Zooming basically relies on walking, focusing basically relies on twisting, shading basically relies on hands, blurring basically relies on shaking, metering basically relies on looking, anti-shake basically relies on elbows, dust removal basically relies on mouth, and lenses are generally of poor quality. With the price drop of digital single-lens reflex cameras, many friends want to buy a DSLR, but many people do not know how to choose a lens. Moreover, in order to raise the threshold of SLRs, some merchants and professional media deliberately use some terms that sound "professional." Quite a few "masters" or experienced photographers often bring up some excellent Nikon lenses or Canon super lenses to "educate" newcomers, making themselves appear knowledgeable and professional.
In fact, SLRs are not too complicated, at least simpler than cars or audio equipment. As an entry-level novice, I would like to share my personal experience and try to explain SLRs in simple terms. In the world of SLRs, you don't need to be afraid. For daily use, taking photos doesn't require deep knowledge or much professional expertise. Photography is a form of enjoyment; why make it so complex and exhausting?
Whether it's Canon, Nikon, Sony, or Pentax, manufacturers have thoroughly analyzed the market. Therefore, you will always find strengths and weaknesses in different products from various brands. When it’s difficult to choose, here are three criteria for selecting a camera body:
1. Shape and feel: If you don’t like the shape or the feel isn’t good, using it won’t be enjoyable, so consider other options for now.
2. Pixel count: The mainstream currently has 10 million pixel SLRs. So, models like Canon's 400D (the newly released 40D), Nikon's D200/D80/D40X, Sony's A100, and Pentax's K10D are all mainstay models.
3. Price: This is straightforward—spend according to your budget. Most 10 million pixel cameras cost between 5K-7K RMB. Only Nikon's D200, which is a semi-professional model, costs around 10K RMB.
4. Don't overly focus on the current dust removal feature of the camera body. The effect of this new feature isn’t as good as advertised, so there’s no need to worry about it now. The body stabilization function is still quite practical.
Since I personally use Nikon, I will focus on how to choose Nikon lenses. And to be responsible, I only write about lenses I've used myself. Some I own, others belong to close friends. After playing with them for a while, I found they each have their own characteristics. I aim to describe them objectively, though I must say they are all worth considering. The key is to see what meets your requirements and fits your budget.
Nikon lenses have these general features: prime lenses perform better than zooms, prices are relatively affordable, images are sharp, and high-end products slightly lag behind Canon (though some experts strongly oppose this point). Recently, Nikon released three new telephoto prime lenses, which will surely boost its reputation. In the mid-to-low-end range, Nikon does not fall short and may even outperform slightly. As one of the leading global lens brands, Nikon has been competing with Canon for decades. Nikon lenses tend to be cheaper and more robust in the mid-to-low-end segment, thus being loved by many photography enthusiasts. Canon holds a leading position in professional fields such as sports photography, which is why you see many people using Canon's large lenses during football or tennis matches. (Some experts oppose this view, but currently, Canon lenses dominate in certain areas, partly due to Nikon's slower continuous shooting speed on high-end models.)
As an ordinary hobbyist, buying a DSLR is just for fun and entertainment, capturing flowers and landscapes. Total investment might be 10,000-30,000 RMB. How likely is it to purchase such specialized lenses and bodies? (Also, is it necessary to distinguish so clearly between Nikon and Canon? People on forums seem most concerned about whether you're part of the C group or N group, sometimes creating fierce rivalries.) Of course, wealthy players can afford to buy multiple top lenses, but that's beyond the scope of this discussion. Money makes things easier; there’s no need to worry about matching lenses.
Actually, both Canon and Nikon have inferior lenses, good lenses, and top lenses. It's like Sichuan cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine—some dishes aren't great, but others are absolutely delicious. I just happen to prefer hot pot more. After choosing Nikon, I thought about switching to Canon for a while, but then realized that Canon users also think about trying Nikon. Thus, mastering your own equipment is the key. Even with lots of money, after buying all the gear, the result is still the same. No photographic work wins awards solely based on top-tier equipment. Equipment is merely a tool; don't excessively pursue or idolize it. Let's skip the chatter and get to the main topic.
### Lens Classification
1. **By Brand**
Lenses are typically classified by brand, such as Nikon lenses, Canon lenses, Pentax lenses, and Sony lenses. Please note that these branded lenses cannot be directly interchanged. If you choose a Nikon DSLR, it will be difficult to use Canon lenses because their mounts are designed differently. Although the fun of DSLRs lies in changing lenses, we often find that the number of interchangeable lenses is limited. This is determined by profit considerations and won't change in the short term.
There is a special category called third-party lenses. Once you buy a particular brand's camera body, such as Nikon, you usually choose lenses produced by Nikon itself, known as "original factory lenses." Alternatively, you can select lenses made by third-party companies like Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina for Nikon bodies, referred to as "third-party lenses." Similarly, Canon and Pentax bodies can use lenses produced by Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina specifically designed for them.
However, since a DSLR user often buys only one body but several lenses, the manufacturer's profits mainly come from lenses and related accessories. Therefore, companies like Nikon and Canon, which produce both bodies and lenses, hope that everyone in the world only buys their cameras and lenses. Consequently, third-party manufacturers receive little technical support from Nikon and Canon. As a result, compatibility issues may arise in some of their products. Additionally, due to manufacturing experience and quality control reasons, individual differences can be significant. You may luck out and buy a lens with no problems, or you may luck out and buy one with many problems, or even exchange several lenses and still encounter issues.
However, overall, the quality of third-party lenses has improved significantly. Excluding some individual cases, many classic and excellent lenses are worth purchasing. I will discuss third-party lens recommendations later.
2. **By Focal Length**
Traditional 135mm lenses are generally classified by focal length:
- **10-17mm**: Super wide-angle – mainly for landscape photography, especially large scenes like grasslands, deserts, and seas.
- **17-35mm**: Wide-angle – landscapes, humanistic photography, travel photography.
- **50-85mm**: Medium focal length – humanistic and portrait photography. Within this range, the 85mm focal length is particularly praised as the best for portraits, hence the nickname "portrait lens."
- **105-200mm**: Telephoto lens – suitable for portraits, lotus flowers, stages, etc.
- **Above 105mm**: All are considered telephoto lenses. Commonly used ones go up to 200mm, but some people who enjoy wildlife or bird photography may use lenses with focal lengths of 300mm, 400mm, or even 600mm. These lenses cost tens of thousands and are not affordable for the average person.
3. **Other Ways to Classify Lenses**:
- **Prime vs Zoom**: Prime lenses have fixed focal lengths, such as Nikon's 105mm macro lens. Zoom lenses have adjustable focal lengths, such as Nikon's 17-35mm f/2.8D.
- **Dog Head vs Cattle Head**: This terminology is used by photography enthusiasts. Manufacturers often refer to "economical, practical regular lenses" and "excellent imaging professional lenses." Since manufacturers need to make a profit, they can't offer lenses that are both high-quality and cheap. However, both Nikon and Canon have lenses that offer good image quality at reasonable prices, such as the 50mm f/1.8. Both manufacturers' versions of this lens are worth purchasing and are widely recognized.
Understanding the basic classification of lenses, after selecting a preferred camera body, before purchasing lenses, please consider the following questions first (wealthy individuals can ignore these):
1. What is your maximum budget? Don't casually increase your budget after reading a few articles or posts. Beginners should start with practical needs. Buying a top-of-the-line lens without fully utilizing its capabilities wastes money and ties up funds unnecessarily.
2. What do you photograph most often? Refer to the focal lengths I mentioned earlier. If you like portraits, choose lenses within the 35-85mm range. If you prefer landscapes or travel photography, opt for a 17-35mm wide-angle lens. If you enjoy photographing lotus flowers or birds, consider a 200mm lens. Remember to account for the crop factor if you’re not using a full-frame DSLR.
3. Do you have high requirements for image quality? This question is broad. What constitutes good image quality? There are many standards, and debates about lens quality have been ongoing since the invention of lenses. Simply put, good image quality means clarity, pure colors, sharpness within focus, smoothness outside of focus, and excellent detail representation. Analyze your photography goals. If you're just having fun, regular lenses are sufficient. If you plan to work professionally in photography or advertising, investing in premium lenses might be necessary. (One expert said he shoots ads without premium lenses, but that's because he's an expert!)
4. Will you upgrade within six months? Once you enter the DSLR world, almost no one stays static. Nikon is nicknamed "mud pit" for a reason. I haven’t met anyone who bought a DSLR and didn’t eventually want to upgrade lenses. When purchasing lenses, consider potential upgrades and resale value.
Supplement: DSLR lenses generally retain their value better than compact cameras or smartphones. Typically, well-maintained, genuine lenses with warranty sell for about 85% of their original price. For example, if you spend 7500 RMB on a Nikon 85mm f/1.4D portrait lens, keep it for ten months in excellent condition with packaging and receipts intact, you could resell it for around 6000 RMB. Consider this depreciation as annual wear and tear. Using a premium lens for ten months is still worthwhile. Some argue that investing this amount in stocks might yield higher returns, but stocks carry risks, whereas lenses, if well-maintained, almost always find buyers quickly in the second-hand market.
### My Personal Opinions:
1. Within your budget, prioritize lenses with excellent image quality. This allows you to enjoy photography more and facilitates future upgrades or resales to recover funds.
2. Prioritize purchasing lenses in focal lengths you frequently use. Less commonly used focal lengths can be temporarily ignored or invested in minimally.
3. Rather than buying three mediocre lenses, invest in one excellent lens. Many people stretch their budgets to cover the 17-200mm range with multiple lenses, spending a lot but ending up with no high-quality images.
4. A standard wide-angle lens for landscape photography is sufficient. Landscape photography often uses small apertures, where even regular lenses perform well. Unless you have specific needs, large-aperture wide-angle lenses are unnecessary.
5. The 35-85mm focal length range is the most commonly used. It covers commemorative photos, portraits, and humanistic photography. Especially the 50mm and 85mm focal lengths are almost universal, as you can avoid photographing landscapes or insects but rarely miss capturing your girlfriend, wife, children, friends, family, or even attractive strangers.
6. Long focal length lenses are recommended for those genuinely interested in distant photography. Telephoto lenses are generally heavy, and those who dislike carrying heavy equipment often end up using shorter focal lengths like 24-70mm, 28-70mm, or 85mm more frequently.
Nikon offers lenses across various tiers, ranging from a few hundred yuan to over ten thousand. Beginners often struggle to understand the distinctions, so I'll outline some basic principles for judging lenses:
1. **Prime lenses generally provide better image quality than zoom lenses within the same focal length range.** This is because zoom lenses must balance image quality across multiple focal lengths, while prime lenses focus on optimizing just one.
2. **Larger apertures mean higher costs, and constant aperture lenses are pricier.** Larger apertures increase technical difficulty and production costs, resulting in "large eyes" lenses that are highly appealing. Falling for "large eyes" means opening your wallet—something you’ll experience firsthand.
3. **Heavier lenses tend to be better, and manufacturer-suggested retail prices reflect quality.** Each lens has an optimal aperture for image quality. Generally, F5.6/F8/F11 produces good results, though the best aperture varies by lens model. Understanding your lens helps maximize its performance.
4. **All brands’ zoom lenses with constant apertures are impressive, and larger constant apertures make them even better.** Nikon's civilian-grade zoom lenses with a constant aperture of 2.8 are considered top-tier. That's why a constant aperture of 2.8 signifies "super zoom."
When selecting lenses, first decide what you want to photograph. For instance, if you aim for portraits and love close-ups, a 70-200mm zoom like Nikon's AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED is a constant-aperture 2.8 premium lens.
5. **Prime lenses with maximum apertures of f/1.4 are considered good.** Currently, Nikon's common choices are the 50mm f/1.4D and 85mm f/1.4D, both excellent lenses, especially the latter for portraits.
6. **Macro lenses are consistently strong performers.** Due to design and technology, even third-party manufacturers can produce excellent macro lenses, so you can confidently purchase them. Macro lenses generally show little variation in quality.
Let me introduce Nikon's high-end premium lenses. Given my limited knowledge, I'll only cover common, easily obtainable lenses. Prices are for reference only, as Nikon frequently adjusts pricing.
1. **Nikon Premium Zoom Lenses**
- **Nikon AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥9800 – Famous "Golden Wide-Angle," one of Nikon's three premium zooms. Besides high price, it struggles with purple fringing and flare in the digital age, but otherwise excels in sharpness, distortion control, and color reproduction.
- **Nikon AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥12000 – Nikon's new premium lens optimized for digital bodies. Superior image quality and vibrant colors, but incompatible with full-frame 135 cameras. The price seems unreasonable, starting at around ¥10,000 and fluctuating frequently.
- **Nikon AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥10,300 – Known as the "King of Lenses," once Nikon's best mid-range zoom. Excellent image quality across all focal lengths with a constant f/2.8 aperture. Digital-age issues include noticeable purple fringing, though software can easily resolve this.
- **Nikon AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥13,000 – The "Little Bamboo Cannon," arguably Nikon's most worthy zoom lens. Exceptional image quality across all focal lengths, even at full aperture f/2.8. Lightweight and versatile, this lens is a favorite among professionals. Prices often fluctuate.
2. **Nikon Premium Prime Lenses**
- **Nikon Ai AF 85mm f/1.4D IF**: Reference Price: ¥7,300 – Renowned for portrait photography, offering sharp in-focus areas and smooth bokeh. Color reproduction is excellent, though digital-age issues with purple fringing are notable.
- **Nikon Ai AF 135mm f/2 IF DC**: Reference Price: ¥7,500 – Formerly a portrait king, excelling in smooth bokeh and detailed texture. Its effectiveness diminished in the digital era due to its equivalent focal length of nearly 200mm and lack of VR stabilization, though image quality remains excellent.
- **Nikon AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥5,300 – Outstanding macro lens ideal for close-up photography of flowers, insects, and water droplets. Also versatile for portraits, providing excellent value for money.
Next, let's explore Nikon's mid-range lenses, which offer more affordable prices and are worth considering. These lenses deliver excellent image quality compared to similar lenses from other brands, priced lower with superior build quality—a testament to Nikon's "honest" approach.
1. **Nikon Mid-Range Zoom Lenses**
- **Nikon AF 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥3,250 – Economical and reliable wide-angle lens. While the maximum aperture at 18mm is f/3.5, it suffices for landscape photography where smaller apertures like f/5.6, f/8, or f/11 are often used. Compared to the Golden Wide-Angle's constant f/2.8, this lens saves several thousand RMB.
- **Nikon AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥2,200 – Originally bundled with Nikon's D70 and D70S cameras, this lens offers excellent image quality, versatile focal lengths for landscapes, portraits, and street photography, metal mount, and ultrasonic motor, making it a popular choice.
- **Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥6,200 – Versatile all-in-one lens suitable for travelers who prefer minimal gear. Lightweight and practical, it balances portability and functionality.
- **Nikon AF-S VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6 G (IF)**: Reference Price: ¥1,900
- **Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED**: Reference Price: ¥4,700 – Two newer Nikon releases, covering medium to long focal lengths with decent image quality and affordability, ideal for portraits, wildlife, exhibitions, and stage photography.
- **Nikon AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED**: Reference Price: ¥6,900 – The famous "Little Steel Cannon," offering outstanding image quality with a constant f/2.8 aperture, comparable to premium lenses but overshadowed by the Little Bamboo Cannon. Solid build quality makes it a reliable choice for excellent zoom lenses in this focal range.
2. **Nikon Mid-Range Prime Lenses**
- **Nikon Ai AF 20mm f/2.8D**: Reference Price: ¥3,570 – Excellent wide-angle prime lens with minimal distortion and good color reproduction, ideal for landscapes. Another 24mm f/2.8 version is also excellent, though the 20mm offers a wider field of view on DSLRs. The legendary 28mm f/1.4 is too expensive and hard to find.
- **Nikon Ai AF 35mm