Advice needed
- Thread starter Welshy74
- Start date
Is this indoors or outdoors?
That will probably make the faster lens more ideal considering the light. While the 18-55 is a great all around lens I don't think it performs that well in indoor lowlight situations based on my personal experience. If they are the only lenses you are considering I would just take both and shoot some test shots and see what you're dealing with.
I think you wont be needing your 40mm (macro?). The kit should be sufficient. If you could borrow a 35mm 1.8, it would be even better (I don't like that lens, but in this case you'll have to shoot in a low light environment so the fast lens is a must - unless you plan to use the flash unit). And since I mentioned flash - do you have any external f units (it's advisable to have one on such occasions)?
What he said is true, the 35mm 1.8 would be ideal but there are a number of lens that are ideal for this situation and it's not worth buying one just for this. You'll get good shots with what you have. Take both, give yourself some time for test shots and see how well the 18-55 performs in the lighting conditions. Some examples of pictures with both lenses.
https://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon40mmaf-smicro/
https://www.flickr.com/groups/993931@N25/
Not that you need to rush out and get one but a fast prime like f1.8 or f1.4 would also be a very good pickup for you. They work wonders in lowlight situations.
Factoring in the DX crop on the D3200 the focal length of the 40mm is about 60mm while the 50mm is 75mm so yes there is a considerable difference in those lenses. A lot of people prefer the 35 1.8 because of this. It comes out to about 52mm when factoring in the DX crop, which many feel is a more useful focal length especially when indoors. You can test this with your 18-55 by zooming to each of the focal lengths and looking at the difference.
I personally have the 35mm 1.8 and the D3200 and I love it so far. Imagine the 35mm focal length of your 18-55mm but with the ability to use an aperture of f1.8. That makes for much better bokeh and also much better performance in lowlight. It also tends to be sharper than the 18-55 especially at larger apertures.
Ruidoso Bill
Senior Member
Use the on camera flash, your 18-55 and get as close as you can and you will be fine.
Just getting something in the f/1.8 aperture range increases your ability to do low light photography without flash. Also, a 35mm or 50mm will be a prime lens which, in most all cases, are much sharper than zoom lenses of approximate price range.
There is no way to answer that. Try shooting at 35 and 50 for awhile on your kit lens and see which you prefer. Or if you pay attention to your focal length you may be using one more than the other already. It's really more about what you're comfortable with. I personally felt like the 50mm would be too close for me to use as a landscape lens and indoors. You may feel different.
Live events such as award presentations can be expected to be poorly choreographed- they don't often go as you would like. Miscues, awkward pauses and the like mean you have to expect the unexpected. Claim your camera position like a Viking would claim Greenland. If you CAN'T wrangle a good fixed camera position, call on the Nikon 55-200mm VR zoom lens to work around the logistical barriers.. It will serve you well. I recently used my D3200 with Nikon 55-200mm VR zoom to get an incredible range of close-up/medium and full shots at a live music event from a distance of 25 feet.
Patrick M
Senior Member
I too recommend a fast prime lens if you're just doing indoor shots. Especially as your pictures ought to be a little sharper/crisper than you'd get with a short zoom. My opinion, since I find that in my case.
I use the 35mm which is a great little lens and I love it. But 35mm or 50mm is usually a personal choice ...
I use the 35mm which is a great little lens and I love it. But 35mm or 50mm is usually a personal choice ...