Hi all, first time poster. I want to upgrade from the d3200's kit lens (18-55) to something that captures sharper landscape images. I would be looking at a used/new mid range lens but which? Any help and advice most welcome. Cheers.
This lense is pretty good. The only reason it is so inexpensive is that it practically out sells all the other lense.
. Use a sturdy tripod, one that will be planted solidly on the ground and not vibrate/shake in the wind.
. Use ISO 100. Higher ISO increases noise which also affects sharpness.
. Use Aperture priority at F8 to F11.
. This lense is sharpest at 35mm, so use it. This is the zoom where the lense is retracted maximum - so it has minimum length.
. If possible use a remote to trigger the shutter, with a couple of seconds of delay.
. If your eyesight is good, use manual focus and focus some what two thirds before the end of the scene. Else use live view to get a sharp focus, and then switch live view off before shooting. This is because in live view the mirror will go up once to come out of it and once to shoot. There is no "Mirror Up" in D3xxx series.
. Bracket the shots +-1EV.
. If there is sun in front use a lense cap designed for the lense. Flare can reduce sharpness a lot.
Once you get sharp images and are satisfied, then there are a lot of lenses for landscape. Just keep this in mind
. Landscape is rarely shot below F6, so fast lenses are not required.
. Lenses for landscape should be sharp from centre to edges at shooting aperture, normally F8 to F11. Most of the slower lenses satisfy this criteria, but it is better to check test results from reputed sites.
. Lense with zero or low CA will also tend to be sharper so check the lense tests for CA. Avoid ones with high CA.
. A few Manual Focus AIS lenses satisfy the above criteria. Check their specs and test results, and then get the ones you like, from major resellers of pre owned lenses.
Here is an example
Full frame
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