Bart

I am trying to figure out a good lens to use for a car shoot. I'm currently shooting on a Nikon D80 with an 18-55 lens. What would some you guys recommend?

turbosocks

18-55 is going to work great. if you want some great depth in shots a prime 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 will work very nicely..



although, assuming you are going to want the whole car in most of the shots a 18-55 will do everything you could ask for imo

Stocker

The 18-55 kit lens is a surprisingly good piece. Try leaving it set at 35mm or 50mm focal length and move yourself instead of zooming. This is a poor equivalent of a "normal" lens for APS-C and 35mm cameras. Poor because it is slow, but not so slow you would notice out-of-doors.



If you have never shot with a fast prime lens, you're set with the kit lens. If you've never known first-hand the extremely-shallow depth of field and/or fast shutter speeds, you won't miss it.



If you can afford one, get one and you won't regret the purchase. I'd say try Nikon's cheap 35mm f/1.8 which is astonishingly good optically for the price; maybe a 50mm would be better, depends on how you want to shoot the car. Try shooting other cars at those focal lengths to see what angles you like, and then think about buying a lens. Another zoom would be silly unless you wanted another zoom anyway in which case the 18-200 has a pretty good reputation. If you don't know about it already hit up Ken Rockwell's site.

StrikeEagle

The longer the lens, the more compression of your car, which generally makes it look good. If you have an 18-55, take one shot at 18mm (fill up the frame with the car) and then another at 55 (still, just fill the frame with the car). The 18mm shot will make your car look bulgy in the front, and the 55 will make it look more natural. That being the case, I'd probably go for the 70-200mmm lens, and probably shoot around 70mm. As far a quality is concerned, it's hard to get anything better than a prime. Probably a 50mm 1.4 would do you well, or an 85 if you have one.

Stocker

For an open field or lot maybe, but you'd need some space to back away from the car to use an 85 if you wanted to get the whole thing in the frame.

StrikeEagle

^^^



You do need some room to back away, but it's worth it in the end. Harry@Invision in the B&W Winter Photo Contest uses the Nikon 70-200. Excellent bokeh, great compression, fantasic picture. Took my vote easily.

Hijinx

Kit lense, 35mm, or 50mm. The prime lenses will produce more awesome though, depending on the time of the day.

StrikeEagle

Fixed.

Hijinx

Lol

boozysmurf

What kind of "shoot"?



Static at a show (so, crowded)?

Static at a scouted location where you can take your time?

Panning/speed shots?



the 18-55mm is a PASSABLE lense.



For static at a show, I'd be looking for a fast autofocus, f/2.8 or so, and my personal preference is a 20mm prime, especially on a dDSLR, as unless it's a full-frame camera, you'll have some multiplication (so, that 20mm will actually work as a 30mm: that's about perfect for close shooting, without getting any lens distortion).



For static at a scouted location, you'll want a longer 'normal' prime lense (maybe 85mm f/2.8) so you can get back a bit, and still fill the lens, or set your fore- and back- ground as you like them. shooting low f/stop will give you that wicked bokeh (the 50mm f/1.8 that a few people have already mentioned will do this too, and it's a beautiful cheap lens) and keep the focus on the car. And, if you want to get the background sharp and tight, shoot at maybe f/12 or so for a longer DoF. Likely, you'll want a tripod for that kind of shooting, or external lighting.



For panning and speed shots, again, the 85mm will probably be good: the 70-200mm (the good one, NOT the $200 pos) will also work well. you'll want some distance and you'll want to probably shoot aperture priority to keep the shutter speed slow but manageable, but still get enough light in as you track your subject car.



What I'm REALLY saying is, there isn't "a lens" for shooting "a thing" but lenses that work better in various situations depending on the effect that you want, and the time you have for set up, prep, staging, etc.



Give us a bit more on what you're actually shooting (conditions, locale, etc) and we can probably help more. Guys (again, already mentioned) like Harry, and Blumagic have a mountain of knowledge and ability.