Nikon D40 + Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM ? .

Though I believe there may be a bit of quality variation with that lens and it has a narrow DOF..

Another option may be a Canon 400D + the good but cheap 50mm f/1.8 (though may be too long for you)..

Sadly the equivalent good Nikon lens which I have on my D200 won't AF with the D40..

Alex.

Http://akiralx.smugmug.com/..

Sigma makes the excellent EX DC 30/1.4 for most lens mounts; it's not bargain-basement cheap but not insanely expensive either. If you want the fast aperture primarily for bokeh and DOF control, this is the way to go it's dead sharp wide-open (in the center) and has beautiful bokeh..

Canon has the 35/2.0, which is cheaper, very compact, and an excellent performer all-around (although a bit Spartan in build). It's a third of a stop slower than your stated requirement, though, but with the very good ISO1600 on Canon dSLR's you might find that this is less of a limitation than it appears. Bokeh isn't as good as on the Sigma, though..

If your main concern is hand-held low-light performance, though, I'd suggest you take a hard look at Pentax: the CCD shift will give you an extra couple of stops hand-holdability, the cameras are excellent value, and paired with the 35/2.0 (or the Sigma 30/1.4) it'll make an unbeatable low-light shooter..

/Petterihttp://www.prime-junta.net/http://www.flickr.com/photos/primejunta/..

Both Nikon and Canon have excellent inexpensive 50mm f1.8 lenses - much cheaper than the Sigma.

The Nikon is not AF-S and thus will not focus on the D40/40x. It will work with the D50, D70 and D80 etc. The D50 has just been discontinued but there is very little wrong with it's output..

You will find that the viewfinder on the Canon 350D and 400D is very small. The D70 was superceeded by the D80..

So you may find yourself gravitating to the Nikon D80 or Canon 30D (Which is almost certainly about to be replaced)..

If you must have a circa 50mm prime go with the D50 as a used purchase or the D80 or 30D new or used..

No point in me giving you prices - I am in the UK - but the 50mms are VERY cheap..

Hope that helps..

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

More info : my goal is to (re)learn how to take pictures while controlling DOF, something I can't do with a P&S, not especially low light photography...

Chris Elliott wrote:.

Both Nikon and Canon have excellent inexpensive 50mm f1.8 lenses -much cheaper than the Sigma.

Except I'm looking for a 35mm equivalent of 50mm, so a 30mm for 1.6 crop factor (around) or 25mm for four thirds.....

Easy. K100D with FA35/2. The 35/2 is better than the sigma prime, lighter and less expensive..

However, the upcoming K100D special will be able to use the DA35 SDM...

The FA35 or DA35 SDM would be the place to start. After that there are other primes to consider..

DA21 ltd pancakeFA43 ltdDA40 ltd pancakeFA50/1.4DA*55 SDMDA70 ltd pancakeFA77 ltd.

The pancake primes are quite thin and would allow the camera and lens to fit in a larger pocket. The FA43 is almost a pancake..

The Zenitar 16 fisheye is a must have. ..

You can pretty much use any old 35mm SLR Pentax compatible lens on a Pentax DSLR ( or Samsung DSLR ). Some older lenses are manual only, but that's not a big deal to many people..

Older Pentax primes ( of quite high quality ) are available at good used prices..

There are several old 28mm primes that equate to 42mm-ish on a DSLR, which is, more-or-less, supposedly 'ideal' normal field of view. Some of them will AF and meter correctly. The Pentax SLR form has plenty of info on this..

StephenG.

Pentax K100DFuji S5200Fuji E900PCLinuxOS..

Whcih could also be done with a 50mm 1.8Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Wijnands wrote:.

Whcih could also be done with a 50mm 1.8Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/.

I find that FOV too limiting in terms of what subjects I could capture.....

Sjgcit wrote:.

There are several old 28mm primes that equate to 42mm-ish on a DSLR,which is, more-or-less, supposedly 'ideal' normal field of view.Some of them will AF and meter correctly. The Pentax SLR form hasplenty of info on this..

That would be nice too... Are they much cheaper and easy to find new or used ?

OK, well, that's a matter of taste I suppose. As said, sigma's 30mm 1.4. Nikon also makes a 24 and 28mm 2.8 which can sometimes be found on the used market for half of what that Sigma will cost you.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Pentax lenses..

I would say that they are more difficult to find ( if you mean in a shop ) than Canon and Nikon lenses ( which are everywhere ). Nikon were boasting about 40 million lenses available, while Pentax-land gets you about 25 million..

There are cheap lenses ( and that's a relative term ). Baring in mind on a K100D or K10D ( or GX10 ) you get IS on your lenses for free ( IS in body ), you don't have to fork out for IS stabilized Canon and Nikon lenses. My experience ( limited ! ) is that Canon and Nikon lenses hold their value better based on brand..

I have to emphasize that, while there are plenty of used and relatively cheap Pentax compatible AF lenses out there, finding one from a reliable source can be tedious. It helps if you know camera shops you trust and ask around. Lots of people use eBay, which I would not for a lens - too easy to get a fungus ridden mess ! I recently found a manual focus 28mm prime in bargain bin of a camera shop ( they clear stock fairly regularly ) for 15 euros, which is nothing for a lens, so it is possible. Some of the better lenses are, of course, hard to get used and that requires more work. If you read up on the lenses and have reasonable goals you can get great bargains..

As far as I can tell LBA is terribly common in Pentax land..

New lenses are being made, but Pentax is down the food chain from Canon and Nikon so Tamron and Sigma will not be feeding Pentax mountable lenses to Pentax users quickly. If you want a quality prime lens the latest limited edition pentax primes are certainly worth a look. On line retailers do not stock Pentax lenses to the same extent they stock Canon and Nikon, but you will be able to track down suppliers..

Basically I would hesitate to recommend Pentax to someone planning to work professionally who might need to rent/borrow or buy lenses for particular purposes at short notice. For a pro in a less difficult environment or an enthusiast they are lovely cameras ( and lenses )..

StephenG.

Pentax K100DFuji S5200Fuji E900PCLinuxOS..

For a pro that may need a lens tomorrow or rent lenses, Pentax may not be the way to go. Leica would not be that either. However, for an serious amateur who wants great glass and a capable body, I would say checking out Pentax is a must...