DSLR Camera Questions =)

[browniesmom622]

I heard the 50 is great for low light picture's.

[Britster]

I might just buy this 50mm one. Simply because I don't really have the funds currently to get any more than that but I'm itching to try out a new lens besides the kit. I looked at amazon and all the reviews are pretty good and all the pics posted are awesome! I love the blurred background, or bokeh! lol.

[Breny]

Originally Posted by Britster

I might just buy this 50mm one. Simply because I don't really have the funds currently to get any more than that but I'm itching to try out a new lens besides the kit. I looked at amazon and all the reviews are pretty good and all the pics posted are awesome! I love the blurred background, or bokeh! lol.

does this fit a Nikon too? Or have a motor in it?

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Breny

does this fit a Nikon too? Or have a motor in it?

Not sure on the Nikon thing, but it says it does not have a USM motor, but rather an Canon EOS lens motor... whatever that means! LOL.

[Britster]

Basically, for me, what's in my price range right now is the EF 75-300mm (Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens - 6473A003 - Buy.com) and the Canon 50mm (2514A007AA Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Standard AutoFocus Lens - Refurbished) right now. I'd like to have both just to add to my collection eventually, but I can only buy ONE right now. Which one would you purchase first? (I know, I'm asking a zillion questions).

I like how the 50mm is so small, it'd be easier to carry around for sure and I LOVE all the sample pics shown on Amazon, the background blur is amazing. But I also do like to zoom. But I crop a lot of my images, too, so technically I don't really even need the zoom if I go with the 50mm because I CAN crop if necessary to make it "closer-up." I'm such a newbie at this. Ahh, too many choices and too many decisions. But I've narrowed it down to those two.... just for now.

[yorkiepaws]

Originally Posted by Breny

Great pics! (love her outfit by the way!)

LOL, thanks. She is such a tomboy!!! Loves her jeans.

[yorkiepaws]

Originally Posted by Breny

does this fit a Nikon too? Or have a motor in it?

Breny, here is the nikon 50mm prime

Amazon.com: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for...

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Breny

does this fit a Nikon too? Or have a motor in it?

The 50mm f1.8 is a Nikkor lens - so it will fit Nikons - it's the "Prime" lens I'm always loving on in this thread. However...it will *not* auto-focus on your camera (the D5000), nor will it AF (autofocus) on the D40 or D60....just fyi. You'd have to manually focus it at all times...and this is pretty tough (I found, when I had the D40) esp. when trying to take pictures of moving things, like doggies .

Breny, if you want a prime lens (a non-zooming lens) - you need to get one that has the focus motor IN the lens for the D5000.

{refresher -- the "fun" of having a Prime lens is that you have total control over the aperture (aka f-stop), meaning, you can really obtain a blurred background, aka "bokeh"; when you open wide to, say, f1.8 - you have a very "shallow" depth of field, meaning, only a little area is in focus...the rest is blurry...hope that makes sense .}

[yorkiepaws]

Ok Breny, here's the nikon lens with the motor ( I think)
It's more expensive but I guess that's because of the motor
Amazon.com: Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for...

[yorkiepaws]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

The 50mm f1.8 is a Nikkor lens - so it will fit Nikons - it's the "Prime" lens I'm always loving on in this thread. However...it will *not* auto-focus on your camera (the D5000), nor will it AF (autofocus) on the D40 or D60....just fyi. You'd have to manually focus it at all times...and this is pretty tough (I found, when I had the D40) esp. when trying to take pictures of moving things, like doggies .

Breny, if you want a prime lens (a non-zooming lens) - you need to get one that has the focus motor IN the lens for the D5000.

{refresher -- the "fun" of having a Prime lens is that you have total control over the aperture (aka f-stop), meaning, you can really obtain a blurred background, aka "bokeh"; when you open wide to, say, f1.8 - you have a very "shallow" depth of field, meaning, only a little area is in focus...the rest is blurry...hope that makes sense .}

Thanks I forgot about the motor issue.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by yorkiepaws

Ok Breny, here's the nikon lens with the motor ( I think)
It's more expensive but I guess that's because of the motor
Amazon.com: Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Electronics

You got it! The main different is that it is 35mm vs. 50mm....and honestly, for the extra $ ($199 vs. $124) - the 35mm is nice bc it has a wider angle, making it a little easier to work with, ya know? That's an awesome lens and would AF w/ D5000, D40, D60 - well, and of course the rest of them that don't need the motor (D90, D80, D70, D200, D300....).

The other option would be the Sigma 30mm 1.4mm HSM - which has a bit even wider angle at 30mm AND opens all the way to 1.4, if you want that option (I have this lens, as it was the only option for Prime when I had my D40 - this is a BEAUTY of a lens). A bit more bulky than that 35mm, and I'd take the price of that 35mm any day...but this 30mm really is a gorgeous lens. When I had the D40, if I'd had the option of that 35mm at the time - done deal, would have gotten that one for sure .

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by Breny

Will the kit lense do the blurred background?

The farther the subject is away from the background, the more blurred it will be.


I have not read all theway throlugh the thread yet, so this may hsve been said, but the Canon Reble XS has live view option.

I want to get a remote shutter release. So I can have hands free to work with the dogs, especially puppies.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by bonbon

Oh, he's just darling. I think you have 2 of the cutest yorkies I've seen! Sigh. You're a lucky, lucky lady.

I have the same problem with my gang - they see the camera come out and they go nuts. Thats why I NEED a better camera that doesn't hesitate when I push the button. By the time my camera finally snaps a picture, the 'subject' is long gone!

That is why i'm loving my new camera. My old one takes forever to focus.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

LOL Breny - I LOVE it that you couldn't wait !

Great piccies already!

"A" mode is fabulous - that's what I shoot in almost all the time - this is "Aperture Priority Mode" - and *you* can choose the aperture, the camera then chooses the approp. shutter speed for you. You want a wide aperture/f-stop (ie. 1.8-4 ish) to blur the background. Your lens may not open to 1.8, all lenses are different.

It's also diff. w/ zooms...w/ zooms like you're using, it's not as easy to just choose an aperture/f-stop. That's the reason people love "Prime" lenses like 50mm I've mentioned - there is no zoom, but you can have total control over the aperture, which is super fun.

Now, whatcha need next is the add-on flash SB400 - so you can "bounce" the flash rather than have the flash hit directly at your kiddos.
Welcome to your new addiction!

Ha what I need next is a translator.

I'm slowly learning, not easy to learn a new language at my age. LOL

[AprilLove]

There is a great interactive tutorial site on Nikon for anyone who owns a Nikon DSLR, when you get to this page, just click on your camera model. The tutorial uses video, to demonstrate and explain settings
You have to roll your mouse over the left side of the screen to get to the menu

Digitutor | Global Site | Nikon Imaging