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Question from Nicole: “What is the best lens you all recommend! I’ve been recommended the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 but its $2000 I know it’s a better quality lens but is there something else that could do the job to take good photos until I become good at it?”
Stacy: what’s your price range?
Michelle: I love my 50!
Craig: 50mm 1.4
Amy: The nifty fifty 50mm f1.8 prime lens. Will run you just over $100 and it’s awesome. I love mine and it never comes off.
Christie: What kind of photography will you be doing?
Sarah: 50mm 1.8
Cassie: I have the 70-200 2.8 and it makes a world of difference on the photos…I highly recommend it if u can afford it
Cheryl: I love my 50 mm ….. I have the tamron 28-75 and its great…or look into the tamron 24-70 I have heard great reviews and its half the price
Cara: The 50mm 1.8 is a pretty good lens for the price… but the 50mm 1.4 is a LOT better. When I shot with a cropped sensor camera, I really preferred a 35mm lens though. My advice when buying a prime lens (not a zoom) is to look through your photos and see what focal length you tend to use most. Then set your zoom lens to that focal length and play around – take shots outdoors AND indoors. The 50mm is a rather tight lens to use indoors on a cropped camera, in my opinion.
Fran: I agree with Amy! I just ordered the Nikon 24-70. I have really learned more with my 50 1.4G than any lens. It has really been the best lens for me to learn on. I love it!
Jacek: It depends what you are shooting. 24-70 f2.8 for canon is $1market price. 50mm f1.4 is great too. I have one for sale $310 shipped
Sadie: I’m agree with those saying it depends a lot on what you shoot! I love my 50mm for portraits, 75-300mm for nature…
Critty: I have 2 go-to lenses in my kit….50mm 1.2 L and the 24-70mm F2.8 (version 1) and I love them both! I adore the 70-200mm V2.8 but can’t afford to add it yet. I use my 24-70mm the most though!
Madison: Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. It’s a fantastic lens that is significantly less expensive! Mine lives on my crop body. Great range, and at 50mm works well for portraits!
Heather: If you want to get that blurred background effect, you need a 2.8 or lower aperture to get the best results. If you just want a basic lens and don’t require that look right now because of funds, go with a 50mm 1.4 and get a lower end zoom lens that covers the 24-70 range. You could also buy non-Nikon lenses which are plentiful. Just read reviews on B&H before deciding. I had all Nikon and just bought a Tokina macro lens and I am in love! Saved myself 1200.00
Donna: I had a 24-70 2.8 and was very disappointed in it. Maybe I got a bad copy but it was not tack sharp at all at 2.8. I had to have it at f 5.6 before I was happy with the pics and I had gotten it to shoot with low light. The 70-200 2.8 is a great lens other than being bulky.
Carolyn: You cannot go wrong with the 50mm 1.8; I have this lens and it’s perfect for portraits (I shoot with a Nikon d7000 – a crop sensor). I also have a 35mm it’s awesome too. The only other lens I own is a 80-200mm 2.8 and it’s great BUT! there is a bit of a learning curve because it’s going to change how much bokeh you get (which you may or may not want) in relation to how far away your subjects are from their background, how far away they are from you, and what focal point/zoom you use. The 50mm is a wider angle and great for learning though, and the price is right. It will force you to be a great photographer, imo. I would start there. 🙂
Jena: There are websites where you can rent lenses for an affordable rate. Camera Lens Rentals is one– you could rent a couple lenses for a couple days & see what you like best!
Meghan: 50mm f1.4. Spend the extra couple hundred for the 1.4 over the 1.8 if you can afford it. I got mine on sale last year at b and h for like $365. Great deal! It’s the only lens I use (right now). Eventually I’d like to upgrade and get a zoom so I don’t always have to be so close 🙂
Katherine: I don’t know where you’re shopping but a 24-70 shouldn’t cost $2000
Eric: Hands down tamron 17-50mm f2.8
Dominique: If it’s an l series lens it’s that price… I have one and use that all the time. The blurry at the 2.8 is awesome. But it depends on what you are shooting
Nicole: Hi Guys thank you for all your feedback I’m shooting mainly portrait and I’m in Australia quite expensive here! I might try the 50mm. At the moment my lens is just the standard with the kit I got. Feedback would be appreciated my work can be found on Nicky G Photography it may give u an idea on what lens I need. I’m all new to this 😉
Ashley: Get a tamron.
Amy: You can really do well with a 50mm when just starting out! And like everyone else said the 50mm f1.8 is the cheapest lens you can get, but good quality.
Amanda: I agree with the others. I have several different lenses and the one I use the most is my 50mm f/1.8!
Crystelle: I think I accidentally deleted my first comment. Do you have a full frame or crop sensor camera? I LOVE my 50mm f/1.8 II for my crop sensor which is equal to a 80mm on a full frame. For portraits I’d recommend longer focal lengths to avoid facial distortion so a 85mm or 100mm prime. They will be much sharper than your current kit lens and you can save up for a L series lens when you’re more established.
Tammy: My first upgrade from my Kit lenses was a 50mm 1.4. Glad I spent the extra money over the 1.8 . After using my prime and my kit lenses during a portrait shoot, the prime lens took better pictures hands down!
April: I know that no one talks about this lens, but I have to tell you that it out performs my L 28-105 hands down and my friends 24-70L too. I have never seen sharper eyes either. It is the Canon 60mm. I use it like people use their 50mm. But I have to say, my 60mm out performs my 50mm. I talked with a Camera Store guy once he agreed that it was a superb lens and for the price being under $400. In fact his thoughts on it were that it was like an L lens for crop sensor cameras for its capabilities. I use it on my 7d and to be honest, when I can afford to upgrade to a full frame someday, I am going to be pretty sad to leave behind this lens. I bought mine on Craigslist for $300. I use it for macro work, portraits….well everything!!!! Best purchase I have made yet.
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