How much does lens choice matter for a retro, grainy film look on a Nikon DSLR?
Asked 10/11/2017
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2 answers
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I’m buying my first DSLR and will likely start with a used Nikon APS-C body such as a D3300 or D5100 with the kit lens. I want to make photos with a nostalgic, grainy, film-like look, similar to night street photography with shallow depth of field, and I’d like to rely on post-processing as little as possible.
How much of that look comes from the lens versus shooting technique and editing? For a second lens on a modest budget, what specs should I prioritize for this style on a Nikon crop-sensor body? Any simple accessory suggestions are welcome too.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
6
Corey had some good info but my two cents is:
Getting the "retro look" is not about what lens you have but about your knowledge base of photographic techniques and post processing skills. Understanding how YOUR digital cameras sensor is affected by changes in ISO. ( Digital is different than film in terms of gritty grainy photos but the lens is not what gives you grain/noise.)
You should take a class or volunteer to intern with a pro. There is vastly more to photography then Instagram and Snapchat filters that give you a "look". Buy the best lens's you can afford and invest in learning.
In my opinion everyone should take a film camera coarse first to understand that ISO/ASA is not just a tool to change exposure parameters but is a matter of how sensitive your film/sensor is to the light that you allow to be recorded on it. (I loathe the term "exposure triangle" for just this reason. Exposure is a function of aperture and shutter speed, and ISO controls sensitivity)
Originally by user50217. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user50217
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Lens choice matters less than many people think for a “retro film” look. Grain, color response, and the nostalgic feel mostly come from film choice in analog photography—or from post-processing when shooting digital. A lens does not create grain/noise.
What the lens does affect is field of view, depth of field, and low-light ability. For the night street style in your example, a fast prime is the best fit: aim for a large maximum aperture such as f/2.8 or faster, ideally around f/1.8. On a Nikon APS-C body, lenses around 35mm or 50mm are good starting points, roughly matching the classic normal-view focal lengths often used for this kind of work.
So, prioritize:
- fast maximum aperture
- simple prime lens rather than zoom
- focal length around 35mm or 50mm on APS-C
The kit lens is fine to learn with, but a fast prime will help much more in low light and with shallow depth of field. To get the full retro feel, expect to use technique and some editing as well. A lens hood is a sensible accessory; filters are less important for creating this look.
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