As most of you know, I am an avid photographer... am still learning a lot, but I love the challenge.

I currently shoot with a Nikon D60, and my trusty 18-55VR lens, and my CPF. I have had it for over 3 years... but the reason for this thread, for xmas, I am debating over what new "toy" to get. Wife said there is a certain threshold for pricing, but she hasn't set on it yet...

So, I think I have decided on 2 things.

50mm 1.4 AF-S Nikkor lens.

Adobe Lightroom 4/4.1

I was debating between other options like a new D5100 or a 18-200VR lens, but I think with the photos I take and the editing I do, I will have more use with the 50mm and Adobe than the other previously mentioned items.

My only concern with Lightroom is that I may not be able to do true HDR photos with it... you guys know how much I love HDR at times, lol. But I heard there are plug-ins for it? Not quite familiar with that yet... but maybe it's not bad. Also, they said I can do a pseudo HDR with just one image via Lightroom? hmmm I wanted Photoshop, but aside from it being $699, it is also clunkier to use that Lightroom.

So, you avid photographers out there, What say you to my propositions above? Good choices for gifts? how about lightroom vs photoshop?

thanks guys.

 

I have the Nikkor 18-200VR and absolutely love it. It never comes off of my camera. Now for portraits and low light up close shooting, the 50mm 1.4 would definitely be a better option.

 

18-200 is too much, I don't like it.

I stuck to my 18-105vr and I love it. You don't have a FX sensor on our camera so you have to take the 1.5x crop into account so a 35mm is actually a 50mm for your camera. the 35mm 1.8 is amazing and it's only $200.

Download lightroom for free and photoshop, who cares. I got mine for free because my college offers them for free, but I personally choose photoshop over lightroom. You better be shooting in .nef too.

Get yourself a good tripod too if you don't have one, and a shutter release remote, only way to get sharp pictures and step your game up. A new camera body wouldn't hurt either.

 

Thanks for all the responses folks. It sounds like my idea to get "glass", in this case, a 50mm 1.4, is the right way to go. With a good lens, you can always reuse it on the next body. My D60 has all the features I could want... I mean the newer bodies will probably have better light sensitivity, better ISO (higher without being grainy,etc)... but I think I can live without it for now. The 50mm is really what I need since I take a lot of indoor photos of family, other art, etc. And I am just DROOLING over how it will handle my automotive pics...
As for lightroom, I think that is also the way I will go. They offer free (donation) plugins like Enfuse, etc... that should help me do HDR, should I need to. The cataloging feature on Lightroom I heard is immensely helpful.
So ok... it looks like my pricepoint is
50mm 1.4 = ~400 - 450 bucks?
Lightroom = full version (wish I was a student) ~ 125 bucks?

 

Buy used. Most people take very good care of their equipment and when they sell their gear you can find some great deals. I should know, I just sold all my gear and had some great price points. Check out various photography forums in their for sale sections, you might just find that lens for quite a bit less.

-danny