Nikon 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6D Lense... good for? Speedlight SB-600?

[Dave Humphries]

Dan,

Taking "extreme rookie" at face value and hoping to educate some more

Are you using the single (selectable) focus point mode for AF?
Are you using either AF-S (static), so it beeps when focused?
(the aim above is for you to be in control, not have the camera 'second guessing' and giving you unpredictable results)

Are you putting the single focus point onto an edge, not a surface?

Let me elaborate on that last question with a little explanation.

AF doesn't work well on surfaces (or low contrast edges); e.g. the cheek of a face, or the nose against the cheek, or the surface of a leaf
AF works better on detecting high contrast edges; i.e. a boundary between light and dark picture areas; e.g. the eyes of a face, or the edges of a twig/branch/leaf, etc.
It matters which direction an edge is in relation to the AF point.
The centre AF point works on both horizontal or vertical edges (it is sometimes known as a 'cross type' AF point)
You will notice the other AF points are rectangular and ideally the edge needs to cross the long edge of the AF point

So if you follow the above advice; set single AF point and AF-S modes and use the other information to choose what you focus on, it really should be better than manual focusing - assuming you're not trying all this in very low light, or with the polariser on, either of which will cause more problems.

Cheers,

[DanInNewEngland]

Thank you Dave... I have been using the single AF point with AF-S and I'm working on using the different metering modes. I will pay better attention to where I set the single AF point to autofocus and look for high contrast hard edges. I picked up the AF-S 35mm 1:1.8G today and having a lot of fun with it. Nice to be able to open up to 1.8 where my other lenses start at 4.5 except the older 28-80mm with is an f/3.5 but I am not going to pay $2,499 for a telephoto that is f/2.8!!! The 35mm is very fun to practice with and light. I could be wrong but this seems to me like it may be a nice lens to shoot fireworks with if close enough?

[DanInNewEngland]

Hey Robin... I picked up the 35mm and really like it. Not as obnoxious and the 55-300mm lens and much lighter to carry around. Very fast sharp and quiet lens. I am going to practice on all types of subjects. From your experience do you think this would be good for fireworks if close enough?

[Manfred M]

First of all, based on its age, I suspect that your 28-80mm lens is an autofocus lens, but requires a camera with a built-in motor to work. The D5100 does not have this, so while the lens will work, you will have to manually focus it. I have not used the D5100, so I'm guessing here, but suspect the viewfinder screen might be a bit difficult to use manually focus. Throw it on a D90, D7000, etc. and it will autofocus quite nicely.

The f/1.8 35mm is a "standard" lens for the APS-C sensor you have on that body and is a newer lens that has a built-in focusing motor that will autofocus with your body. It will give similar results to a 50mm lens on a full-frame / 35mm film camera. I find it is a great lens for street photography with the D90. It lets you get close to your subject without being to obvious and it is nice and fast and lets your get a nice shallow depth of field. While I find it a bit short for my liking, the 50mm makes a reasonable portrait lens (similar to what a 75mm full frame lens would give you).

With your "soft" results, are you sure that this is an out of focus issue or is it a camera movement issue? Both cause softness, but have different causes.

The SB-600 is a fairly decent flash (I own one). The only thing I really don't like about it is the somewhat convoluted controls. I find that if I don't use it often enough, I will forget how to do certain settings. The only thing I don't like about it is that it does not come with a diffuser, but on the other hand you can either make one yourself or pick up a third-party one.

[DanInNewEngland]

Thanks Manfred I'm having alot of fun with the 35mm DX right now and think I'll be using it often. Maybe I will find a buyer for my older lens that owns a D90 or D7000. I just found my bulb last night! ROFL not as easy to find as it seems. Practicing with long exposures today and tonight. Keeping it fun! Be safe... - Dan (NAUI Divemaster/Rescue Diver)

[Manfred M]

Thanks Manfred I'm having alot of fun with the 35mm DX right now and think I'll be using it often. Maybe I will find a buyer for my older lens that owns a D90 or D7000. I just found my bulb last night! ROFL not as easy to find as it seems. Practicing with long exposures today and tonight. Keeping it fun! Be safe... - Dan (NAUI Divemaster/Rescue Diver)

Sounds like you are enjoying yourself. That's the idea!

[DanInNewEngland]

Sounds like you are enjoying yourself. That's the idea!

I am! I also appreciate those who have been so helpful. I'm not sure if this will work but here's a photo I took on my walk tonight with my new lens...