A while back I made a thread about getting a great deal on FUJIFILM FinePix S1 Pro. Well, I got the camera and the reviews I've read seem good. The only problem is I got the camera from a dentist and it has this crazy zoom-type lens on it (pictured below). What type of lens is that? Any good, worth holding on to?


I think it's a little too much for what I want - taking photographs of cars and objects. Maybe some portraits as well. What type of lens should I get for everyday use? The camera says "Nikon F-MOUNT" right below the lens. Thanks in advance.

http://img117.exs.cx/img117/6029/picture0209bg.jpg

That's a macro only lens, which means very sharp close up pictures. Not to be confused with a telephoto. The Macro means that you can be inches away from an object, still focus, and have 1/2 life size to life size images on the ccd/cmos sensor. A telephoto lens (which the lens shown isn't) will pull an object from afar.

If you're on a budget, I'd suggest a Tamron lens in the range of 28-70 or so. The Nikon 28-70 lens f/2.8 is, in fact, made by Tamron FOR Nikon. Nikon just changes the outer casing and adds an ED element for one of the rear glass elements. Tamron doens't make all the lenses for Nikon though.

F Mount is very popular among the photographers and is the only mount that Nikon has used since it's intro of it's SLR.

You can use the 105mm in portraits, but you'll have to be a bit closer. 135mm is the "classic" focal length of a portrait lens, but I've used 85mm with great results.

Percy

That's a macro only lens, which means very sharp close up pictures. Not to be confused with a telephoto. The Macro means that you can be inches away from an object, still focus, and have 1/2 life size to life size images on the ccd/cmos sensor. A telephoto lens (which the lens shown isn't) will pull an object from afar.

If you're on a budget, I'd suggest a Tamron lens in the range of 28-70 or so. The Nikon 28-70 lens f/2.8 is, in fact, made by Tamron FOR Nikon. Nikon just changes the outer casing and adds an ED element for one of the rear glass elements. Tamron doens't make all the lenses for Nikon though.

F Mount is very popular among the photographers and is the only mount that Nikon has used since it's intro of it's SLR.

You can use the 105mm in portraits, but you'll have to be a bit closer. 135mm is the "classic" focal length of a portrait lens, but I've used 85mm with great results.

Percy

Thanks Percy.

So let me see if I have this straight. I should hold on to the 105mm macro lens since it's designed to take very sharp close up pictures. So it might come in handy if I wanted to photograph an insect from a close distance but if I wanted to take a picture of my car I would have to be further back than normal right?

I was looking around for the Tamron 28-70 you suggested. Do you know of any online sites that are good for photography equipment? Also what does "f/2.8" mean? Thanks again.

Technics,

Yep, you got it! 105mm for an all car shot...you'd have to be quite a bit further away than with a wide angle 28mm lens. Our eye "sees" at about 50mm, so you can use this number as a baseline.

The f/2.8 number is called the "F/Stop". It's a ratio of the diameter of the outer lens element and how many lens diameters it will need to get to the focal plane. In other words, the lower the number, the "faster" the lens. f/2.8 is quite respectable and is considered a "fast" lens. You might see other numbers such as f/4, f/5.6, f/8, etc. Just know that the lower the number, the more light the lens will let in.

Depending on your shooting conditions, the faster the lens, usually the better the quality. Canon L lenses and Nikon ED lenses are like this. They have f/2.8 and f/4 versions of their 300mm telephoto. The f/2.8 will let in TWICE as much light as the f/4. So, in dim conditions, if you were shooting at 1/30th of a second with f/4, you'll be shooting at 1/60th of a second with the f/2.8 - that difference can make or break your chance of getting a good pic.

As for online sites...the only one I really like is Cameraworld of Oregon. Otherwise I shop at Helix or Calumet Photo.

Percy

That's a macro only lens, which means very sharp close up pictures. Not to be confused with a telephoto. The Macro means that you can be inches away from an object, still focus, and have 1/2 life size to life size images on the ccd/cmos sensor.

For teeth, perhaps? :D

Technics,

Yep, you got it! 105mm for an all car shot...you'd have to be quite a bit further away than with a wide angle 28mm lens. Our eye "sees" at about 50mm, so you can use this number as a baseline.

The f/2.8 number is called the "F/Stop". It's a ratio of the diameter of the outer lens element and how many lens diameters it will need to get to the focal plane. In other words, the lower the number, the "faster" the lens. f/2.8 is quite respectable and is considered a "fast" lens. You might see other numbers such as f/4, f/5.6, f/8, etc. Just know that the lower the number, the more light the lens will let in.

Depending on your shooting conditions, the faster the lens, usually the better the quality. Canon L lenses and Nikon ED lenses are like this. They have f/2.8 and f/4 versions of their 300mm telephoto. The f/2.8 will let in TWICE as much light as the f/4. So, in dim conditions, if you were shooting at 1/30th of a second with f/4, you'll be shooting at 1/60th of a second with the f/2.8 - that difference can make or break your chance of getting a good pic.

As for online sites...the only one I really like is Cameraworld of Oregon. Otherwise I shop at Helix or Calumet Photo.

Percy


Thanks :thumbup:

Just messing around with macro lens :D

http://img112.exs.cx/img112/4737/bud1go.jpg

Very cool. :thumbup:

Try taking pics of coins, notes, food - good subjects.