I'm getting ready to purchase a Nikon N60 and I'm confused by all the choices of lenses. Is a 28-80 better than a 35-80? Does it matter for the beginner? Thank you.

-- Tracy McMichael (mickbatt@cs.com), March 30, 2000

Answers

You might find more specific information on Nikon and specific Nikon lenses on other forums as this is mostly a digital forum.

(I don't know of a great beginner sight for film cameras that is as friendly as this one - some are very obnoxious to beginner questions unfortunately. http://photo.net/photo/ will be helpful if you read the forum static content before jumping to the Q&A forums)

In a general sense, the 28-80 lens has a slightly wider angle at the wide end of the zoom. There is a useful difference and it might get you some pictures that a 35 wouldn't, like a group shot in a room where moving back isn't possible. Also there may be some outdoor photo opportunities where you can not move back far enough to get a picture without going as wide as possible. Check out some of the photo books in a good photo store or library.

You also add a little more of the perspective difference, or "distortions." For example, with the 28 over the 35, if you take a close up picture of an individual (not recommended except for humorous effects because neither will be good close portrait lenses at the widest settings) the nose will be distorted more with the 28 and the "tilt" of buildings is more pronounced if you take a "landscape" type shot and the camera is tilted back.

There could well be other differences which make more difference, general photo quality of the lens might be better in one compared to the other (within the Nikon line), lens speed (f stop) may be faster on one, etc. Nikon vs 3rd party may make you choose the 35-80 over a 3rd party 28-80. Read the articles in photo.net, they'll be a good start.

-- Craig Gillette (cgillette@thegrid.net), March 30, 2000.