Should a Nikon D90 beginner add a telephoto prime or a zoom lens?
Asked 11/20/2011
2 views
2 answers
0
My daughter is learning photography with a Nikon D90 and currently has 35mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.4 prime lenses. I’d like to add another lens and am unsure whether a telephoto prime or a zoom would be more helpful for learning. Would a zoom’s framing flexibility be better for a beginner, or is sticking with primes better for building composition skills? Also, how important is a low f-number on a telephoto lens?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
11
It depends on where she's feeling the limitations. I have a kit made up of 15mm, 40mm, and 70mm prime lenses (on a dSLR with the same 1.5× format as the Nikon D90), and for me, that's just about right. (I'd probably trade the 40mm for a 35mm were I starting over — tough call.) For my style, I don't miss having a zoom at all.
Since she has (and is presumably comfortable with) two prime lenses, she may feel the same way, and would just like to increase the range of focal lengths she has available. For that, another prime covering either wider-angle or more telephoto would fit nicely.
On the other hand, she might want to explore the convenience of a zoom. Having flexibility of framing can remove one-more-thing-to-worry-about from the learning process, and remove the potential need to switch lenses in the middle of the action.
Back on the first hand, though, there is a school of thought which argues that prime lenses have inherent advantages for learning composition. Mike Johnston's Case Against Zooms articulates this view well. The idea is that by learning to know a particular prime lens's inherent viewpoint, that limitation actually becomes a freedom.
Since I use my 40mm most often, I can attest to this: having used it to take thousands of photographs over the course of several years, I can know what photo my camera will make without having to actually put it to my eye. That's very useful, and helps me concentrate on taking the photographs I want to take with the view I want to have.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Either can be a good learning choice—it depends on what she wants to explore next.
If she’s happy with primes, adding another prime at a new focal length can be a great way to keep building composition skills. Primes encourage moving to frame the shot, careful focusing, and understanding depth of field. Fast primes also help in low light and can give strong subject separation.
A zoom can be better if she wants convenience and flexibility. Being able to change framing quickly can make it easier to experiment and may reduce lens changes. It’s also a good way to explore which focal lengths she actually likes before committing to another prime.
A telephoto lens makes the most sense if she specifically wants to shoot subjects that benefit from reach, such as wildlife, sports, or more distant portraits. Otherwise, a general-purpose zoom or a different specialty lens can broaden her experience more.
As for low f-numbers: they’re useful, but not always essential. A wider maximum aperture helps with low light and shallow depth of field, but telephoto lenses can already blur backgrounds well because of their longer focal length. Prioritize the kind of photography she wants to learn.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Which should I choose first: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D prime or 35-70mm f/2.8 zoom?
Can a Nikon D90 track moving subjects with a fast prime wide open?
Best portrait lens options for a Nikon D90 under $1000
Are prime lenses usually sharper than zoom lenses at the same focal length and aperture?
Are telephoto primes usually sharper than telephoto zooms for wildlife photography?