I favor the 50mm when I’m shooting portraits with the D70, mainly because it’s fast. I do have a tendency to shoot wide open, which sometimes leads to some focusing issues, but then I’ve learned to compensate for that. At least for now. Shooting the 50mm with a DX format camera means I’m shooting at 75mm equivalent after the 1.5x multiplier.
75mm means I don’t have to be right in my subject’s face if I’m shooting portraits. I’m a good comfortable distance away, and I can chat without feeling like I’m invading personal space. Right now, I’m waiting on an 18-55mm VR (Vibration Reduction) lens that I’m hopeful will act like a good walk around lens.
Wide enough so I don’t have to constantly mind my distance if I want to take a crowd shot, but enough zoom for me to get in close if I need to. The VR should in theory allow me to shoot with longer exposures without too much camera shake, which should allow me to shoot indoors without flash and without a tripod. This is all conjecture on my part, although the research I’ve done on this particular lens seems to indicate that it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for if I just want to walk around and shoot.