Suggestions on Lenses: D300s - shooting outdoor portraits - lots of children

Kayla Segerstrom-Perez , Mar 21, 2010; 02:35 a.m.

I just got a new D300s and would like to buy a new lens
I shoot 99.9% of the time outdoors, children and families, I need a fast, sharp lens that focuses quickly.
I LOVE my 50mm 1.8 but it seems to be a bit slow on the focus, and now that I have it on my D300s Im having a hard time making it focus where i want it too.
I shoot in A mode most of the time.
I like close ups, headshots, candids and full body shots.
Ive looked at the 85mm 1.8 and considered a new 50mm 1.8 (i bought mine used and it may have been dropped, it looks like it) so maybe its just my lens is no good. I would like a good zoom, but I like the "bokeh" or blurred backgrounds in my photos. I actually use this blurring quit a bit for "creative purposes" so i dont want to lose that feature.
I have less than 400.00 to work with. So Please, suggestions, sample shots, pros, cons ect are GREATLY appreciated!
Thank you!
www.puravidapix.com to see sample of my work and my style may help in the critique.

Attachment: ME.bmp

Responses

Rob Piontek , Mar 21, 2010; 06:30 a.m.

I think the 50 1.8 focuses pretty quickly. I have read that (I don't own them) the newer AFS primes are more accurate, but they aren't particularly fast. The 85 1.8 is a great lens. I used to own it. One weakness, though, which I didn't realize until I bought it, is that it doesn't focus very closely. And I'm sure the 50 1.8 focuses faster.

Farooq G. Ahsan-ud-Din , Mar 21, 2010; 11:20 a.m.

yes the 50mm blazes on my D300 too. what AF mode etc are you using?
What is your budget for new lens? A 70-200VR would be useful for the type of photography that you are talking about, it is fast, will allow you not to get too close to the kid and has wonderful bokeh, but at a cost ofcourse...

Rebecca Brown , Mar 21, 2010; 10:16 p.m.

The poor (wo)man's non VR equivalent to the 70-200 VR is the 80-200mm AF D f/2.8. I went that route. It's not as heavy as the 70-200 VR lens, but on a D300s should focus reasonably fast. It doesn't focus down very close, though, circa five to six feet. You might be able to find the older one ring push/pull version for around $500, a bit more than you want to pay, though.

The other thing to consider are various manual focus lenses, though the one that's quite nice doesn't focus that close, either: the 105mm f/2.5 AI Gaussian (large rear element). Close focus is about 3.5 feet. It's generally available used for around $250. That and another 50mm lens might be at your budget. Both of these take 52mm filters, and if you can find close-up lenses or extension tubes, you can get closer.

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