Nikon D90: should I start with a 35mm or 50mm prime, and does AF-S or f/1.4 matter?
Asked 12/4/2010
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I’m choosing a first prime lens for a Nikon D90 and am deciding between 35mm or 50mm, f/1.8 or f/1.4, and AF versus AF-S. I understand the D90 has an in-body focus motor, so both AF and AF-S should autofocus. Is AF-S still a meaningful advantage? Also, is paying more for f/1.4 worth it over f/1.8, and for general use on a DX D90 does 35mm or 50mm usually make more sense? I’ve also noticed Nikon “G” lenses lack an aperture ring—does that matter on a D90 or affect future compatibility?
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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Short answer is that all the 35mm and 50mm prime lenses are good ones.
The difference between AF and AF-S, is that the AF-S has a built in silent wave motor (SWM), whereas the AF lenses require a motor in the camera body to drive the auto-focus. The D90 has a built-in AF motor, so either AF or AF-S is fine. AF-S might focus faster.
Inside focus is nice if you are using a circular polarizing filter (CPOL) because focusing won't change the orientation of the filter after you have set it.
Spending more for the F1.4 versions is really up to you, and how you plan to shoot. If you are shooting in low light, and/or you want more depth of field, it might make sense to get the F1.4, but I think F1.8 is pretty good (especially for the money).
The D90 is a DX (cropped sensor) camera, so the effective focal length multiplier is 1.5x (meaning the 50mm lens is like a 75mm lens on an FX camera like the D3, and the 35mm lens would be like a 51mm lens). Many people call 50mm a "normal" focal length, so on the D90, that leans toward the 35mm with its 51mm effective focal length.
I bought the 50mm F1.8 for my D90. It was really great, but I found that it wasn't as wide as I would like for what I bought it for. I was taking Tae Kwon Do shots at my son's club, and I found that the club was small enough that I couldn't get far enough away to get them in the frame for some shots. The 35mm would work better for me.
I wouldn't worry about the G (lack of aperature ring) unless you plan to be using older cameras.
Best of luck with your decision, and enjoy your D90!
Originally by user227. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user227
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On a D90, both AF and AF-S lenses will autofocus because the camera has a built-in focus motor. AF-S lenses use a motor in the lens and may focus faster or more quietly; internal focusing can also be handy if you use a circular polarizer because the front doesn’t rotate while focusing.
For aperture, f/1.4 gives only about 2/3 stop more light than f/1.8. That can help in low light and for shallower depth of field, but many shooters find f/1.8 the better value.
35mm vs 50mm depends on what you shoot on the D90’s DX sensor:
- 35mm is often better as a general-purpose lens and in tighter spaces or low-light social shooting.
- 50mm is often preferred for portraits because the narrower field of view can help isolate subjects.
The community consensus is that Nikon’s 35mm and 50mm primes are all good. If you want one lens for everyday use, 35mm often makes more sense on DX; if you mainly want portraits, 50mm is a strong choice.
A Nikon G lens simply lacks an aperture ring. On a D90, that generally isn’t a problem.
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