Will the Nikon D40 autofocus with the 35 mm f/1.8 AF-S DX lens?

Question

I have seen plenty of amazing shots with the lens I am speaking of even on a camera as old as a D40. Hi, I recently bought a Nikon D40, like an amateur level DSR just to get the ball rolling. I LOVE to take self portraits/selfies, so I bought an ML-L3 wireless remote for the D40. It worked like a charm, but I would set the camera up, get in front of it, put the 18-55 mm lens on manual focus and hit the button on the remote and it started taking shots, this was great, however when I looked at the photos on my laptop, most were out of focus, not too visible, and if they were visible they were too highly/over exposed. I then watched some videos(probably about 50), and was told that probably the 35 mm lens for $200.00 was the best lens for many DX cameras. I'm going to go pick one up from best buy on April 16th, this Tuesday. I just want to ask, for someone like me, who likes taking self portraits with a remote, will putting the camera on A/M(autofocus mode) and hitting the remote button give me those clear sharp images I am wanting? It says in the description of the item that it has an internal autofocus if your camera doesn't have one, so I'm assuming that if I hit the button on the remote, it should focus to whatever its pointing to without me having to do it manually, correct? Please let me know if this is the right thing to do, it is in my price range so I wouldn't be killing myself to pay for the 35 mm lens. Please and thank you for anyone who can help me. Thanks again.

Answer 1

Working with the ML-L3 remote, you should set the lens to auto focus. For best results it is probably best to set the auto focus in the menu to automatic. That way if the center sensor is not right on you, another sensor may detect that you are the closest object and lock onto you instead of the background.

The 35mm AF-S DX is a nice sharp lens. It is a shorter focal length than is usually ideal for portraits. However, as it can be hard to position yourself perfectly in a self portrait, that can be okay, and you can crop the image, which is leaving you with the angular field in the final crop similar to filling the frame with a longer focal length.

Answer 2

The 35mm f/1.8 lens is excellent.



However, YOU are the problem with your 18-55mm lens,



Start reading on page 33 of your manual. Download a manual from Nikon if necessary. Essentially, set the focus before you make the shot.

Answer 3

Yes.



http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm#dslr



There is no amateur dSLR. There are only amateur photographers. Newbies and pros use the same equipment. All the controls are the same. More expensive cameras have more control range, easier access to those controls, bigger sensors and LCD's and less of the very disturbing point-and-shoot features. Entry-level dSLR's are best for poor pros who don't have the budget to buy a better one.



How to take sharp selfies? Position a chair to where you would sit or stand. Put a dustpan on the chair with the handle away from the backrest of the chair. Install camera on tripod or a pile of books. Set camera to AF on and focus on the dustpan handle. Lock focus by switching AF to MF. Set timer on, trip shutter, run into position, knock over dustpan if sitting, push chair away if standing, pose, smile, hold breathe and wait for the camera to click.



It would seem odd if you were posing and one hand was extended while pointing forward to the camera wouldn't it?

Answer 4

The 35mm DX is very good lens but the 50mm f/1.8 AF-S G or 85mm f/1.8 AF-S G are better for portaits.



I don't know if the D40 have the Live View. I have the D90 and in Live View mode there is a face detection (good for self portait).

Answer 5

The 35mm lens is not the best choice for portraiture, as the lens does have some perspective distortion. Perspective distortion is what makes faces look round and noses look big.



And why are you are using the 18-55mm lens in manual? Manual mode in lenses is typically only required for specific situations. If it is Nikon lens - the one that probably came with the camera - it should say AF-S in the model name, and it should autofocus on your camera. AF-S lenses have internal autofocus motors, so it does not need a camera focusing motor.



If it is AF-S, and it isn't auto focusing, it is probably broken. Hard to tell with used equipment.



If that is the case, your first step is perhaps replacing the 18-55mm lens. While some photographers do use a 35mm prime as their only lens, most use the 18-55mm as it is more convenient. But used correctly, either lens can produce good results. You can get a replacement 18-55mm for around $125 or so.



It is also possible - with used equipment - the previous owner set the camera up for spot focus and set the focusing spot for somewhere other than center. So the result is the camera may be trying to focus on something other than you. To ensure the camera is not setup weird, look in your manual for the master reset and use it. This will set the camera back to factory settings so you do not have to look through each setting and wonder if it is set correctly.



DSLRs are very powerful cameras and have many settings to allow a skilled photographer to setup the camera for the best photos. But this presents a problem to the novice as they can inadvertently make a change that will do something unexpectedly. This will self-cure itself over time as you gain experience with the camera, but for now, using the factory settings would be your best approach.



This is one reason I never recommend used equipment or even buying on-line for novices as they can become overwhelmed. And if you buy new and have a problem, if you bought from a camera store, they can help you. Especially with camera equipment, the camera companies usually have strict pricing rules for dealers, and you cannot buy a camera any cheaper on-line than at a camera store (at least in the US).



And the exposure issues you are having is because you are not setting your exposure correctly - or perhaps your camera is broken too. It is not a lens issue.