My choice would probably be a 40mm f2.8 micro-nikkor or another petite DX prime. I tend to use FX lenses on my D90 as that is what I have on hand for use on my bevy of film cameras. One of my favorite combos is the 70-300mm G VR on a Nikon 1 body which gives an equivalent FOV of 190-810mm on the 1" crop. Nevermind the 200-500mm f5.6 or 500mm reflex...
The distortion from a super lens like the 18-200mm is probably well-corrected in software and I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up if it complemented my style of shooting.
Here's a lens reference (http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/specs.html#DX) if you wanna do some comparisons.
The FX lenses are physically larger, but offer better performance on a crop sensor in the owing to their larger image circle. Compatibility with digital FX and 35mm Nikon cameras is another nice perk.
A DX/APS-C/Super35/half-frame sensor has a crop factor of 1.5x, which would give a 40mm lens an equivalent FOV of a 60/58mm on full frame. 58mm is slightly longer than the normal FOV provided by a standard 50mm, but is well suited to portraiture as evidenced by the various incarnations of 58mm FX Nikkors. 'Normal' pancakes aren't really a thing for DX bodies since the flange distance is the same as full-frame, but the most compact option that preserves FOV on a crop sensor would be an FX 20mm f4/f3.5 or 24mm Nikkor that is sufficiently compatible with your camera body. The D200 will meter with pre-AF lenses and so may be viable in aperture priority and manual exposure modes with such lenses.
I probably wouldn't consider a D90 if I already had a D200. I'd look at a D500, something in the D7xxx series, or Z/FX model as a more complete upgrade.
... I have my eye on a D90. If you were me, would you get it?
Yes. The D90 is now a dinosaur, but we have one of them beasts in our home camera arsenal. My partner uses it for happy-crappy snaps and it continues to function and to produce good, even fine images. All with the humble but impressive 18-55 it came with in 2010.
It was my first Nikon DSLR and I remain fond of it, even if nowadays I use my D700s and D800s, for some unfathomable reason I have two of each. These are likely to be my last ever digitals, which might explain the 'partner' camera for each. Also ten or eleven lenses or maybe even an even dozen, I long ago lost count.
The D90 went with me to Southeast Asia several times. It has produced, among many other fine images, two full page spreads published in architecture books in Europe, so it isn't a toy.
However, I agree your D200 is probably a better investment, but if the D90 is an almost giveaway to buy, well, why not...
I have an 18-200, it's a nice lens, plenty sharp. But, a little big to use all the time, IMHO and a bit slow unless you have good light. I bought mine to go on a D200. For everyday knocking around, I prefer the smaller zooms. The 28-105 f2.8 AFD is very nice and recently seems to sell for a lot less than it used to.
I have the 35mm f/1.8 DX and the 85mm f/3.5 Micro DX. I would highly recommend both. The 85mm has VR and does well as a general purpose medium telephoto (and portrait lens, if you stand far enough back from your subject).
I also have the 18–55mm and the 55–200mm VR. These are more plasticy than the primes (plastic mounts) but get the job done. Mine are around 15 years old and the AF in my 18–55 is becoming iffy. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. MF on these lenses is terrible because the focus ring is very narrow and way out at the front of the lens.
These lenses make a good kit because they all take 52mm filters.
I wish Nikon had made more inexpensive but good primes like the 35mm f/1.8 DX.
My D90 came with the DX 18-105.
Despite the plastic mount, it's been a very nice performer.
Most of my other glass consists of older full-frame AF-Nikkors such as the 18-35, 80-200 2.8, 28, 50, 105, etc. All good, all screw-driven except the kit lens.
Hello all,
I just bought a minty D200 with the kit 18-55mm lens. Are there any "must have" lenses you would recommend? What do you think of the 18-200mm?
Thanks!
Your kit lens has an excellent reputation, So, You may be all set.
The kit lenses are often quite light and compact - that is an attribute that matters to me a lot.
Personally, I've never liked the zooms with an extreme range. I prefer having two small zooms that together cover the range.
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