FOCUS HERE PEOPLE: D70 Lens question

[AgentSPS]

As being new to the SLR world, I must say that choosing a lens has been quite difficult! There seems to be so many factors. Reading lens reviews does not seem to help as I can barely understand what they are talking about. Our subjects, coral and fish under intense artificial lighting, only adds to the complexity.



Now that I got the whining out of the way, my initial research thru the threads and reading reviews leads me to two lenses (in my price range):

Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

or

Nikkor 50mm/f 1.8 lens

I realize the difference in the lenses is kinda like comparing apples to oranges as far as capability and range. I guess I am trying to gather a general consensus on:

1) Will the 18-70mm achieve the same as the 50mm/f 1.8 but with more versatility?
2) If buying both is necessary to achieve overall goal?
3) If I am totally off and there is a more appropriate lens out there in the used ~$200 range.


Thank you all for your help!

 

[BlueCorn]

There are lot of folks who believe that a "prime" will out perform a "zoom" lens. The prime uses less glass so, at least on inexpensive models, that's a fair basic assumption. I shoot Canon so I'm not familiar with either of those lenses first-hand.

The 50mm has an f-stop of 1.8 so it lets in a lot more light, wide open, than the 18-70. Whether that's important to you depends on how you intend to use it. Shooting inside, or at a public aquarium, where the light is poor that could be very helpful. For close up shots of your tank f/1.8 gives you a very shallow depth of field so you might find yourself actually shooting up around f/5.6 or f/8; in that case it has no real advantage over the 18-70 if the image quality of both is adequate.

I own an 100m f/2.8 for macro work but all of the rest of my glass is zoom. For my shooting, which is almost entirely landscapes, that works for me because I'm usually hiking with it on my back. I can't carry 10 different lenses all the time.

If you can only afford one lens now I'd say get the 50. It's not as versatile but forcing yourself to use a non-zoom while you're learning your camera might just make you a better photographer in the long run.

Cheers

 

[BlueCorn]

I also just read a few reviews on both and it sounds like, of those two, the 50 wins hands down.

The 18-70 gets beat up a bit here.

 

[AgentSPS]

Beerguy-

Thanks for the assistance...this is helping!

The tank is lit with 400W halides. It is pretty bright with a lot of blue. Not worried too much about the blue as the camera's white balance will allow me to compensate. Your comment about the 50 mm/ 1.8 letting in a lot of light is a bit worrisome given my lighting. Thoughts??

As for buying two lenses, I am not opposed to it as long as they are serving different needs and there is not too much overlap. The 18-70mm sounds like a good 'overall' fit for maximum versatility. It sounds like you might have a better suggestion for a prime lens? Macro is definitely of interest.

 

[BlueCorn]

1.8 is the maximum aperture (widest opening). Nearly every lens will stop down (smaller opening) to f/22 or higher if the need arises; too much light is seldom a problem.

 

[AgentSPS]

Yes I do have some concerns after reading people's feedback on the Nikkor 18-70mm.

This review is a little more in depth but again much of it is over my head:

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/131/cat/all


I came across this lens which might address versatility but not sure if it has a 'sweet spot' for shooting our tanks?:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/ele/301511178.html

Review Tamron 18-200:

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/170/cat/all

Another attractive lens Tamron 18-55mm F2.8... pushing the budget though:

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/355/cat/all