Lens for a Nikon D90

[Thronsen]

Hi there-

I was thinking of getting the Nikon D90, and was trying to decide between the kit lens (5.8x AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens included) and buying a lens separately. 99% of the pictures I take are of my toddler, both indoors and out, and for most of the pictures Im only 5-15 feet away. So my priorities are:

Fast autofocusing
Good indoors without a flash
Good image stabilization
Fast start up time

Is there a better lens then the kit lens for this sort of picture taking?

Thanks for your help.

[XaiLo]

The new 50mm AF-S is about the cheapest Nikon route or the non AF-S 50mm 1.8.

[Thronsen]

Thanks for your reply. The kit lens is about $300. Im not really looking to save money, just to get a good lens for my use (which could be the kit lens, Im just very unsure how to evaluate lenses).

[Rooz]

whats your budget ?

[JTL]

Hi there-

I was thinking of getting the Nikon D90, and was trying to decide between the kit lens (5.8x AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens included) and buying a lens separately. 99% of the pictures I take are of my toddler, both indoors and out, and for most of the pictures Im only 5-15 feet away. So my priorities are:

Fast autofocusing
Good indoors without a flash
Good image stabilization
Fast start up time

Is there a better lens then the kit lens for this sort of picture taking?

Thanks for your help.

If you're only 5-15 ft. away, why do you think you need image stabilzation? You do know it only helps reduce camera shake and not subject movement, right? And it is most effective at longer focal lengths...so...if you're only 5-15 ft. away, you wouldn't be using a longer focal length and image stabilization would be of dubious value...unless you were in very low light...and if that were the case, there would be much better fast lens choices that didn't have stabilization.

For your stated need I would suggest the Nikkor 35mm f/2.0 or better yet the Nikkor 50mm AF-S f/1.4 G.

[VTEC_EATER]

For indoor shots, I'm going to assume you don't have great lighting, F/2.8 is almost a bare minimum. I would not say you need a prime for this however. There are lots of great third party lenses that will work very well and still offer you some zoom to help with framing. I owuld recommend any of the 18-50/2.8 zooms from Sigma or Tamron. Both are pretty nice, but the Sigma (I believe) wins due to its HSM motor. Those lenses run in the $400 range.

Another reason why I recommend the 18-50/2.8 zooms is because you will be shooting indoors. Even 35mm (on a crop camera) is long indoors. It may work well for a portrait type shot, but that 18mm will really help if you ever take a group shot.

There currently are no 18-50/2.8 zooms with IS for the Nikon. But that extra stop you gain with the lens will greatly help at stopping motion, where a slower lens with IS will not stop motion, only camera shake. With that in mind, I would always recommend a faster lens over image stabilization.

[Thronsen]

Hi there-

Thanks for all your really helpful replies. My budget is around $400, could stretch as needed if its worth it. The reason I listed image stabilization is that Im pretty new to DSLRs, and Im not sure I can hold the camera as steady as more experienced photographers. But from your responses, and given the nature of the subject (toddler running around) perhaps I was wrong to emphasize that.

[XaiLo]

Thanks for your reply. The kit lens is about $300. Im not really looking to save money, just to get a good lens for my use (which could be the kit lens, Im just very unsure how to evaluate lenses).

OK to keep things simple there are basically only two types of lenses Nikon offers consumer grade and pro they don't do the inbetween thing well.

Fast autofocusing
This requirement essentially falls under pro class.
Pro lens have a nice gold plaque and typically have f2.8 or faster. A fast lens is deginated as such because a wider lens aperature allows for faster shutter speeds.

Good indoors without a flash
This requirement essentially falls under pro class for the same reasons mentioned above.

Good image stabilization
This would be what Nikon calls a VR equipped lens (VR = Vibration Reduction)
This is not necessary for the focal range you need and wont help with a moving child. The lens can be steady as a rock but you still need a minimum shutter speed of 1/125 to stop motion.

Fast start up time
This requirement is a product of the camera.

Is there a better lens then the kit lens for this sort of picture taking?
Yes

The 50mm 1.4G is $439 at B&H
The next step up in the Nikon clan
would be the 17-55mm f2.8 $ 1,138.00
or the 24-70mm f2.8 $ 1,429.95

[Rooz]

throsen, as someone who chases toddlers around for work and for play, i can almost guarantee you that without a flash no lens will keep up. my take on it is this, although it may not be the cheapest option, its the best option...

1. get the kit lens cos you will need a general all purpose lens and having VR is great.
2. get a 50mm f1.4G for your kid. shallow dof, excellent in low light
3. get a flash, its the only way to guarantee sharp photos indoors. if you can afford it get the sb600, if you cant, the sb400 does a fine job.

[XaiLo]

3. get a flash, its the only way to guarantee sharp photos indoors.

Nah Rooz, you can always install a skylight.