Nikon AFS 18-105 mm VR

B

Bukitimah

Senior Member
Hi, I am still very undecided on what to add or upgrade from this kit lens. I am using the D300 and being a DX camera, the crop factor is 1.5.

So, I am looking for a general lens but I do understand there is no general wide angle lens. This is a shot I took without flash using the kit lens. Lighting is moderate since subject sits inside a shaded area.

eafb9d5.jpg
 
R

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
jdeg makes a good point, what is it you want to accomplish, lenses are like tools, if you know you want wider get wider, longer get longer, faster get faster. My lens purchases have always been dictated by need.
 
B

Bukitimah

Senior Member
My biggest challenge is low light situation. Either I have to lower speed which cause blur image when subject moves, I have to set high ISO that ends with picture not sharp even after post pocessing.

However, with the kit lens at f3.5 (biggest) if I move up to f2.8, I am not sure there will be improvements. To switch to the f1.8, I am not sure I should go for the 35 or 50 mm.

That is why I am still faithfully holding on to my kit lens. One other alternative I am working on is to change my afs 70-300 lens to 70-200 because the later f stop is 2.8. For zoom, I can add a extension tube.

I am not sure my theory works.
 
R

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
The difference between f2.8 and f3.5 is 2/3 stop. That can make the difference in shutter speeds of say 1/125 and 1/90. Your D300 does a pretty good job at increased ISO and unless you are way high it does not effect sharpness rather it will introduce noise. If possible, use a strobe to throw more light on the issue. Another thing to keep in mind is most lenses are not at their best at the min/max of either zoom or aperture. A 2X teleconverter will also double your minimum f stop (2.8 = 5.6) so no joy there and also you'll need to check which lenses are compatible with a teleconverter.

Low light is always difficult to deal with. Fast glass is helpful, the D700 sensor is great at lower noise at high ISO, even the new D7000 is good at higher ISO. There are alternatives to help but they all cost $.
 
Last edited:
bluenoser

bluenoser

Banned
Bukitimah said:
My biggest challenge is low light situation. Either I have to lower speed which cause blur image when subject moves, I have to set high ISO that ends with picture not sharp even after post pocessing.
Click to expand...

Improvement in low light shooting? Then assuming you don't wish to use flash - then you need a faster lens and preferably a body that can handle the higher ISOs that low light shooting demand.

Bukitimah said:
However, with the kit lens at f3.5 (biggest) if I move up to f2.8, I am not sure there will be improvements.
Click to expand...

Absolutely there will be improvements...and not insignificant.

Bukitimah said:
To switch to the f1.8, I am not sure I should go for the 35 or 50 mm.
Click to expand...

Well check the images you've taken with your 18-105.....did you shoot most of them closer to 35 or 50? Personally I found the 50mm focal length not convenient on a DX body so I sold it and kept my 35 1.8. Again, there is no one size fits all here.

Bukitimah said:
That is why I am still faithfully holding on to my kit lens.
Click to expand...

The 18-105 is a marvelous lens (as you've shown with the picture you've posted. Even when you add another lens there is no reason to dump it. I sure kept mine even though I've added several zooms and primes over the years.

Bukitimah said:
One other alternative I am working on is to change my afs 70-300 lens to 70-200 because the later f stop is 2.8. For zoom, I can add a extension tube. I am not sure my theory works.
Click to expand...

Yes the 70-300VR is certainly a slower lens, adding say the TC 20E-III will make your 70-200 2.8 lens an f/8.0 lens so you certainly will need plenty of light for that to work well. In fact I do own the 70-300VR and recently picked up the 70-200 2.8 + the TC 20E-III. Both the 70-300 and the 70-200 have their time and place.

I would safely recommend a lens like the 35 1.8 for most DX shooters as it provides great value for what you get.

Regards,
 
I

icSlowMo

New member
bluenoser said:
Improvement in low light shooting? Then assuming you don't wish to use flash - then you need a faster lens and preferably a body that can handle the higher ISOs that low light shooting demand.



Absolutely there will be improvements...and not insignificant.



Well check the images you've taken with your 18-105.....did you shoot most of them closer to 35 or 50? Personally I found the 50mm focal length not convenient on a DX body so I sold it and kept my 35 1.8. Again, there is no one size fits all here.



The 18-105 is a marvelous lens (as you've shown with the picture you've posted. Even when you add another lens there is no reason to dump it. I sure kept mine even though I've added several zooms and primes over the years.



Yes the 70-300VR is certainly a slower lens, adding say the TC 20E-III will make your 70-200 2.8 lens an f/8.0 lens so you certainly will need plenty of light for that to work well. In fact I do own the 70-300VR and recently picked up the 70-200 2.8 + the TC 20E-III. Both the 70-300 and the 70-200 have their time and place.

I would safely recommend a lens like the 35 1.8 for most DX shooters as it provides great value for what you get.

Regards,
Click to expand...

I agree 100% I have the 18-105mm, 35 f1.8, 50 f1.4, and now the 24-70 f2.8. I am loving the 24-70 f2.8, fast enough, more or less as sharp as needed and gives me the focal range I use the most... I do not like changing lenses much so I prefer a zoom over a prime... The f2.8 lenses do cost a lot more then both the primes I have but are worth it to me. Only thing I wish the 24-70 had was VR... slowest I can shoot is around 1/60'th at 70mm. Maybe a little slower at shorter focal points, but I just set auto iso to 1/60th... Also the primes will need a little faster shutter speeds 1/30th for the 35 f1.8 andabout 1/50th for a 50mm... hope this helps... I would say the best option for the money is the 35mm f1.8 works very well and very sharp stopped down a little like f2.8, but still plenty sharp at f1.8...
 
B

Bukitimah

Senior Member
Hi, I bought a pre-owned AF-d 50 mm f1.8 yesterday and immediately swing into action this morning (Singapore time).

I am very very pleased with the lens. I will post some photos later. My kit lens will never be able to achieve the result under that kind of lighting. Now I am more convience to upgrade. It is just my pocket that is holding back.
 
B

Bukitimah

Senior Member
DSC_7528.jpg


This was taken with the AF-D 50 mm F1.8. The setting is F2.5 and ISO 200, 1/100s.Photo taken indoor under dim lighting with no flash.

I like the effect.
 
Top