Low light lens suggestions

[fan1080]

As some of you know, I'm very new to DSLR. I bought a D40 with the standard 18-55 kit lens, 55-200 VR and 50 1.8 a few months ago. For our Disney trip in July I got some really nice shots of fireworks and Beauty and the Beast, but not so good for the night parade shots. I didn't get a chance to go to Festival of the Lion King or fantasmic, but I will be going to those shows in Feb and there maybe some other low-light shows too.

The 50 1.8 is a nice lens, but it was difficult to manually focus so I decided to sell it along with the other two lenses and replace them all with the 18-200mm AFS VR. So that leaves me without a low-light lens.

What I have been able to find in the low-light range (I'm assuming 2.8 would be acceptable, correct me if I'm wrong) is very expensive and I'm not sure if there are any non-Nikon lenses that are available for the D40.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what would be a decent entry level, low-light lens (auto focus)? I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

 

[jann1033]

is the d40 the one you can only use some lenses with? if so this won't help but there are some lower light sigmas that come pretty well recommended...i think there is a tokina as well..not sure what mm you are looking for but check out www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/ and maybe that will help.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

is the d40 the one you can only use some lenses with? if so this won't help but there are some lower light sigmas that come pretty well recommended...i think there is a tokina as well..not sure what mm you are looking for but check out www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/ and maybe that will help.

Yes. OP check out the new Sigma lenses with HSM. I heard they can be used on the d40. They're newer so cost more, but still far less than Nikkor lenses.

 

[Master Mason]

take a look at the sigma 24-70 f/2.8 lens... just make sure it is the new model and has the focus moter...

 

[fan1080]

Excellent, thanks for pointing me to the new Sigma's. I didn't realize they now offered AF lenses for the D40.

I'm gonna start my Christmas list today! lol

Thanks everyone.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I think Sigma also makes a few primes that will auto focus on the D40. 2.8 will be fine for most low light situations, but I used my 1.8 at ISO 1600 to get decent photos of Spectro.

 

[Groucho]

Yeah, I think F2.8 is going to be cutting it very close for SpectroMagic. If you do that, I'd do shutter priority to maybe 1/60th of a second, ISO 1600, and it'll probably underexpose sometimes. You'll have to push it in post-processing and will have a little more noise, but the shutter speed should mean you'll hopefully cut down on motion blur.

 

[handicap18]

I thought I read somewhere that the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 will auto focus with the D40/D40x. Its not a bad price. Right around $400. I think you get one at sigma4less.com for around $375. I hope to get one for my D50 before my trip in Nov.

ETA:
I just checked over at Nikonians.org and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is listed as a lens that WILL auto focus with the D40/40x. 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM is the official title. The HSM tells you that it has an in-lens focus motor.

Amazon has one for $396 with free shipping. Kind of expensive compared to the 50mm f/1.8 lenses, but it is THE ONLY lens that is wider than f/2.8 that WILL Auto Focus with your camera. Its a good focal length too. 50mm is considered the "Standard" length on a film SLR. The 30mm with the crop factor has the field of view of a 45mm.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Yeah, I think F2.8 is going to be cutting it very close for SpectroMagic. If you do that, I'd do shutter priority to maybe 1/60th of a second, ISO 1600, and it'll probably underexpose sometimes. You'll have to push it in post-processing and will have a little more noise, but the shutter speed should mean you'll hopefully cut down on motion blur.

For Spectro, I used manual mode, ISO 1600, shutter 1/60, f1.8 and set my exp. comp. to +.7 (I think, maybe even a bit more). Now, I'm not exactly sure what exp. comp. does in manual mode since I was controlling the ISO, shutter and fstop. I shot the photos in RAW and converted to jpeg without any other post processing and was happy with the exposure. Now, at 2.8, the photos may be underexposed. But I wouldn't buy a $400 lens for one parade. Buy what is the most versatile for your normal shooting needs.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

If WDW is your only concern for low light performance, you might consider renting a lens rather than buying one.

 

[fitzperry]

I think you get one at sigma4less.com for around $375. I hope to get one for my D50 before my trip in Nov.

I apologize in advance if I'm getting too far but have you ordered from Sigma4less before? I've been considering the 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Macro (which I don't think will work for the op, although IIRC I read on the Sigma site that they are introducing an HSM version). Sigma4less has it for about $60 less than B&H, but I read some rather dodgy reviews on ResellerRatings about people receiving grey market lenses or otherwise not getting the right warranty. Anyone have personal experience?

 

[Groucho]

Yeah, the 30mm F1.4 is surely a tempting lens. I'd love to pick one up one of these days, but it is tough to justify $400 for the extra two stops over my Tamron F2.8.

Sigma also has the 24mm, 26mm, and 28mm F1.8s, at varying price points, but I haven't seen especially glowing reviews... and I don't know if they're HSM or not.

 

[handicap18]

I apologize in advance if I'm getting too far but have you ordered from Sigma4less before? I've been considering the 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Macro (which I don't think will work for the op, although IIRC I read on the Sigma site that they are introducing an HSM version). Sigma4less has it for about $60 less than B&H, but I read some rather dodgy reviews on ResellerRatings about people receiving grey market lenses or otherwise not getting the right warranty. Anyone have personal experience?

I personally have not. There are a few people here that have and I know a lot of Nikon users at nikonians.org highly recommend them. Only thing is you just get a 1 year warrantee as they are grey market or Europe issued lenses. With Amazon you get the Sigma 3 year warrantee. They are the exact same lenses, just sold wholesale differently.

Yeah, the 30mm F1.4 is surely a tempting lens. I'd love to pick one up one of these days, but it is tough to justify $400 for the extra two stops over my Tamron F2.8.

Sigma also has the 24mm, 26mm, and 28mm F1.8s, at varying price points, but I haven't seen especially glowing reviews... and I don't know if they're HSM or not.

The 20, 24, and 28 are not HSM as far as I know. I haven't come across a 26mm. The 28 is ok for about $280-300. The 24 is better and faster focusing, but is about $360-390 IIRC. They are both Macro and will focus up to about 4 or 5 inches. I haven't read reviews or looked into the 20mm in a while. So I don't know about that one.

 

[Groucho]

Whoops, you're right - 20mm, 24mm, and 28mm was what I was thinking of.

 

[webshark3]

I'm interested in the new Canon 18-55 with IS. Canon "claims" up to 4 stops with the IS. That would be impressive at 18mm. At about $150, I'd gladly pick one up to try it, but it's not coming out until after my trip.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I'm interested in the new Canon 18-55 with IS. Canon "claims" up to 4 stops with the IS. That would be impressive at 18mm. At about $150, I'd gladly pick one up to try it, but it's not coming out until after my trip.

Based on the price, I'm assuming this will be an f3.5-5.6 lens or something similar. IS is great for low light when you are photographing non-moving objects. But at f3.5 and smaller, the shutter speed will be too slow to stop the movement and you will get blur from moving objects.

 

[webshark3]

But at f3.5 and smaller, the shutter speed will be too slow to stop the movement and you will get blur from moving objects.

Thanks for mentioning that. I know that, but I'm sure many others here won't. But I figured Spectromagic moves so slow, it may still help.

I prefer fast lenses personally, but at $150, I'd try it out.

 

[fitzperry]

I'm interested in the new Canon 18-55 with IS. Canon "claims" up to 4 stops with the IS. That would be impressive at 18mm. At about $150, I'd gladly pick one up to try it, but it's not coming out until after my trip.

Isn't the op a Nikon shooter?

 

[webshark3]

Isn't the op a Nikon shooter?

LOL

This is what happens when we play telephone.

OP is using Nikon, Master Manson mentions Sigma, I start thing of Sigma on the EF mount.....

Thanks for catching me.

 

[fitzperry]

I personally have not. There are a few people here that have and I know a lot of Nikon users at nikonians.org highly recommend them. Only thing is you just get a 1 year warrantee as they are grey market or Europe issued lenses. With Amazon you get the Sigma 3 year warrantee. They are the exact same lenses, just sold wholesale differently.

With B&H you get the 1 year international warranty plus a 3 year "USA warranty." The description on Sigma4less does clearly state the lens comes with a 1 year warranty. There was one reviewer on Sigma4less who complained that he didn't even get the Sigma international warranty but just a 1 year "Mack" warranty, which is some type of warranty that Sigma4less sells on their site. Also now that I've looked at the reviews more closely there are responses from Sigma4less on a couple of them saying in essence that the reason their lenses are cheaper is they don't come with the 4 year US warranty.