rookie needs help

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jonathan on June 18, 2009 at 11:25am

did you mean to say you have a d60 and want a lens for portraits but don't know which lens are compatible? whats your budget cause there are many different lens, and if you have a small budget, would you mind getting an off brand lens like sigma or tamron?

Permalink Reply by Fred on June 18, 2009 at 12:02pm

I do not use the D60 as I use the D80, 300 & 700 but you should find that 99.7% of Nikon lenses will fit your camera.
The lens I would recommend, to start with, is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D. It is, I believe, the cheapest lens Nikon produces. I use it for portraits and landscapes, great lens, everyone should have one.

Permalink Reply by Kevin on June 18, 2009 at 12:03pm

Just make sure what ever lens you buy has a built in focus motor. Nikons are AF-S, I think Sigma's are HSM.

That is unless your into manual focusing, because your D60 doesn't have an in camera focus motor.

Permalink Reply by osvaldo on June 18, 2009 at 12:03pm

no but yea i am in a tide bugget

Permalink Reply by Fred on June 18, 2009 at 2:10pm

I have just looked on ebay and found the 50mmm lens for around $143. They have used lenses as well.
You could also check Craigslist.

Permalink Reply by Paul McBride on June 18, 2009 at 3:08pm

The 50mm f/1.8D will not auto-focus on your camera.

If you want a fast prime, the new 35mm f/1.8 G has a built-in focus motor; I have the older 35mm f/2D, and I love it, though I do not feel it is a great portrait lens.

If you have the 18-105 VR (which I believe is the kit lens for the D60), you might try it out as your portrait lens. You'll have a bit of an issue with subject isolation, but it definitely covers the 50mm-85mm focal range that is ideal for portraits...

Permalink Reply by Jonathan on June 18, 2009 at 4:25pm

i just looked up compatability and it said the d60 will auto focus with the 50mm f/1.8 ... now that i recall it i remember lending my friend the 50mm and she had a d40 and she had to manually focus it so with that. the 50mm is the best budget lens you could buy... new i think its like $120


http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html

this is the site i use to look up lens compatibility

Permalink Reply by Paul McBride on June 18, 2009 at 4:33pm

According to the site you linked to, they are compatible, but the 50mm will not auto-focus. The D60, like the D5000, D40, and D40x, lacks the built in screw-drive focus, so cannot auto-focus non AF-S lenses.

Permalink Reply by osvaldo on June 18, 2009 at 8:11pm

thanx for everything guys i will fallow your advises