Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for helping me on my last Nikon lens and 'rookie questioni'. I've come up with another that I feel may be a little abstract after my brief yet complex writing :)

Do the more expensive lenses produce more 'realistic coloring?'

When I look over websites of great wedding photographers or National Geographic photos I can see a difference in their colors. My faces always seem to be a little over saturated esp in the faces. I shoot a D70 with kit lens 18-70 3.5-4.5 G ED

I'll provide an example and if this makes sense, meaning I'm not crazy, I'd love some helpful advice. The first photo is mine, the second is one of a wedding photographers who shot with the same lens but with a Nikon D200

Me

D200 with same lens

Perhaps I'm crazy and the difference is too subtle, but when I view these two my own photo has more saturation that doesn't really look as natural as the colors in the wedding shot.

So back to the original question modified:

Do the more expensive lenses AND/OR cameras produce more realistic coloring or is it all white balance?

PS. I use CS3 and white balancing in RAW but I can't seem to land a 'perfect realistic colortone' in my mind. Anyone ever tried the expodisc? Thanks a bunch!

On the D70, you can set the saturation as you want...
If you are using CS3, you can easily desature what you want.

I'm working with a D70 and I began with that lens (18-70 Nikkor) and now with a 18-200 VR Nikkor and a Sigma 150 mm macro. They are not professional lenses, but I don't see any difference with the colours saturation...

Hope it helps.

I think the biggest difference in those two photos you posted is the light that was used. I notice that you fired the flash on your picture. I'm not sure, but i think it was probably the built in, or at the very least it was directed right at the subject. In the wedding shot, it looks to me that a flash was also used, but i don't think it was pointed at the subject. I would guess it was bounced off the roof of the car. If im wrong, and it is pointed right at the subject it probably was diffused a bit. I think that is what is causing the biggest difference in those two shots.

Also to echo what Pierre said you might also find some solution to your problem with some different editing in photoshop, or nikon capture.

The more expensive lenses won’t make any difference to your colour, they will give you better contrast, sharper images, faster focusing and better shock protection though.