so Ive been shooting with my nikon zfc for about six months now and Im ready to finally buy a proper prime lens instead of just using the kit zoom. I mostly take street photos and random portraits of my dog around the house in seattle where lighting is honestly trash half the time lol. Ive spent like three weeks reading reviews on reddit and watching youtube videos until my brain hurts. people keep raving about the 50mm f1.8 s because apparently it is ridiculously sharp even wide open but then someone else says the 40mm f2 is better for everyday carry because it is way smaller and cheaper. I checked my lightroom stats and I mostly shoot around 35mm to 50mm equivalent anyway. my budget is around 500 bucks max since Im trying to not break the bank right before the holidays. do I just get the 50mm and deal with the crop factor or is there some hidden gem I am completely missing
Seattle light is no joke tbh, I totally feel your pain there! Since you are working on a strict budget and shooting on a crop sensor, you actually need something that wont feel super tight indoors. Honestly, safety first when spending five hundred bucks right before the holidays, so stick to what fits your actual space.
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 is amazing for walking around and gives you about a 60mm equivalent on your zfc, which is super manageable inside tiny rooms.
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S is insanely sharp, yeah, but its way bigger and pushes past your budget unless you find a good used copy. Grab the little forty millimeter and dont look back. You get enough light gathering for those gloomy days without breaking your bank or making your setup front heavy when running after your dog!