For a beginner with a Nikon D70, should I buy the 18-55mm kit lens or a 50mm f/1.8 for portraits?
Asked 7/18/2011
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I'm new to DSLR photography and am considering a Nikon D70 body. My main goal is to shoot portraits, with some occasional casual outdoor photos in parks or similar settings. I'm choosing between an 18-55mm kit zoom and a 50mm f/1.8 prime, and I'd like to keep the lens budget under $150. Which lens is the better fit for a beginner, especially if portraits are my priority?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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The 50mm F/1.8 is certainly best suited for portraits. Its bright aperture lets you shoot in lower light and allows for much more background blur as seen in classic portraits, because it separates the subject from the background and tends to remove distracting elements.
Honestly, I would not use the other one for anything. Getting a poor lens is the easiest way to cripple the performance of a DSLR.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If portraits are your main focus, the 50mm f/1.8 is the better fit. On the D70’s APS-C sensor it gives a flattering portrait field of view, and its much wider aperture helps in two big ways: better low-light shooting and stronger background blur for subject separation.
The 18-55mm is more versatile, though. As a beginner, a zoom can help you explore different focal lengths and subjects, and it can still handle portraits reasonably well. Its advantage is flexibility; the 50mm’s advantage is image style and low-light performance.
So the practical choice is:
- choose the 50mm f/1.8 if you’re fairly sure portraits are what you want to shoot most;
- choose the 18-55mm if you want one lens to learn with and discover what you enjoy.
A sensible path for many beginners is to start with the 18-55mm, then add the 50mm later if you find yourself drawn to portraits or low-light shooting.
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