Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I would like to hear what lens suggestions you have for a new photographer. What lenses do you feel are the key lenses to have in your bag? Right now I have a 18-105 mm Nikon AF. Thanks

What kind of photography do you do?

What is your budget?

Without knowing that, it is hard to provide suggestions.

Thanks Mike, please forgive me for not including all the information. Im looking to shoot people, Nature, buildings. As for a budget as long as its in reason and worth the spend its open, lol....

sigma 10-20mm landscapes (800 bucks)

People, nature, and buildings require different lenses. A budget is necessary because $1000 may be reasonable for some and not for others.

When you say people, are you looking for a lens to do street photography? or event? or studio?

Nature: Macro lens

Buildings: Wide angle or Tilt-shift lens

They all have their wide range of prices and technical differences.

If you want an upgrade that you'll keep forever, consider the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8. If that's over your budget, then get the Nikon AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8.

It's so hard to make recommendations. I suppose a generic zoom lens is a good start, something like the 24-70/2.8 or 17-55/2.8 that thericyip suggested?

The better suggestion is to hold on to your cash (it's too easy to lose your money with photography), shoot with the kit lens for at least 10k exposures, then use some program to dig through your exif to plot the focal length range(s) that you tend to use.

An 18-105 is good enough in that it covers the typical focal length range used in most circumstances.

This is a difficult one. Budget really makes a big difference between getting good lenses, and getting lenses which will "do the job".

Well, since you're a *new* photographer, you need a lens that teaches you how to use the camera. Cheap normal prime.

If your camera is a D3000,5000,D40,D60 or other variant, get the 35mm f/1.8 DX. The 50mm f/1.8 might be slightly cheaper as a good learning platform, but might be a little too long for you on a DX camera, and the lack of autofocus due to the aforementioned camera bodies lacking a screwdriver focus motor which the 50/1.8 needs for AF.

Damage: 50mm f/1.8 ~$120 bucks.
35/1.8 DX ~ $250

Why?

Are you suggesting that it is impossible or more difficult to learn how to use the camera with a kit zoom lens?

In the 'bad old days', zoom lenses were hard to make, so good ones are expensive (they still are, yes i know). A normal prime was a good in-between FL as the FOV resembled that of human vision. To aid his learning of composition rules, yes, perhaps a normal prime would be a good idea, but I don't see why you can't learn the camera functions cannot be learnt with a cheap zoom.

For now just shoot with what you have, until you figure out what sort of photography you lean toward. Watch what end of the zoom range you're normally using. If you keep wanting to get closer, get a long zoom. If you're always stepping back, get an ultra-wide. If you're all over the place, get a second job. You'll need the income.

Keep the kit lens more the better if it is macro. A kit lens is usually pretty good at in the middle of it's range and adequate else where. Save your money until you know what you want to do with photography.

Buy one quality prime lens at least as fast as f2. Using a prime lens helps you learn:

To move around when framing instead of standing in one spot zooming in and out

Composition because the FOV is constant your brain learns how to frame the photo even before you bring the camera up to your eye

Low Light Photography

Shallow DOF

How good quality optics are

If this forum has a "Hall of Fame" for posts surely this one belongs in it.

But seriously, take the advice to use what you have until you know what area of photography you most enjoy. No point forking out a grand for a lens that you use twice a year.

Thank you all for your feedback. This has really helped me decide on what I should do.

For now as most of you suggested I will stick with the lens I have and see what shots I have taken for the most part. Then I can look at what I need and what Im shooting.

I hope to get out to the events soon and meet some of you.

Thanks again!

If you want a great lens that will make an impact to your photographs, I suggest that you buy the 50 f1.8. At about $130 it's a great lens to shoot everything from people to landscape to crap on the street. Zoom in and out with your feet and you'll learn to compose your shots better.

Have fun.