping I can get the hang of it. If not, then I guess I'll have to upgrade someday.

Thanks again!

It's really easy to manually focus... you just look for the dot in the viewfinder. I have the same lens. I love it.