Need a new lens - for doing everything, but prime.

[Maxf]

I'm off to a fairly extreme art festival in Black Rock Desert in Nevada. It is a very hostile environment, on a dead lake bed - dust storms happen daily.

Clearly I am going to be taking my D90 but have been told that zoom lenses are generally a pain as the dust ends up getting into them! I am therefore looking for a prime. The camera will be inside some kind of clear bag I'm going to fashion to try and protect it from the elements - with only the lense sticking out. I want to avoid swapping lenses as I don't want to introduce dust to the mirror/sensor.

These are a few of the photos which others have taken in previous years, so you can see what I'll be up against:

http://sparkncinder.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/bu...

http://www.majorlycool.com/media/1/20080314-burnin...

http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/burnin...

http://a.images.blip.tv/Ruspoli-BurningMan2008208....

I need a pretty fast lens, as lots of the action happens at night, wide enough to take shots of the art/surroundings, but also photos of other participants.

Would a nikon f1.8 35mm do the trick? I'm assuming a 50mm on a cropped sensor will be too narrow for my needs?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-Nikon-35mm-f1-...

Thanks

[Elderly]

It doesn't answer your lens question but have you thought about protecting your camera and lens with one of these? http://www.ewa-marine.com/

[Lucas CAV]

Not want you want to hear -

It's a camera - designed to be used.

Use it - it will clean!

I have played about with covers/bags/sleeves etc - and now just accept that sometimes the camera gets dirty!


edit to add - I had the 35mm lens - it is very nice although - I would be taking a zoom

Edited by Lucas CAV on Monday 9th August 18:47

Edited by Lucas CAV on Monday 9th August 18:47

[Simpo Two]

Change lenses between dust storms.

[AndWhyNot]

Used 50mm f/1.4 AF-D for appx same money as used 35mm f/1.8 AF-S.

I think you'd find it wide enough although you may need to adjust your shooting position to accommodate the shot you're looking for. You'll also find the extra length worthwhile when shooting from a distance and the further you are from the subject, the greater your DoF so the speed of the lens becomes fairly accessible.

If you do opt for wider focal length it's worth considering the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM - if you want fast you might as well get as fast as poss and although the Nikon rates well the Sigma also gets good reviews.

[AndWhyNot]

Oh, it's a fantastic location with lots to shoot besides the activities (Burning Man as it was) - I spent weeks on the same playa with the Thrust SSC team in October 97.

The dust storms aren't that frequent and you usually see them coming, but there's no respite when they arrive. My EOS film gear was never the same afterwards with dust ingress beneath all the dials and into the zoom mech. This turned out to be the trigger for my switch to Nikon

[Maxf]

Lucas CAV said:

Not want you want to hear -

It's a camera - designed to be used.

Use it - it will clean!

I have played about with covers/bags/sleeves etc - and now just accept that sometimes the camera gets dirty!


edit to add - I had the 35mm lens - it is very nice although - I would be taking a zoom

Edited by Lucas CAV on Monday 9th August 18:47

Edited by Lucas CAV on Monday 9th August 18:47

I use everything I own, but there are a lot of reports of the dust getting into everything - ie between the extending parts of the zoom lens! For example, we have to tape up the vents in our hire car to keep the dust out. I'll probably take my kit zoom but doubt I'll risk anything more expensive.

[rottie102]

To be honest for conditions like this I'd invest in a good waterproof compact. And not worry about your camera, just have fun taking pictures.

[Muska]

a 35mm lens on a crop body gives you about 50mm on a full frame body. I'd consider going a little wider perhaps? somewhere around 24-28mm? I think sigma make fast prime versions of both these focal lengths (f1.8 I think) and there is always the renting option...?

[AndWhyNot]

Muska said:

a 35mm lens on a crop body gives you about 50mm on a full frame body. I'd consider going a little wider perhaps? somewhere around 24-28mm? I think sigma make fast prime versions of both these focal lengths (f1.8 I think) and there is always the renting option...?

Aye, Sigma produced 20mm and 28mm primes at f/1.8. Just confirming the point, not convinced wide is best.