Good Cheap lenses for Nikon DSLR cameras?

9 years 5 months ago #408103 by Scooter
I don't have a lot of money like most of you money bags ;)  

Are there any good cheap lenses that are worth their weight?  I have a D300 and on a limited budget and would like to buy some new glass.  Can you make some suggestions?  


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9 years 5 months ago #408104 by Screamin Scott
I don't know of any good "cheap" lenses. I do know however of good "inexpensive" lenses.... Since you shoot with a D300 (I also have one ) you can pick up older manual focus lenses or older auto focus lenses for a lot less than  the current crop of lenses go for. You lose AF on the older MF  glass, but it's no biggie, you still get metering in manual & aperture modes.... With the first AF lenses, they will AF & meter on the D300.... I have about 85 MF & AF lenses but I do not have "money bags"... I have been shooting since the late 60's & I have gotten these over a few decades.... BTW, I have very few current model lenses...

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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9 years 5 months ago #408128 by garyrhook
Yeah, that's kind of insulting, you know?

I work hard. My goal is to make enough money via photography to support my "habit". I'm not independently wealthy and I don't have everything I want. A lens purchase is about what I can put to work for me, so that it can pay for itself.

In the meantime, I choose to prioritize and do without.

I'll 2nd what Scotty says above: you can use older lenses on that body, or at the least buy used. It's a great way to save money.


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9 years 5 months ago #408161 by effron
Good and cheap might not belong in the same sentence when considering Nikon glass. Good luck!!!

Why so serious?
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9 years 5 months ago #408231 by Joves
Also if you choose to go to with manual focus they must be AI lenses, and not pre AI unless they have been modified. You can tell by the Indexer for the f-stop. The AI have a holes in the Indexer. Also the non-AI lenses base at the mount is flat all the way around, the AI have a notch in them for the Aperture control on the body. That is that little tab you see on the body. The non AI will either break that off, crush it, or jamb it so it is no longer functional. The bodies without focusing motors can use any Nikon lens. Also if you choose to go with MF glass look for E-Series because it tends to be less expensive used. If you lived here in the US I would say hit up KEH, but since you are in GB I do not know if you have an equivalent place. 


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9 years 5 months ago #408308 by Scott Innes
One of my favorite lenses and it only cost me $132 was a 50mm f/1.8.  I love this lens and would recommend it. 


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9 years 5 months ago #409392 by Don Fischer
Hope this works. Guy is a Tamron Rep. Nothing bad about his photo's! He say's these photo's were done with a 16-300 Tamron.

www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthr...ue_Light#Post9294705


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9 years 4 months ago #412703 by Simon Says
For primes, you can look at the 50mm f1.4 FX, and/or the 35mm f1.8 DX. I'd advise against the 35mm f2. 


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9 years 4 months ago #412865 by garyrhook

Scott Innes wrote: One of my favorite lenses and it only cost me $132 was a 50mm f/1.8.  I love this lens and would recommend it. 


There was one posted on CL recently for $100. I am almost tempted, even though I don't really care for 50mm.


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