Just got the Nikon D60, a few questions

[jsrockit]

Just bought the Nikon D60 after many years away from Photography. I used to use a few Leicas back about 10 years ago and would have loved a digital rangefinder, but I just didn't want to spend that kind of money right now. So, I picked up the new D60 kit to get myself back into Photography.

The one thing I have noticed in the DSLR world is the lack of fast lenses. Why is this? I noticed that Sigma makes a 30mm f/1.4 lens (equiv to a 50mm 35mm film lens right?). Why doesn't Nikon make one? I would love the equivelent of a 35mm f/2 lens (in 35mm film cameras)for my DSLR. What's out there?

[Mark1616]

Hi and welcome to Steve's!!

Congratulations on your new camera, hope you will enjoy using it.

Sigma produce at 24mm f1.8 lens which fits very nicely into this bracket. In 35mm terms it has the same field of view as 36mm so that's a good start.

If you want to go a little wider there is also the Sigma 20mm f1.8 equating to a field of view equivalent to 30mm in 35mm terms.

Nikon don't produce anything faster than f2.8 in this length so I believe these are your only two real options. Neither lenses get the best reviews with from what I have seen the 20mm coming out just on top. They do a lot better when stopped down from what I can tell with the main weaknesses at f1.8-2.2.

[tjsnaps]

First of all Nikon still make a fine line of lenses including fast ones. However the camera you chose is not able to take full advantage of many of them. The D60 seems to be a fine camera, but it is aimed at the beginner. And like other bottom of the line Nikons does not have a focus motor built into the body. Therefore auto focus requires the use of AF-S lenses which there are fewer of. Other Nikon AF lenses can be used, but must be focused manually. You can also mount old manual focus lens (except for Pre AI lenses) but you will then loose exposure metering as well as auto focusing.

[Mark1616]

Oops, amend what I've written then as neither option has motor in lens....... Nikon has not done itself any favors with leaving the drive out (IMHO)!!

[jsrockit]

tjsnaps wrote:

First of all Nikon still make a fine line of lenses including fast ones. However the camera you chose is not able to take full advantage of many of them. The D60 seems to be a fine camera, but it is aimed at the beginner. And like other bottom of the line Nikons does not have a focus motor built into the body. Therefore auto focus requires the use of AF-S lenses which there are fewer of. Other Nikon AF lenses can be used, but must be focused manually. You can also mount old manual focus lens (except for Pre AI lenses) but you will then loose exposure metering as well as auto focusing.

I'm fully aware of the "beginner" status and limitations of the camera I bought. I'm completely fine with the limitations. However, I guess I come from a time when fast lenses and single focal length lenses were the norm, not the exception. The problem with buying the older 35mm format lenses is that I can't just buy a 50mm 1.4 lens...since it will not be the equivilent of a 50mm lens on the D60. If I have to survive with just the kit lens, I can...it's no big deal. By the way, can you please point me in the direction of the fast Nikon lenses that have been designed for DSLRs? I couldn't find any (regardless of if they will be fully compatible with my camera's autofocus or not).

Mark1616, thanks for the tip. I don't mind manual focus...as long as the metering still works. I will look into those further. The good thing is that the sigma I was talking about does have the motor. While I did go to school for photography and I do know what I'm doing, I consider myself a beginner again since I've been away from it for awhile. If I end up taking photography serious again, I will update to a better body. If not, then the D60 will be fine.

[Mark1616]

Yes, you are fine with the 30mm it only becomes a problem when you want to go wider than that while still being fast.

I will let someone else answer the other question on lenses as I'm not a Nikon user so could help out with the first bit but don't have the info you need.

[jsrockit]

Mark1616 wrote:

Yes, you are fine with the 30mm it only becomes a problem when you want to go wider than that while still being fast.

I will let someone else answer the other question on lenses as I'm not a Nikon user so could help out with the first bit but don't have the info you need.

The two you gave me are plenty fast... thanks for your help.

[Mark1616]

They are, but no AF included on them as they don't have motors in them.

[jsrockit]

Mark1616 wrote:

They are, but no AF included on them as they don't have motors in them.

I realized that, but still... as long as I can meter with them in camera, I'm fine with that. I just have to figure that out now. I don't mind manual cameras...I prefer them most of the time.

[Mark1616]

MF is perfectly fine if you have a focus screen to assist it, I'm not sure what is available for Nikon so that is a question worth asking. I would start a new thread so people pick up the question as it will probably be missed if you put it here.