im honestly so lost right now. i just picked up a used nikon d3500 from a friend and i want to start taking photos of the mountains near my place in colorado before the snow hits next month. i have no idea what im doing with lenses though. like, zero. i tried searching online and everything just talks about f-stops and focal lengths and my head is spinning. i just want the mountains to look big and crisp like they do in the magazines.
my budget is pretty tight since i spent most of my savings on the camera, so im looking for something under 250 bucks if possible. is that even realistic? i saw some stuff about prime lenses versus zoom lenses but i dont really get the difference. do i need a wide angle one? or is there a cheaper kit one that works fine? im worried im gonna buy the wrong thing and just be stuck with blurry shots. does anyone have a suggestion for a specific model that wont break the bank? i feel like if i dont get this sorted out by next weekend im gonna miss the best lighting for the season...
Honestly, grab a Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. It is super sharp, cheap, and perfect for learning the basics. You will love how those mountain shots turn out, trust me.
Like someone mentioned, that 35mm is a solid starter, but for big mountain vistas, you might want something wider. I hiked the Rockies last fall with a Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM and it was perfect for capturing those massive peaks.
- Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM: Gives that epic wide look, but be careful with distortion at the edges.
- Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR: Lighter and has stabilization, which really helps with crispness.
Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!
