If you could only have one lens for your Nikon DSLR, which would it be?

Question

In a decent budget, like under $1,000, what would be a good "all purpose" sort of lens?

I'm thinking of getting the 50mm f/1.4, and I'm actually not worried about having the zoom but I'm worried that it will be too long for some shots.

Answer 1

The 18-135mm.  Without question, because that lens allows you both close and medium telephoto.

Of course, if you want a prime lens go with the 50mm f/1.4.

Answer 2

I love my 18-200mm VR, as it covers a very wide range and has the great VR (Vibration Reduction) feature.  It's a great walk-around lens.

Answer 3

For a full frame Nikon, that would be a normal lens, and you could get by fine.  I used that same lens for years on a film Nikon and got great results!  But if you have one of the DX size ones, it will give you a crop factor that will make it a short telephoto.  If you ever want to go wider, you'll be stuck.  If I had the money, I'd get the 18-200 mentioned.  it covers a wide range.  I think it's right around at your limit of a thousand.

The 18-55 is a pretty good kit lens.  You could start with that and later get maybe a 70-200.

Answer 4

I also use a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 on a dSLR (D200). This is a nice lens for night time street photography and anything where you want razor thin depth of field. It also makes a decent portrait lens. After the 1.5 focal length multiplier however, it's pretty much unusable as a walk around lens. It’s not just too long for *some* shots; it’s too long for just about everything. I wouldn’t sell mine, but in all fairness I use it less than 5% of the time. And come to think of it, half the time I do use it, I use it simply because it’s less conspicuous than my 17-55 zoom.

If you want something that's effectively 50mm, you'll have to get a 30mm or 35mm prime. And if you absolutely, positively want f/1.4, the obvious choice is the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 ($490). This lens gets good reviews – it's a bit soft at the edges but even wide open it’s perfectly sharp in the center. Keep in mind that f/1.4 lenses are intended to be used wide open; flaws such as soft edges must be forgiven. If you shoot mostly landscapes, get something else.

For a walk around lens, you really can’t beat a zoom. The Nikon 18-200mm suggested above will cover just about everything. This is the best all-in-one lens by any brand. It costs $670. Or if you’d rather invest in image quality and speed vs. zoom range, the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is a great choice. This $420 Tamron rivals the $1200 Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 in terms of image quality.

So that’s three options – take your pick depending on your priorities. And since they’re all well under $1000, you can always add a 50mm f/1.4 later.

(I checked the prices at B&H)

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added: I just read some of your previous questions. Since this is for pj use, I should specify that with the Tamron 17-50mm I was using 'speed' in terms of the maximum aperture, not AF speed. If AF speed is important, you could look for a used Nikon 17-55mm. It's a relatively new lens but there might be a few from people who have since upgraded to a D700/ D3.

Also, please start awarding Best Answers to your questions. It only takes 20 seconds. It's a polite nod in recognition of the effort everyone puts in. (And yes, I do realize that I probably disqualify my own answer for bringing this up. No biggie - I'm all about public service announcements today.)

Answer 5

The 50 mm is a great lens, one of my favs. Its true though with the crop factor it might be a little close. Why not get the 50mm 1.8 and the 35mm f2? Its under a 1000 and a give you some more options.