The new addition to LIC

October 12, 2008 | 19 Comments

Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 micro was what i wanted, but Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 was what i got. Why, you asked the three letter word, economics I replied you my answer. Looking at what the macro lens from Vicki’s and Evan’s can do, i was sorely tempted indeed.


Nikon’s micro 60mm was a hefty $760, which made me wonder do i really need such an expensive lens, even my Nikon SLR d40 was only $750. And not to mention the people around me saying it’s a waste of money since all i take with the micro lens will be food.

Therefore i decided to go for Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 ($188) instead, after reading rave reviews about the sharp and bokeh effects, which also happened to be Nikon’s cheapest lens. Sharp it was, with superb bokeh effects, but i realised it isn’t suitable for taking food.

For taking portrait shots, it worked wonders, but for taking close up food-graphy, it ain’t the same as micro lens. Not to mention it wouldn’t AF on the entry level d40, and i have to learn MF from scratch, which wasn’t easy.

I especially liked the last two photos, still learning how to handle the lens with the manuel focus. Think i’ll use this for the portrait shots, and the Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 micro does seems to make a nice little present for Christmas! No matter, welcome to the family!

Cheers,
Brad

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Comments

19 Responses to “The new addition to LIC”

  1. claudia
    October 12th, 2008 @ 8:26 pm

    When you’ve enough money, change the body loh! Than can use auto focus with any lens! :P

    50mm is a very good for portraits too! should invest in the f1.4 leh! :P

  2. ladyironchef
    October 12th, 2008 @ 8:33 pm

    hahaha! you are tempting me. But i don’t think i will change the body so fast la. Body expensive man. ya i try taking portrait shots with the 50mm, the results very good. f1.4 about 200 bucks more leh! nvm, 60mm micro here i come : )

  3. FoodiesQueen
    October 12th, 2008 @ 10:39 pm

    wow….you picked up the photography skills using the DLSR yourself? What a hefty price to pay for taking nice pics. Haha.

    FoodiesQueens last blog post..133. Foodies Queen @Henderson Waves

  4. FoodiesQueen
    October 12th, 2008 @ 10:40 pm

    *DSLR

    FoodiesQueens last blog post..133. Foodies Queen @Henderson Waves

  5. His Food Blog
    October 12th, 2008 @ 11:02 pm

    I don’t remember being that rich when I was in army – nevertheless jiayou! Your photos are getting better each day. :)

    His Food Blogs last blog post..The BEEFY Series Part 3 – Cicada

  6. Fen
    October 12th, 2008 @ 11:08 pm

    Wow, I am looking forward to more yummy pictures… Macro lens was too expensive for daddy to invest. He and his photography buddy went for a cheaper alternative… The Hoya Filter (Close up +2 and +3) lens…

    Here is some of his collection…
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/tocksuan/

    Not too bad right? I am proud of him, he picked up photography only a year ago…

  7. Evan
    October 12th, 2008 @ 11:52 pm

    hey nice pics!!!!!!! i think they work better than my macro lens. very beautiful! basically i think taking food pics are the same? just need some time to get used to it. nvm lah, just try. i’m sure u will get the hang of it in no time!

  8. Nic (KHKL)
    October 13th, 2008 @ 12:57 pm

    there a new AF-S 50mm f1.8G with auto focus lens which is compatible with the DX series. i was so excited about it until i saw the price. US$440! *faints*

    Nic (KHKL)s last blog post..Restoran Super Kitchen @ Taman Usahawan Kepong

  9. Vicki.
    October 13th, 2008 @ 1:37 pm

    Nice, love the bokeh effect :)

    Vicki.s last blog post..FOR SALE

  10. sp*
    October 13th, 2008 @ 5:20 pm

    ah, pretty pretty!

  11. fatpig
    October 13th, 2008 @ 9:55 pm

    The 1.4 would have been a better buy IMHO. At least your lens is better then mine, a 2.8 :S

    fatpigs last blog post..New York New York

  12. mike.
    October 14th, 2008 @ 6:43 pm

    hey how much u buy for ur DSLR? cos i intend to learn taking photo n take pic of food.

    mike.s last blog post..monday grey.

  13. ladyironchef
    October 17th, 2008 @ 8:19 pm

    foodiequeen: No choice, addicted to it already. ha

    hfb: When are you getting your dslr? : )

    Fen: wow, your dad’s photos are nice, he didn’t use macro lens? but some of his shots which took insects and flowers are very macro-ist

    evan: haha! no la, how can compare with macro lens. the 50mm f1.8 can’t take close up shots, have to take from quite a distance.

    Nic: really? but it will add up to 600+, like that almost close to the 60mm macro lens liao. haha

    vicki: yeah i like the bokeh effects too

    sp: :)

    fatpig: ya but its about 200 bucks more.

    mike: i paid 750 for my nikon d40, and 188 for my new lens, the 50mm f1.8

  14. Fen
    October 17th, 2008 @ 11:32 pm

    He finds the macro lens too expensive. He only use close-up filters and mount the cammie on the tripod… :)

  15. ladyironchef
    October 17th, 2008 @ 11:42 pm

    fen: how does the close up filters work? how much is it?

  16. Fen
    October 19th, 2008 @ 11:50 pm

    According to him, each filter is less than $20 bucks. It works like a UV filter which you fit it on the existing lens and is something like a magnifying lens…

    Unless you want the blurring of the background and the narrow depth of view, a macro lens is not really necessary.

    In fact, he showed me by reducing the shutter speed, the background can be darkened and a small F-stop can narrow down the depth of view…

  17. ladyironchef
    October 21st, 2008 @ 7:28 pm

    fen: yr dad uses +2 and +3? there’s +4 too right? how come he uses both? so cheap eh? then i think i get one before i get my macro lens. haha

  18. Fen
    October 22nd, 2008 @ 12:03 am

    The advantage of using close-up filters is that you don’t have to change the lens. My dad is paranoid with dust… For Hoyu filters, it seems that anything above +5 will compromise on the image quality. A better brand will be Raynox (High Definition Conversion Lenses) but more expensive…

    To him, he can use “mechanical zoom aka legs” if he needs a +4.

    For your reference, http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/egindex.htm

  19. ladyironchef
    October 22nd, 2008 @ 6:48 pm

    fen: so +2 and +3 is enough already eh? hmm, maybe will get one and try, since its so cheap. haha. thanks for the info

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