So my uncle gave me his old Nikon D5300 last month because he upgraded to something fancy and Ive been trying to learn how to use it for my daughters soccer games and just general family stuff. It came with this lens that says 18-55mm on it but everything looks kinda flat? Like when I see professional photos the person is sharp but the background is all soft and pretty but mine just looks like a normal phone picture just bigger. I really want that professional look but I have no idea where to start.
I went on Amazon and got so overwhelmed by all the letters like AF-S and AF-P and G vs E and Im honestly so lost and a bit scared of buying the wrong thing. Someone told me to look for a 35mm or a 50mm but then I read somewhere that because my camera is a DX it makes the lens look different? Like it zooms in more than it should or something like that... I dont really get how a 50mm isnt just a 50mm no matter what you put it on.
I really want to get one of those lenses that makes people look good for my sisters graduation in June but I only have about 150 bucks maybe 200 if I really stretch it and eat ramen for a week. I live in a pretty small town so I dont have a camera shop nearby to ask questions so I have to order everything online which makes me nervous. Is there a specific one that everyone starts with? I keep seeing the word prime lens but I dont even know if that means it is better or just a brand name.
Sorry if these are dumb questions I just want to make sure I dont waste my money on something that wont even click onto my camera or wont autofocus properly because I heard some lenses dont have motors in them? It is all so confusing...
Man, I remember being exactly where you are back when I first started out with my old D5000 series. That kit lens you have is fine for basic stuff, but it'll never give you that pop you're looking for because the aperture doesnt go wide enough. In my experience, a prime lens (which just means it has a fixed focal length and doesnt zoom) is the absolute fastest way to get that professional blurry background look. The whole DX crop thing is confusing at first, but basically your camera sensor magnifies the image. So a 50mm lens acts more like a 75mm, which feels kinda zoomed in. For your D5300, you definitely need lenses that say AF-S or AF-P because your camera doesnt have a focus motor built into the body. I've tried a ton of gear over the years, and for your budget, these are the two best paths:
- Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G: This is my top pick for you. It is wide enough to use indoors at a graduation but fast enough to get that blurry background. I used this for years for family shots and it rarely left my camera. It is small, cheap, and very sharp.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G: If you want even more of that blurry background for portraits, this is the one. Just know that on your camera, you'll have to stand pretty far back to fit people in the frame. Honestly, go for the 35mm first. Its way more versatile for general family stuff and you can usually find them used for like 120 bucks, leaving you some cash for a decent SD card or a bag.
