Is a Nikon 35mm f1.8G a good choice for my Nikon D3200?

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

Decided to get into photography a bit more. Always had "point & shoot" cameras which take good pictures but would now like a bit more "manual" input. As a starter DSLR camera I decided to get a Nikon D3200. I have a Nikon18-55mm which came with the camera, and I purchased a Nikon 18-140mm.
A friend suggested that I should get a prime lens and that the Nikon 35mm f1.8G would be a great choice.

What do you think? What is the benefits of this size lens, and should I go with his recommendation, or is there a better choice to be made? I want to be in the position of only needing to carry two lenses with me at any time. My friend once told me, " if you have to carry too much gear you'll soon loose interest in it".

Please excuse my ignorance in all this as I'm very new to it.

Bazza

[Guest Close Guest]

It is a nice street lens and great in lowlight. It isn't wide to do group table shots, nor is it long for single person portrait shots. It really depends on what you want to shoot. I have a 50/1.8 on an FX body and I don't use it very much. The 50mm on an FX body is equivalent in field of view to your 35mm on your DX body. I tend to use a 20/2.8 for landscape or 85/1.8 for portraits.

However, these types of prime lenses are great because it is small and quite cheap. It will definitely give better quality images than the kit lenses.

[Australian Member Find all posts View Profile Close Australian]

If it's cheap then I doubt you will regret it. As AMTS said above, it will be fantastic in low light. Just think of your next camping adventure and taking some brilliant pics around the camp fire! I am a Canon guy with the 50mm 1.8 lens. 50mm is a bit long with my APS size sensor camera body - effectively meaning the lens is 80mm (35mm equivalent). It takes great sharp images but you need more space between you and the subject. So from my experience, a 35mm 1.8 lens would be spot on if it isn't too pricey.
Happy snapping!
Ozzie

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I think you should at least set your kit lens at 35mm and walk around with it to see if the focal length suits your style. If it does, then get it. You'll soon learn how to zoom with your feet.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

The reason for going to a fixed focal length is image quality and speed (small aperture). I run a 50mm prime (f1.4) and full frame camera so roughly 35mm for you. Speed is less of a concern these days with digital and the ease to vary ISO at the touch of a button.

Years ago most 35mm film cameras came with a 50mm prime and that focal length is (supposedly) about the equivalent to your normal range of view with the naked eye. Not the total width you can see but mostly your comfortable range of vision. It's close enough. I learnt how to use that focal length but these days I pretty much use it for its speed. I use it for street scrapes etc late afternoon and night. it is light and easy to carry but I also pack a 16mm fish eye too under the same conditions. Both are premium lenses which cost easily more than the 16-35 I also have in that length. Convenience is a zoom though and unless you find yourself using your zoom at 35mm (which I doubt, I reckon you will either be working wider or way longer than that) keep your money and put it towards a lens that you want to use after a few thousands shots of experience. And trust me there will ALWAYS be a lens you really really need!

Oh and Nikon have typical shots taken from the various lenses to give you an idea go the field of view.

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

Thanks guys.
It's a lot to take in but I like technical things so I think I will enjoy this new hobby. I think that I agree with mjrandom, it's like 4x4's, your never happy with what you have without continually adding accessories or improvements. The two hobbies would seem to be the perfect match.
Bazza

[outbackswine Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close outbackswine]

On a D3200, it will be fine.
Think of me when you carry your 2 lenses, I gotta carry this stuff!

[Reinder4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Reinder4x4]

Outback wine I shouldn't mind to carry those lenses