What should I clean my SLR lens with?

PHOTOGRAPHERS: WHAT LENS SHOULD I GET FOR MY NIKON SLR?!?

• I recently bought a Nikon D90 body as I want to start a recreational career in photography. Mainly I will be shooting Landscapes (which includes mountains/hills, and some tunnels/train tracks around my area), Concerts (where people will be constantly moving in dark venues), portraits/band photography and standard sightseeing shots. I have been recommended by a friend of mine who is a professional photographer (yet does not know much about Nikon lenses), to buy the 50mm f/1.4D lens. Yet i am assuming that that is more of a portrait lens which can't really do landscapes. I had the 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR Lens in mind, as it consists of zoom and virabtion reduction (although i've heard that VR is basically just conspiracy haha).. I assume that the 18-105 lens is more of a landscape lens which can't really do portraits. i would like a lens that can more or less do both quality landscapes and quality portraits. Which one would you guys recommend. Budget is about 400 or under :S Thanks

• Answer:

  For landscapes a wide angle lens is usually preferred. The 18mm end of the 18-55mm lens has the angle of view of a 28mm lens on a 35mm film camera or full-frame DSLR. Although this isn't as wide as some might like for landscapes, you can still make some impressive pictures using it. For indoors in low light where using the flash just isn't desirable the 50mm f1.4 would be the lens of choice. Since its not a zoom lens you'll have to "zoom" the old-fashioned way with your feet. Even with such a fast lens though you'll still be shooting at a higher ISO. On a 35mm film camera or full-frame DSLR a focal length of between 85mm to 105mm is a good choice for portraits. The 55mm end of the 18-55mm zoom would have the same angle of view as an 82.5mm lens on a 35mm film camera or a full-frame DSLR while the 50mm lens would be equivalent to a 75mm lens. The 50mm prime will be sharper than the 55mm end of your zoom. So you can actually use the 18-55mm zoom for landscapes and portraits but in low light situations the 50mm f1,4 will be the better choice. For landscape photography a tripod is, in my opinion, mandatory. If you use the 18-55mm lens for landscapes with your camera on a tripod be sure to turn the VR "OFF". Vibration Reduction (VR) is only good for dealing with camera movement. It allows you to hand-hold the camera at a slower shutter speed than would be possible without it. VR has no effect on subject movement. Use a slow shutter speed with subjects moving around and you'll get subject blur.