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Recently, a few people have asked which lenses I use for my photos and the Parking Ticket booklets.

Well, here they are.

Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens, shot using a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens

This is the lens that came with in my D80 kit. It’s a good, versatile lens that has a wide viewing angle and can cover a lot of ground with a focal length of 18-135mm. Two minor inconveniences, though.

One is that it’s a little on the heavy side. There’s a lot of glass in this lens needed for the zoom, but for me, the weight just doesn’t justify the feature.

The other is that it doesn’t have Nikon’s VR stabilization feature, which allows you to shoot up to 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible. Shooting anything in a slightly darkened atmosphere requires a tri-pod.

Some good advice I ignored when buying my camera: just purchase the body and then the lens you want, rather than buying a pre-packaged kit. I probably would of picked a different lens, but I didn’t know much about photography at the time. I guess hindsight is always 20/20.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens, shot using a Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

I love shooting with this lens. It’s fast, perfect for low light, and has amazing depth of field. It’s also light and very affordable. It’s the best deal you’re going to get in photography.

It is a prime lens, though. That means no zoom, which is actually good for beginner photographers. By taking the zoom factor out of the equation, you’re better able to focus on the other camera settings such as aperture and shutter speed. It also forces you to move around to get the shot you want.

I can’t recommend this lens enough. It’s incredibly fun.

Both lenses can be purchased through Amazon.com

• Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
• Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras