URGENT Advice Needed

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sparkzweb

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Hey,

I'm buying a camera literally this second and I need some really quick advice.

I have been told that the Nikon 35mm 1.8 lens is really good:
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/camera...-35-mm-f-1-8g-lens-08160378-pdt.html#longDesc

But can that lens zoom in?

If not and I want to be able to zoom in, will I have to get the kit lens?

I am getting the Nikon D3200 and need to decide quick on whether or not I should get the kit lens!!

Would prefer not to get it to save money!

Many Thanks in advance!!!
 
The 35mm is a fixed prime, it cannot zoom.

Any zoom will always have 2 figures, eg 18-55.

If you have no other lenses, and for what the kit lens costs when bought with the body it is generally a good idea to buy it, it's far more useful for everyday use than a single prime.
 
thanks for the quick reply

but I have read it brings a massive distance to image quality, its worth it though right?
 
A lot of newbies get the kit lens for the bit of zoom, I am guessing it is 18-55? this is ok, but that is not a lot of zoom to be honest.

The 35mm is a prime lens, so you will have no zoom, however youa are probably right in saying that it is really good.
 
sparkzweb said:
thanks for the quick reply

but I have read it brings a massive distance to image quality, its worth it though right?
Click to expand...

You should maybe leave it a day before buying and do a bit of research on the differences.

I walk about with a 50mm 1.8 quite a lot, but for some things I have to hire a zoom lens because I only have an 18-105mm and it is often not enough.
 
sparkzweb said:
thanks for the quick reply

but I have read it brings a massive distance to image quality, its worth it though right?
Click to expand...

Whilst the 35mm prime will offer an improvement to IQ, I very much doubt it would be a massive improvement.

I doubt you would tell the difference at normal print sizes.
 
thanks for the advice guys

I went ahead and got the d3200 + kit lens and the 35mm prime.
Reason why I got it is because loads of reviews said that the kit lens is bad and that a new lens should be gotten asap.

Can you guys recommend any tutorials or videos?

I have a premium tutsplus account too.
 
Just to pipe in, don't get hung up on the " kit lens is crap " reviews. Whilst they are nowhere near as good as £1000+ lenses, you can still do a hell of a lot with them and get good results.
 
sparkzweb said:
thanks for the advice guys

I went ahead and got the d3200 + kit lens and the 35mm prime.
Reason why I got it is because loads of reviews said that the kit lens is bad and that a new lens should be gotten asap.

Can you guys recommend any tutorials or videos?

I have a premium tutsplus account too.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with the kit lens.
 
Just buy the kit lens with the d3200. Currys are charging around £373 at the mo?

You'll end up buying more lenses anyway, and the 35/1.8DX is a good lens. But it don't zoom.
 
Nowt wrong with the kit lens,you will outgrow it eventually but enjoy learning with it:)
 
Your a nutter!

Dont go buying equipment on 2 minutes advice.. look into it proper.. asking if a 35mm prime will zoom.. you need more info before spending money..

PS nutter meant in a nice way :)
 
I have the 35mm too and it is indeed a great lens. The 18-55 is perfectly fine. The wide end is creative enough for landscapes and the narrow end quite good for close up work since the focal distance on the lens is quite good.

If the shop assistanct said the 18-55 is rubbish then he should be named and shamed imo.
 
Thanks for the advice.

Lol let me clarify that this wasn't bought on a whim. I have done a lot of research on what dslr to purchase and seen a lot of reviews, its just that I was looking at camera bodies not lenses so I was unsure.

I've bought the 3 hour video guide from www.froknowsphoto.com
Its really good I reccomend it.
 
I have the D3100 and the kit lens is a very good lens, given me plenty of good pics!
 
hold off on buying more how to stuff.

There is a huge amount of great stuff on you tube for free.

Start here.

Tony Nothrup
Dom Blower

You have already found Fro. His stuff is good if you watch it from the beginning, the newer stuff has less great content and is more "self publicising".

Good luck!
 
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I think you'll find the 35mm a great little lens. I use it when I go out and about as it's light, very crisp and theres no faffing around. The latest photos on my flickr were all done with this lens.
 
As others have said the kit lens is perfectly capable and for a good while it will be your learning curve, not your equipment, which holds you back.
The 35mm is well worth having and the fact that you can shoot at f1.8 will help you learn how this affects the depth of field more than it would with the kit lens.
Enjoy your camera.
 
Tunbridge said:
As others have said the kit lens is perfectly capable and for a good while it will be your learning curve, not your equipment, which holds you back.
The 35mm is well worth having and the fact that you can shoot at f1.8 will help you learn how this affects the depth of field more than it would with the kit lens.
Enjoy your camera.
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Yea thats one reason why I got it. The review by froknowsphoto said that you will learn things a lot better and quicker if you start with the 35mm instead of the kit lens.

In terms of workflow, what suite of programs do you use?
I've got my mac ready with: lightroom, photoshop and colour strokes
anything I'm missing?
 
sparkzweb said:
I've bought the 3 hour video guide from www.froknowsphoto.com
Its really good I reccomend it.
Click to expand...

Hum, I've listened to some of his podcasts, some stuff is good...

A general rule of thumb I've found in the US (and forums) is the more money spent the better the stuff must be and so you'll be better.

On here though there's lots of useful advice.

Anyhow - welcome to your new camera, get out, play with it, READ THE MANUAL :D and stick up some shots.
 
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The Nikkor 18-55mm kit lens is pretty decent, I'm about to upgrade mine to a 16-85mm for a little hike in IQ and a little bit more range, but I'm still very happy with the image quality from the kit lens, especially as a general purpose walkabout.
 
sparkzweb said:
Yea thats one reason why I got it. The review by froknowsphoto said that you will learn things a lot better and quicker if you start with the 35mm instead of the kit lens.

In terms of workflow, what suite of programs do you use?
I've got my mac ready with: lightroom, photoshop and colour strokes
anything I'm missing?
Click to expand...

I'd learn how to use the camera first.. :)
 
sparkzweb said:
Yea thats one reason why I got it. The review by froknowsphoto said that you will learn things a lot better and quicker if you start with the 35mm instead of the kit lens.

In terms of workflow, what suite of programs do you use?
I've got my mac ready with: lightroom, photoshop and colour strokes
anything I'm missing?
Click to expand...

No need to run before you can walk.

Learn about the exposure triangle first, learn about light and how it falls on subjects, learn what makes for good composition in a photo.

Stick with something simple to use like lightroom for most of your post.
 
Make sure you have fun using your camera without getting caught up with the technical stuff.
 
I would say don't get hung up on all the kit lens being great suggestions either. It's slow, not so good in low light and feels like it cost about £5 to produce.

The 35 prime will offer much more, outside of zoom-ability. With a prime, you learn to 'zoom with your feet' - much more rewarding. So what a kit can zoom? the range is so short you're talking a few steps forward/back, but you'll get lovely distortion at the wide end and it'll be twice as slow to AF than a prime.

You have both anyway now, you'll see for yourself.

I'd be willing to bet most of those who praise the kit lenses don't use them much, if at all, anymore.
 
Cagey75 said:
I would say don't get hung up on all the kit lens being great suggestions either. It's slow, not so good in low light and feels like it cost about £5 to produce.

The 35 prime will offer much more, outside of zoom-ability. With a prime, you learn to 'zoom with your feet' - much more rewarding. So what a kit can zoom? the range is so short you're talking a few steps forward/back, but you'll get lovely distortion at the wide end and it'll be twice as slow to AF than a prime.

You have both anyway now, you'll see for yourself.

I'd be willing to bet most of those who praise the kit lenses don't use them much, if at all, anymore.
Click to expand...

Speak for yourself. I have a nikon kit lens and its very good. Af is fine. Its sharp and it build is nice. I dont know what kit lens you had but to say what you did seems stupid.
 
Cagey75 said:
I would say don't get hung up on all the kit lens being great suggestions either. It's slow, not so good in low light and feels like it cost about £5 to produce.

The 35 prime will offer much more, outside of zoom-ability. With a prime, you learn to 'zoom with your feet' - much more rewarding. So what a kit can zoom? the range is so short you're talking a few steps forward/back, but you'll get lovely distortion at the wide end and it'll be twice as slow to AF than a prime.

You have both anyway now, you'll see for yourself.

I'd be willing to bet most of those who praise the kit lenses don't use them much, if at all, anymore.
Click to expand...

You'd lose your money on that bet.
 
barratt1988 said:
Speak for yourself. I have a nikon kit lens and its very good. Af is fine. Its sharp and it build is nice. I dont know what kit lens you had but to say what you did seems stupid.
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Eh, I do speak for myself, and from experience. Ive had sony and nikon kits and they were as i stated. how about you do same instead of telling me my opinion is stupid!? Thanks. I do t know where all the kit lens rage comes from these days but if you're so happy with it, good for you. Ill still say same, it's actually annoying to see people harp on about them and give bad advice like it would be better than a prime. Years ago the advice was almost always opposite. They'd tell you to move instead of relying onshort zoom. It can help you learn a hell of a lot more. Never mind about quality. Someone needs to be honest.

And I doubt I'd lose the bet with honest folk. I bet ;)
 
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Cagey75 said:
Eh, I do speak for myself, and from experience. Ive had sony and nikon kits and they were as i stated. how about you do same instead of telling me my opinion is stupid!? Thanks. I do t know where all the kit lens rage comes from these days but if you're so happy with it, good for you. Ill still say same, it's actually annoying to see people harp on about them and give bad advice like it would be better than a prime. Years ago the advice was almost always opposite. They'd tell you to move instead of relying onshort zoom. It can help you learn a hell of a lot more. Never mind about quality. Someone needs to be honest.

And I doubt I'd lose the bet with honest folk. I bet ;)
Click to expand...

What a load of crap. Moving around wont change for FOV so good luck with that. And no one is saying the quality is amazing if it was then it wouldnt be given away with cameras. People are saying they are satisfactory. Id love to see what kit you have and what you think you require? And years ago people shot film. Life moves on and so have lenses. Few few people now use primes other than 50s 85s and macros
 
sparkzweb said:
In terms of workflow, what suite of programs do you use?
I've got my mac ready with: lightroom, photoshop and colour strokes
anything I'm missing?
Click to expand...

Back on track, Lightroom will be more than enough, certainly to start with. Just make sure you get a system in place for storing your photos otherwise you will end up in a mess. Scott Kelby's book is very good when it comes to learning Lightroom.

However, as others have said, you need to learn the camera first before you even start worrying about editing. If you are getting the shots right in the camera you will need to do way less editing!
 
Cagey75 said:
I would say don't get hung up on all the kit lens being great suggestions either. It's slow, not so good in low light and feels like it cost about £5 to produce.

The 35 prime will offer much more, outside of zoom-ability. With a prime, you learn to 'zoom with your feet' - much more rewarding. So what a kit can zoom? the range is so short you're talking a few steps forward/back, but you'll get lovely distortion at the wide end and it'll be twice as slow to AF than a prime.

You have both anyway now, you'll see for yourself.

I'd be willing to bet most of those who praise the kit lenses don't use them much, if at all, anymore.
Click to expand...

As others have already pointed out, but what a load of nonsense.

"Zoom with your feet" how does that work in a small room? Do you use your feet to kick a wall down? How about over a river? Use your feet to walk on water? Aviation photography? Feet don't fly.

Oh, and I often use my kit lens, it's small, light and sharp. Sometimes it's the most convenient lens to carry and I've made some excellent poster prints with the kit lens.

Perhaps when you have a little more experience you might also realise that AF speed is influenced by more than just zoom or prime, there are many zooms with faster AF than the average prime, and many primes with reasonably slow AF.
 
Sorry but I know it's not the in thing :D,but I love my zoom lens for about 90% of what I shoot a small zoom is great.
A lot of people like their primes,but I am not sure if people don't just buy them because they feel they must,and they never get used.

:)
 
My camera and lens has arrived.

Working through this 1 hour tutorial specifically for this camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFgec24IgFY

One thing though, when putting my eye on the viewfinder my nose/face rubs against the screen which leaves marks/sweat on the screen.

How do you guys tackle that?
 
sparkzweb said:
My camera and lens has arrived.

Working through this 1 hour tutorial specifically for this camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFgec24IgFY

One thing though, when putting my eye on the viewfinder my nose/face rubs against the screen which leaves marks/sweat on the screen.

How do you guys tackle that?
Click to expand...

With a lens cleaner in a soft circular motion .... seriously!?
 
No I meant how do you stop that from happening lol, it must get annoying

Also to focus I turn the thing on the lens?
Also what is that red square that I move around on the screen, or when I change which dot I'm using while looking through the viewfinder? its really confusing, what does it control?

thanks
 
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