shaneis Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 This question was recently posed on another forum I subscribe to and it showed some really interesting results... thought the same will happen here. It might be a good way for people to do some research if they're shopping for some new gear. So, which lens or lenses can't you live without? Feel free to mention filters or other equipment, maybe even software too. To start... I need my Nikon AF-S 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6 VR as a "Swiss Army Knife" and my Nikon Micro AF-S 105mm f2.8 VR for macro, nice bokeh and great stealth party shots. I've also recently convinced myself that I need a good wide zoom and some fast wide primes - would love to hear some recommendations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Shane, I am envious. When that awesome 18-200 lens was mentioned to me by friendly local camera shop, I made a little "squee" sound and quickly went to my personal banker (i.e. wife). She pointed to a lot of other lenses. My argument of "but this one lens replaces ALL of those..." wasn't taken in a very positive way. I enjoy my 15mm-30mm as a lens that lets me comfortably shoot close quarters. I also have a 500mm and a 2x teleconverter for it so I can say I have a 1m focal length lens (please, no comments about compensating for something). I have used it for lunar photography, as well as wild life photography & some dramatic cliff face shots. I've played with a 10mm superwide but the fixed focal length and field of view distortion didn't suit me. I also have an 8mm fisheye lens that I do spherical photography with, both commercially and for fun. I use some out-of-production software that lets me stitch two back-to-back fisheyes (183° field-of-view allows the tiniest of overlaps). I really like Nikon - the quality is superb and the menu system makes sense to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 The 18-200 is a great lens - bokeh isn't jaw dropping but it more than compensates in speed, usability and fun. Put all your old unused gear up for sale and check with your banker again. 500/1000mm! Serious stuff there Joel. Now I'm envious (this could quickly turn into a lens-envy thread ). I hear what you're saying about the superwides -though Tokina has recently released an 11-16 f2.8 for DX cameras and it's fast and razor sharp through the whole frame...under $1000 AUD too! (I'm in a vicious cycle...look at wallet > look at camera bag > look at Tokina website > back to wallet...) Yes, Nikon's done very well with their Gen2 digitals. Check the DXOmark site for some interesting (and very accurate/ unbiased) info on all the latest cameras and sensors http://www.dxomark.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Mottle Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 (edited) I LOVE my Nikon 14-24 f2.8 but am starting to use my 50mm f1.4 more now too. I love the DOF and bokeh on 50mm. The 14-24 has amazing clarity and focus edge to edge, althogh it does tend to flare in a lot of full sun situations. I'm toying with the idea of the 24-70 f2.8 now, although I still shoot almost exclusively with my 14-24. If you want a fast prime and a wide angle, I don't think you can get much better than the 14-24 and 50mm F1.4 I really would like to get the PC-E Nikkor 24mm, but my camera bag is already heavy enough. LOL. Edited April 14, 2009 by Jeff Mottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy L Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I am a VERY amateur photographer. I only have 3 pieces of glass, but my favourite is a 50mm 1.7 And Im a Canon guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I tried the 18-200. The distortion was enough to drive me crazy. So my current kit is the 18-55VR, the 35/1.8DX, the 50/1.8D and the Sigma 70-300 (newish motorized version). The Sigma doubles as my macro. Nothing special but I'm pretty sure I've got the best value kit out there. If I were going to get an ultrawide it would be the Tokina. Nikon just announced a 10-24DX but it's more expensive and there's nothing exciting about another lens that will do 24mm at f/4.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Buchhofer Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I'm still fairly new, but i'm feeling the lens bug for sure. I'm LOVING the 35 1.8 so far, mostly in the toddler chasing indoors, but its pretty solid/cheap stopped down a spot. and once you figure how to avoid some of the CA limitations outdoors, its pretty wonderful I just picked up the 70-300VR (yesterday!!) to round out my 18-105VR and from playing so far its pretty slick. that leaves the wide wide end, after borrowing a 10-20 sigma for a while that sure opens up a lot of fun stuff, it seems like theres just so many choices there in the ultrawide-zoom, i'll let that sit for a while and buy something in the 10-2X range come winter~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Dave, you've got a D90, right? I learned something interesting - it has automagic CA removal but it only works on JPG (though in theory with the right raw processor you can do the same thing). I'm upgrading to a D90, the D60 is too darn limited for me now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterguthrie Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 On my Canon 5D, the 24-105 stays on 90% of the time, and the 17-40L for architectural stuff the rest of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted April 15, 2009 Author Share Posted April 15, 2009 I tried the 18-200. The distortion was enough to drive me crazy. It can be a bit odd when it's wide open, but it's not too complex. I've read/ seen some very impressive results from DxO, it'll fix the CA you have with your 50mm without you having to do a thing, if it was the 35, we'll have to wait a while for that - it's not on the roadmap for 2nd Quarter corrections. http://www.dxo.com/intl/photo/dxo_optics_pro/optics_geometry_corrections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Quick side question for the photo bugs here. Is the Nikon NEF or RAW format 32-bit? I was hoping to have a 32-bit photograph so I could play with light levels, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted April 15, 2009 Author Share Posted April 15, 2009 (edited) No, NEF or Camera RAW is usually 12-bit or 14-bit (per pixel). You can still play with curves and levels and much, much more in the same way you can with a 16-bit TIFF (NEF is based on TIFF). Think of it as a digital negative format, you'd be surprised how much data is stored in a camera RAW (this depends heavily on which camera you use - see the DxOmark link I posted before to check your sensors characteristics) If you really want a 32-bit image, I assume you want additional light data, so in that case you'll need to use auto-bracketing and merge the files in software eg: Photoshop. PS: Auto-bracketing isn't the only way, but you may as well while you're shooting. Edited April 15, 2009 by shaneis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Thanks Shane. I have made my own HDRI images with a tripod, D200, and PhotoMatrixPro, but not very often. Yes, you were correct - I was wanting to play with the light info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onslaught Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I LOVE my Nikon 14-24 f2.8 but am starting to use my 50mm f1.4 more now too. I love the DOF and bokeh on 50mm. The 14-24 has amazing clarity and focus edge to edge, althogh it does tend to flare in a lot of full sun situations. I'm toying with the idea of the 24-70 f2.8 now, although I still shoot almost exclusively with my 14-24. If you want a fast prime and a wide angle, I don't think you can get much better than the 14-24 and 50mm F1.4 I really would like to get the PC-E Nikkor 24mm, but my camera bag is already heavy enough. LOL. Agree with Jeff about the 50mm.....sad to say I only have the F1.8 one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Buchhofer Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Yea most of the 'consumer/enthusiast' bodies are 12bit/pixel, you don't get to the 14 bit until the d700 and above if i recall correctly. (For nikon, I'm not sure where it starts to come in on the Canon lines) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Agree with Jeff about the 50mm.....sad to say I only have the F1.8 one Don't knock the 50/1.8D. It's a VERY nice lens and one of the best values out there. I've got many very good shots from mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted April 15, 2009 Author Share Posted April 15, 2009 I LOVE my Nikon 14-24 f2.8 but am starting to use my 50mm f1.4 more now too. I love the DOF and bokeh on 50mm. The 14-24 has amazing clarity and focus edge to edge, althogh it does tend to flare in a lot of full sun situations. Damn nice lens, the 14-24 but a nasty price tag. I have a D90, so the 14-24 is a bit of a waste - DX turns it into a 21-36...not so wide Have you tried a Super-HMC filter to help with the flare on your 14-24? The 50mm f/1.4 looks great but turns into a 75mm on DX cameras. I've been looking forward to the 35mm f/1.8 for DX (equiv. 52mm), should hit our shores by the end of this month but it is available at a slightly higher price if prepared to buy a grey list lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 50 on DX has its uses. Plants and people mostly. The 35 is all kinds of useful but doesn't develop as good a bokeh (and the Nikkor AF-D 50's have some optical advantages, such as less CA). Here are some examples from walking around - the first is with the 50/1.8D at f/2 and the second is the 35/1.8DX at f/2.8, both with a D90. I'm pretty impressed with the 50/1.8D and D90 combination. I use the 50 on my F75 and love it, then I got a D60 for Christmas and the lack of AF was annoying enough to make me forget how good this lens is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Buchhofer Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 So you upgraded to a d90 since yesterday? you're as bad as me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 The D90 actually came yesterday I realized that between selling the D60 and some other stuff I don't use I could cover the cost. Right after I ordered it (like, within an hour) I started seeing articles like "No, really, this time we mean it, Nikon is going to announce the D5000 tonight!" but I think the D90 was the better choice. The D5000's only going to cost $170 less, won't be any smaller (so there goes the two good things about the D40/D60 - size and price) and will have the same annoying lack of features I want as the D60. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Mottle Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Have you tried a Super-HMC filter to help with the flare on your 14-24? The 14-24 can not accept filters as the front is very bulbous. (See below) I wish it could though. I have some GND filters I would love to use for landscapes. It is an expensive lens for sure. Magnus (from VisMasters) and I rented one last DMVC and went shooting together through Boston. After I came back to look at my photos I HAD to have the lens. Magnus eventually ended up buying one too. He upgraded to the D700 becuase of the lens so he could get full frame. I have the D3, so it was a natural fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Mmmmmm... bulbous... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 (edited) The 14-24 can not accept filters as the front is very bulbous. 'Tis bulbous indeed. Here's a couple of images of the only known filters that can fit that lens... other than hand-held tomfoolery! Happy shopping Disclaimer: Some home-made adjustment is required - and adapter tube to fit over the lens hood. If you could get a "spare" hood, you could cut that down and use it solely as the mount for the Cokin set up. Edited April 16, 2009 by shaneis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Buchhofer Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I have the D3, so it was a natural fit. And you get the bonus arm workout too while carrying it around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Mottle Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 'Tis bulbous indeed. Here's a couple of images of the only known filters that can fit that lens... other than hand-held tomfoolery! Happy shopping Disclaimer: Some home-made adjustment is required - and adapter tube to fit over the lens hood. If you could get a "spare" hood, you could cut that down and use it solely as the mount for the Cokin set up. Yeah. I'd seen that hack before. Not too keen to scratch my hood with some plumbing pipe though. I'd rather use a tripod and handhold the filter. I do have that filter holder, but it's the smaller version. The hood can't be removed either, it's integrated into the lens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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