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Portraits lens recommendation

portrait lens nikon

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16 replies to this topic

#1
Camera N00b

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Hey! So I have a Nikon D7200 and I find myself doing a lot of portraits now. I am looking for SHARP images with amazing bokeh. Nikon/Sigma/Tamron etc. I don't care.

 

Price range is $1500 CAD/ $1250 USD

 

I don't care if it's zoom or prime, though prime is usually a bit sharper.

 

What do you recommend?



#2
fallout666

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how far do want to be from person for portraits or what other type of portraits you going to take. range will come into play. 



#3
Camera N00b

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waist up mostly, but possibly the odd full body if it's a more candid moment.



#4
Merco_61

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Which criteria are more important to you? Ultrasharp lenses usually have busy bokeh and lenses with a good transition and calm OOF areas usually aren't the sharpest as high contrast and good bokeh are conflicting design parameters.



#5
fallout666

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what i want to say what type length of lens do you want 35mm 50mm 85mm or lager mm  portraits lens do you want. all based on how close do you want to get to body and if want full body or half part of body. that why ask for range of lens of  portraits do you want. some want more close up where others want close up but more body to it. 



#6
Camera N00b

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85-135 would be a good range if I was to go prime.

 

Criteria most important for me would be sharpness. But I want a decent (at least) separation from the subject and background.



#7
fallout666

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85-135 would be a good range if I was to go prime.

 

Criteria most important for me would be sharpness. But I want a decent (at least) separation from the subject and background.

here idea not sure if you thought of it or not why not rent both 85mm and 135mm. you will be able to see which you like better and save you cash. since if you try know which will suit you better and save tons cash. since know what mm is better suits your needs. 



#8
nbanjogal

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I don't disagree with any of the above, but I will just say that I absolutely love my Nikkor 85mm 1.8 for portraits. Lovely bokeh and definitely sharp. For years it has been my go-to lens for portraits...though lately I've been using my Tamron 70–200 as well. But the 85 is a dream. And the 1.8 is well within your budget too.



#9
Merco_61

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Do you have the room to back up enough for full-body shots with an 85 on DX? Can you still get the contact with the subject that makes for good portraits? I like my 105 on FX, but use the 85 or even a 50 more for environmental portraits. The 85 on DX works better for close head-and-shoulders portraits. A 50/1.4 might be a better choice. The 85-135 range usually recommended for portraits is based on using film or FX. For DX, 50-90 is a better range as you get the same low distortion because of the focusing distance as the traditional range on FX. If you are too close, facial features will be exaggerated, if you are too far away, they will be compressed.



#10
nbanjogal

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Back when I shot on DX, I do remember having to back up quite a ways for full-body shots on the 85mm, but I was usually looking for something a little closer up anyway. I did use my 50mm/1.4 quite a bit for portraits on the old DX as well, and I quite liked the results. Honestly, Camera N00b could probably get both lenses with the budget mentioned as long as it's the 1.8 version of the 85mm.



#11
Camera N00b

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I mainly do outdoor shoots, so room isn't too big of an issue



#12
dcbear78

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I'll second (or third or fourth or whatever) the 85mm idea.

And also suggest the 1.8G lens. BUT I'll also put out there the Tamron 85mm f1.8 VC which is in your price range and is more commonly compared to the superior 85mm 1.4G (some reviews say it's better). I have this lens and it is fantastic. But I've not owned or used the Nikon to honestly say which is better.

#13
TBonz

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I agree with the recommendations - I'd suggest either the 85 or the 50...You might want to try to borrow / rent one or both to see which works best for YOU and your shooting style.  You can always crop a bit if shooting with the 50 but you may not be able to move further away or get the framing you want with a tighter view...Portraits are one of the areas in photography where you really can have too much reach.  I use my 70-200 or my 24-70 for portraits on my FX body, but if it were something I did more often, I'd be using an 85 or my 105 Micro primes rather than a zoom.



#14
Camera N00b

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I've been looking at the Sigma 85mm 1.4 ART. 



#15
dcbear78

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I've been looking at the Sigma 85mm 1.4 ART.


Well that's the best, no compromise on image quality 85mm you can get. Huge and heavy, but optically perfect.

#16
Ron

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Nicole wins the cigar!

 

I love my AFS Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 both on DX and FX. In fact, it's absolutely gorgeous on DX. It's razor sharp with beautiful bokeh.

 

I may carry my 50mm f/1.4 to a portrait session but the 85 gets most of the use. And, for what Nikon charges, it's a bargain.

 

--Ron



#17
Dogbytes

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Nicole wins the cigar!
 
I love my AFS Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 both on DX and FX. In fact, it's absolutely gorgeous on DX. It's razor sharp with beautiful bokeh.
 
I may carry my 50mm f/1.4 to a portrait session but the 85 gets most of the use. And, for what Nikon charges, it's a bargain.
 
--Ron


I too have a 50/1.4 and an 85/1.8 although I’ve only used them on FX up to now. I will be trying both on a D2X this week though. My go to lens has always been the 50 but whenever I use the 85 I’m surprised by it - it is easy to forget what a good lens this is.





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