Nikon D3100 + Which lens?

[Twickenhamred]

Thinking of picking up a Nikon D3100 at the weekend but I don't know if i should go with a kit lens or invest more of the budget into getting a couple of really good lenses to go with it so that if / when i get better the lenses won't let me down.

I am primarily interested in photographing faces, and particularly for printing in B/W.

for reference i consider myself a beginner as it's been a while since i picked up a camera in anger and the last one i owned was a Ricoh KR5....... student budget!

[Chris Cool]

Hi and welcome.

I would go with the standard kit lens of 18-55mm, then add a portrait lens.

Need a budget?

How about this? Clicky (http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/reviews/lenses/129110/1/af-s-nikkor-85mm-f-1-4g.html)

Or this? Clicky (http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/reviews/lenses/129110/1/af-s-nikkor-85mm-f-1-4g.html)

Have you seen this? Nikon D3100 Body Only - Manufacturer Refurbished (as new) £339 (http://www.digitaldepot.co.uk/used-equipment/refurbished/nikon-d3100-body-only-40-cashback.html)

Used Sigma 18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC Nikon Fit £49.99 (http://www.digitaldepot.co.uk/second-hand-sigma-18-50mm-f-3-5-5-6-dc-nikon-fit.html)

The Nikon D3100 has a Focal Length Multiplier (http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/techniques/camera-skills/mastering-your-camera/445465/focal-length-explained-focal-length-equivalents.html) so lenses must be multiplied by 1.5


Cheers!


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[Twickenhamred]

I was looking at spending 1k including the camera body.

I think the lens you suggest may be a bit steep, :eek: what about the Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 D plus something more utilitarian?

[Chris Cool]

I was looking at spending 1k including the camera body.

I think the lens you suggest may be a bit steep, :eek: what about the Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 D plus something more utilitarian?The Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 D - Read this comment on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B00005LEN4/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_4?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFourStar). Could be all you need for portrait.

What other lens do you think you want?


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[Phil Hall]

Hi Twickenhamred and welcome to the WDC forum.

For the little extra you pay for the kit lens, it's worth getting it as its a good lens for general shooting.

If you're into portraits, then we'd recommend you take a look at the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G for £179. With the D3100's 1.5x crop factor, the lens has a 35mm focal length equivalent of 75mm. This is a nice short telephoto that's well suited to portraits, while the maximum aperture of f/1.8 will allow for shallow depth-of-field shots.

You might also be interested in the the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX lens for £160. This gives you a 35mm focal length of 52.5mm, which is classed as a 'standard' focal length because it mirrors what the human eye sees.

While this may not sound that exciting, it's a classic focal length that can produce some lovely shots. It's also a great way to practice your technique.

[wave]

Hi i am not a nikon user but looking at your budget it may be better to go for d5100 as you may out grow the d3100 quickly. this way you wont waste money in a few months getting a more advanced camera

[andrewjmcgee]

I would definitely go with the 35mm f/1.8G lens that Phil Hall recommended.

It is an outstanding lens for the price and it is specifically designed with DX bodies in mind (roughly equivalent to a standard 50mm on an FX body and very light - it would be a pity to use a relatively lightweight camera with a heavy lens).

Although if you want a bit more length, the 50mm is also very lightweight (both roughly 200g) and the picture quality is excellent (I have owned one for a while).