Honestly so fed up with my kit lens right now. I was out shooting at a local park in Seattle yesterday trying to get some decent portrait shots of my dog before the sun went down and the whole session was a total disaster. Every single photo came out looking soft and muddy and the autofocus was hunting back and forth like it had a mind of its own. I dont know if the lens is just dying on me or if I just reached the limit of what that cheap piece of plastic can actually do but Im just about ready to throw the whole thing in the trash. I have a wedding to shoot for a friend in three weeks and there is no way I can show up with these results.
Im shooting on a Nikon D5600 so its definitely a DX body. I really need something sharper that doesnt cost as much as a used car because money is super tight right now. My budget is probably around 200 to 300 bucks max which I know is tight but I have to make it work. I keep hearing mixed things about the 35mm prime but im worried it might be too zoomed in for indoor stuff? Or maybe I should look at something else entirely?
- Needs to be decent in low light
- Better autofocus than the standard 18-55mm
- Affordable
Im just tired of missing shots because my gear cant keep up and I feel like im losing my mind trying to research all these different Nikon mount options. Does anyone have a lens that they actually swear by for DX bodies that wont break the bank? Please tell me there is something out there that actually performs because right now im just super discouraged...
Totally agree about that 35mm, but for a wedding where you might need a bit more versatility, you really need to look at the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G. It is a fantastic piece of glass that gives you gorgeous bokeh and is way sharper than any kit lens. Honestly, picking up a used copy of this is the best way to save some cash! You could also look at the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM if you can find a deal on a used one because having that constant aperture is a total lifesaver during indoor events. Honestly, it saved my butt at a few family gatherings where the lighting was just garbage. Just make sure you check for lens creep on the used ones, but the results are amazing!
You gotta grab the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G! It is an absolute beast for the price. Fast aperture, super sharp, and totally crushes low light compared to your kit lens!
Late to the party, but honestly, if you are doing a wedding, you need to stay away from primes unless you have a second body. Changing lenses in that environment is a nightmare waiting to happen. In my experience, you should look for a used Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM. It is a constant aperture zoom, so it will handle low light way better than your kit lens without forcing you to swap glass constantly. I have used one for years and it is way sharper than any cheap plastic kit lens. You can find them used for around your budget if you look hard enough. My only tip for the wedding: keep your shutter speed up and dont rely on auto-ISO too much. Use back-button focus if the D5600 keeps hunting; it helps a ton with accuracy in dim reception lighting.
