Portrait taken with the AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
Nikon D60, 1/80s, f4, ISO 400
Wuan and I went to Mid valley Megamall and The Gardens last Sunday with the intention of getting the AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D prime lens for our Nikon D60. Actually, I had wanted to get her the lens as our first wedding anniversary gift. We checked around at Fotokem and Fotodata at Mid Valley Megamall. Fotokem did not have stock while Fotodata gave us a reasonable price but we wanted to shop around a bit more before deciding.
We met up with Victor Chin and family for some Peranakan kuehs at Nyonya Colours. That was the second time we met there. The kuehs there are delicious but my favourite is the leong fun drink that they serve. They are generous with the leong fun and have the mind to include a bubble tea straw for sucking up the bits and pieces of the jelly unlike other shops which use the normal-sized straws.
After having our fill, we went to Foto Flash at The Gardens to check out the lens. Unfortunately, they ran out of stock for this particular lens as it has been selling like hot cakes. We tried the AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D but could not get it to autofocus with the Nikon D60. We then tried AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D and got the same problem. We then attached both lenses to Victor’s spanking new Nikon D90 and they worked like a charm. Only then did we realise that only lenses with the AF-S prefix can autofocus with the Nikon D60. The Nikon D60 does not have the focus motor built into its body. The Nikon D90’s body has built in focus motor and can therefore autofocus with the AF Nikkor lenses.
We then tested the AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED and took several shots with it. We liked the lens and the pictures taken with it but not the price. At RM2,000, it cost almost as much as the Nikon D60. I still want to get Wuan a 50mm prime lens. Nikon recently introduced the AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G. This wide aperture lense has the Silent Wave Motor incorporated and will autofocus with cameras without the focus motor built into the body. And of course this lens also costs a bomb at US$339US$439. I may consider getting one when it is available in December provided I can afford it by then.
50mm f1.8 is a cheaper substitute big aperture lens but with one catch, it only can auto focus with camera with built in lens motor. 50mm f1.4 cost triple but create more quality photo and greater aperture space to play with. nevertheless, greater aperture lens come out with one weakness. that the greater Depth of Field can actually blurred any intended ubject out of focus. the truth, we only use at the f2.8 extend to create adequate depth for a portrait that why some other good f2.8 such as 60mm ,24mm 16-24mm, 18-55mm, 70-200mm lens cost a big hole on anyone pocket.
bigger aperture works well when one want to take some small specific point of thing and created a focus point to it and as an photo effect like some people do it very badly via photoshop.
Peter:
I like the bokeh that such big aperture lenses can give. I hope I can get the 50mm f/1.4G at a good price when it is available.
ps – you might consider getting a external flash if you didn’t have it for a change instead. ^_^ i think that accessories more important that the lens.
Peter:
A lense should be lighter than an external flash for my wrists that are not too strong and fingers that cannot grip too tightly.
The 50mm f1.8 is a pretty good wide aperture lens. I’m using it with my D40 but it is useful for still objects only. The new rangefinder in the D60 which can be activated using S and A modes will help with the manual focusing.
Good news though is that there is now a new AF-S 50mm f1.4 Nikkor on the way. 🙂
Peter:
And hopefully does not cost a bomb too. Looking forward anxiously to its availability in December.
if that case, i would like you to try out speedlite sb-400 and see if it not too heavy for you.
http://www.nikon.com.my/productitem.php?pid=974-e472caf056
it might not be as good as sb600, sb800 and sb900 but i guess better than your camera built in flash. yeah, the bokeh effect really can bring out the photo especially taking portraits. my guess that accessories price hardly drop as fast as the body. if you really want it, you need to find way to finance it. 😉
Peter:
Thanks for the info. Will look into it.
I think this camera’s okay, cause the picture quality is quite good. But you really need a high budget to get a good quality cam. :/
[ Sorry about the small fonts on my blog… I’ll enlarge it for my next posts. 🙂 ]
Peter:
The D60 is a reasonably-price entry level DLSR. Other than that, how the photograph turns out depends on the skills of the photographer.
i have long been a fan of yours and what you represent and for u to visit my blog is an honor. thanks. and happy anniversary. 🙂
Peter:
I do visit your blog but have never left a comment. 🙂
Handsome guy, how are you recently?
Any new project?
Peter:
Photo taking projects… 😀
Hey, I just came across your blog and read this post while looking up the Nikkor f/1.8 lens.
Sorry to burst your bubble but the price of the new Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G lens which will be available in may is predicted to be around 440USD.
Peter:
Thanks for pointing out the error in the price. It was a typo. 😀
And that was one of the reason why I didn’t ask people to get the Nikon D40, D40x or D60. The lack of autofocus motor may not be a big problem, but its a hindrance.
Peter:
You are right. It will only be a problem when using AF lenses instead of AF-S which has the Silent Wave Motor built-in.