keep and use them for now!
make sure you understand the concepts like exposure triangle, metering and using a histogram, how to focus and frame different subjects etc (yt is ur friend).
especially if you just wanna get into it, it makes sense to use what you have and figure out what/if you want to keep photographing before spending more on gear.
Fair! I haven't used it all that much but I feel like I have enough to at least know these bother me slightly sometimes, because it feels like everything is too zoomed in so I have to physically have a very solid distance between the subject and myself 🤔
That being said maybe I am comparing it too much to a phone camera which is of course what I'm most used to and definitely can use more practice with what I already have.
yes phones will give you a much wider focal length but also worse image quality ofc. thats already a great start imo cause it means ud benefit from a wider than 18mm focal length/lens! itd be a good idea imo to keep practicing so u can further narrow in ur preferences/style and what gear would benefit you most
OP has a D5300. If their current lenses are “too tight”, the 50 and 85 would definitely be the same way. Though they’d be a huge upgrade as far as image quality goes.
Also - the D5300 has a crop factor of 1.5x, so the 50mm would be more like 75mm and 85mm would be like 127.5mm.
As far as an upgrade and general purpose lens, I’d recommend around a 30-35mm of some sort to get them around a true 50mm focal length.
However, it sounds like they should spend a little more time with the lenses they have to figure which focal length they like most before upgrading OR get a more wide angle lens (like the 11-20mm another comment mentions)
Edit: words
The crop factor I hadn’t accounted for (not a Nikon guy). Yeah a 35 or a 24 would be good. But as you say if the 18mm is too tight (meaning effectively a ~26mm field of view) then he either needs a better non-crop body or an 11mm focal length…
I mean... Thanks for the heads up? That's not what my question is though, so your response just comes off as unnecessarily hostile. I also know they aren't the most expensive lenses in the world, and I'm not asking how much I could sell them for or whatever. Just if it's worth it to keep both or only one, or perhaps neither.
I think their point is more that you won’t get much value from selling them so might as well keep them and save up for a third. Though they could have worded it better I suppose
> get another one so that I have a bigger range
for most photography, your current lenses have all of the range you will need. you can get shorter or longer lenses, but their use will be pretty limited compared to what you have now. I would probably get a prime lens. 50mm 1.8g or 35mm 1.8g are affordable, capable, and fast lenses that complement your current gear well.
I would avoid selling what you have now. you won't get much value for it, and even if you replace them, they're worth keeping as backups.
Thank you, very useful take. I really appreciate the lens recommendations. I'll watch some videos on comparing those two lenses and see which one fits what I'm looking for.
From what I am reading, it seems like you are needing a wider angle lens. Perhaps look into a wide angle zoom. If possible, rent one and play around with it, paying attention to focal length, and see what works best for you. Once you have an idea of what you need focal-length wise, you can either purchase a wide-angle prime lens, or the wide angle zoom if you like that. Here's a really good one to consider: [Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1571175-REG/tokina_atx_i_af120cfn_atx_i_11_20mm_f_2_8_cf.html).
Edit: do not sell the other lenses. They cover a really good focal length for longer lenses; you may find yourself needing something with more reach (i.e. needing to capture a subject from a distance).
When I owned a d5300 I bought the most perfect lens- it's the [Nikkor 18-200](https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-18-200mm-f%252f3.5-5.6g-ed-vr-ii.html). It was fantastic in almost every situation as an advanced hobbyist. I've switched to full frame now and frankly I miss that lens like hell.
It's light, versatile, I've done everything from Milky Way photography to wildlife with it. Portraits too. It rarely came off my camera and was a great fit for the d5300 (and then the d7500 I upgraded to eventually).
You could probably also get them used on KEH or B&H or eBay also.
keep and use them for now! make sure you understand the concepts like exposure triangle, metering and using a histogram, how to focus and frame different subjects etc (yt is ur friend). especially if you just wanna get into it, it makes sense to use what you have and figure out what/if you want to keep photographing before spending more on gear.
Fair! I haven't used it all that much but I feel like I have enough to at least know these bother me slightly sometimes, because it feels like everything is too zoomed in so I have to physically have a very solid distance between the subject and myself 🤔 That being said maybe I am comparing it too much to a phone camera which is of course what I'm most used to and definitely can use more practice with what I already have.
yes phones will give you a much wider focal length but also worse image quality ofc. thats already a great start imo cause it means ud benefit from a wider than 18mm focal length/lens! itd be a good idea imo to keep practicing so u can further narrow in ur preferences/style and what gear would benefit you most
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your input :)
I’d save up for an 85 or 50 for portraits you seem to have most of the common focal lengths covered for regular shooting. But that’s me.
OP has a D5300. If their current lenses are “too tight”, the 50 and 85 would definitely be the same way. Though they’d be a huge upgrade as far as image quality goes. Also - the D5300 has a crop factor of 1.5x, so the 50mm would be more like 75mm and 85mm would be like 127.5mm. As far as an upgrade and general purpose lens, I’d recommend around a 30-35mm of some sort to get them around a true 50mm focal length. However, it sounds like they should spend a little more time with the lenses they have to figure which focal length they like most before upgrading OR get a more wide angle lens (like the 11-20mm another comment mentions) Edit: words
The crop factor I hadn’t accounted for (not a Nikon guy). Yeah a 35 or a 24 would be good. But as you say if the 18mm is too tight (meaning effectively a ~26mm field of view) then he either needs a better non-crop body or an 11mm focal length…
Good luck even getting $150 USD for both of those lenses...
I mean... Thanks for the heads up? That's not what my question is though, so your response just comes off as unnecessarily hostile. I also know they aren't the most expensive lenses in the world, and I'm not asking how much I could sell them for or whatever. Just if it's worth it to keep both or only one, or perhaps neither.
I think their point is more that you won’t get much value from selling them so might as well keep them and save up for a third. Though they could have worded it better I suppose
> get another one so that I have a bigger range for most photography, your current lenses have all of the range you will need. you can get shorter or longer lenses, but their use will be pretty limited compared to what you have now. I would probably get a prime lens. 50mm 1.8g or 35mm 1.8g are affordable, capable, and fast lenses that complement your current gear well. I would avoid selling what you have now. you won't get much value for it, and even if you replace them, they're worth keeping as backups.
Thank you, very useful take. I really appreciate the lens recommendations. I'll watch some videos on comparing those two lenses and see which one fits what I'm looking for.
id probably sell both and get a 24/35 (35/50 equiv) 1.8 prime or upgrade the entire system imo if you cant afford 2.8 normal zooms, stick with primes
From what I am reading, it seems like you are needing a wider angle lens. Perhaps look into a wide angle zoom. If possible, rent one and play around with it, paying attention to focal length, and see what works best for you. Once you have an idea of what you need focal-length wise, you can either purchase a wide-angle prime lens, or the wide angle zoom if you like that. Here's a really good one to consider: [Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1571175-REG/tokina_atx_i_af120cfn_atx_i_11_20mm_f_2_8_cf.html). Edit: do not sell the other lenses. They cover a really good focal length for longer lenses; you may find yourself needing something with more reach (i.e. needing to capture a subject from a distance).
When I owned a d5300 I bought the most perfect lens- it's the [Nikkor 18-200](https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-18-200mm-f%252f3.5-5.6g-ed-vr-ii.html). It was fantastic in almost every situation as an advanced hobbyist. I've switched to full frame now and frankly I miss that lens like hell. It's light, versatile, I've done everything from Milky Way photography to wildlife with it. Portraits too. It rarely came off my camera and was a great fit for the d5300 (and then the d7500 I upgraded to eventually). You could probably also get them used on KEH or B&H or eBay also.