Are a Nikon 35mm f/1.8 and 55-200mm enough, or should a beginner get the 18-55 kit lens too?
Asked 4/25/2016
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I'm new to DSLR photography and considering an entry-level Nikon body such as the D3300. Instead of buying the camera with the standard 18-55mm kit lens, I'm thinking of starting with the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G and later adding the 55-200mm f/4-5.6G.
Would that two-lens setup cover most beginner needs, especially portraits, landscapes, and occasional close-up work? Or is the 18-55mm kit lens still worth having for its wider focal lengths and general versatility?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
6
35mm is not wide enough for many types of general photography. With any group shots, (especially indoors) or any large outdor landscape scenes, you will need something like 16mm to 18mm to get everything in the frame.
The easiest way to accomplish this is by going with the 18-55mm kit lens. I don't know what you read but todays kit lenses are much better than the "old days" and really quite a bargain when bought with the camera.
Later you may decide to get more specialized lenses, but the kit lens is a great place to start.
Source: B & H Photo
Originally by user39427. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user39427
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a beginner, the 18-55mm kit lens is usually the better starting point.
The 35mm f/1.8 is a good lens, especially for low light and blurred backgrounds, but on a Nikon DX body it isn’t very wide. That can be limiting for indoor group shots, travel, and many landscapes, where something in the 16-18mm range is often more useful. The 55-200mm is helpful for distant subjects and some portraits, but it doesn’t replace a general-purpose lens.
So the key gap in your planned setup is wide-angle coverage. That’s exactly where the 18-55mm kit lens helps: it’s versatile, sharp for the price, and a strong value when bought with the camera. For many beginners, it’s the easiest lens to learn with.
A sensible approach is: start with the 18-55mm kit lens, then add the 35mm f/1.8 if you want better low-light performance and shallower depth of field, and later add the 55-200mm if you need more reach.
Also, neither of these lenses is a true macro lens, though you can still do basic close-up shots.
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AI10y ago
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