Best portrait lens?

[bevoholic]

An ex coworker of mine gave my name out to a friend of hers and now she wants me to do some family portraits for her. Right now, all I have are my 18-55 and 70-300. What's a good lens that I could get? I have a D5000 and I will be working outside. Oh, and fairly cheap would be nice.

 

[Stradawhovious]

NIkon 50mm 1.8 ($130 MF only on the D5000) 50mm 1.4 ($400 AF), 35mm1.8 ($200 AF), 85 mm 1.8 ($430 MF only on the D5000), etc. etc. etc.

You could also try HERE..... It seems to be a very common question.

I use a 50mm 1.8 and a 135mm 2.8 AI, and I LOVE them. the 50mm 1.8 won't AF on the D5000, but will meter.... the 135mm 2.8 AI won't AF or meter on the D5000

 

[bevoholic]

NIkon 50mm 1.8 ($130 MF only on the D5000) 50mm 1.4 ($400 AF), 35mm1.8 ($200 AF), 85 mm 1.8 ($430 MF only on the D5000), etc. etc. etc.

You could also try HERE..... It seems to be a very common question.

I use a 50mm 1.8 and a 135mm 2.8 AI, and I LOVE them. the 50mm 1.8 won't AF on the D5000, but will meter.... the 135mm 2.8 AI won't AF or meter on the D5000

Will the 50mm 1.4 AF and meter? I really don't think MF will be all that much of a problem though. I can see pretty well through my viewfinder. And your link doesn't go anywhere.

 

[Stradawhovious]

NIkon 50mm 1.8 ($130 MF only on the D5000) 50mm 1.4 ($400 AF), 35mm1.8 ($200 AF), 85 mm 1.8 ($430 MF only on the D5000), etc. etc. etc.

You could also try HERE..... It seems to be a very common question.

I use a 50mm 1.8 and a 135mm 2.8 AI, and I LOVE them. the 50mm 1.8 won't AF on the D5000, but will meter.... the 135mm 2.8 AI won't AF or meter on the D5000

Will the 50mm 1.4 AF and meter? I really don't think MF will be all that much of a problem though. I can see pretty well through my viewfinder. And your link doesn't go anywhere.

The 50mm 1.4 AF-S will meter and AF on the D5000, but it's $300 more than the 50 1.8 AF D. The MF isn't that big of deal, since there is an focus indicator light in the viewfinder. So even though it won't AF, it will still tell you when it is in focus.

My link should take you to a search for "best portrait lens" which will yield 5 pages of threads, many of which contain really helpful information.

If you have a dedicated photo store in your area, chances are they rent all of those lenses. Might be a good way to see if you like them.

 

[Light Artisan]

Nikon 85 f/1.4 or the Nikon 70-200 VR

You're welcome and good luck.

 

[bevoholic]

Ahh, thanks. I forgot about the indicator in the viewfinder. Your link just says "Sorry, no results found." I think I'm gonna go with the 50mm 1.4.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Nikon 85 f/1.4 or the Nikon 70-200 VR

You're welcome and good luck.

Yeah, assuming the OP has $1,000+ for the 85mm 1.4 or $2,300+ for the 70-200, they're in like flynn. Really good glass costs a **** ton of money.

 

[Light Artisan]

They asked what the best was, not what the best was for $150 or less.

 

[bevoholic]

Nikon 85 f/1.4 or the Nikon 70-200 VR

You're welcome and good luck.

Yeah, assuming the OP has $1,000+ for the 85mm 1.4 or $2,300+ for the 70-200, they're in like flynn.

Thanks...hahaha.

 

[tirediron]

Nikon 85 f/1.4 or the Nikon 70-200 VR

Strictly bush-league. The real answer is: The Nikon 105mm f/2D AF-DC Nikkor!!!

 

[Stradawhovious]

They asked what the best was, not what the best was for $150 or less.

Whatever. I gave my opinion based on my experience, you gave yours. The OP can make up his own mind based on necessity and means.

Have a nice night! :hug::

 

[bevoholic]

They asked what the best was, not what the best was for $150 or less.

Yea. I guess I should have stated that. I can't afford those lens'...unfortunately.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I would go with a kit lens replacement.17-50 2.8 tamron or 16-50 2.8 tokina. Personally I dont think the shallow DOF or speed is needed in family portraits. But better IQ and focusing capabilities would be welcome additions. Are you planning studio stuff or location shot? When I think family shots, I think outdoors shots where you want to see some background and have ample lighting aside from just needing some fill. Which brings another question, do you have a flash?

 

[ghache]

I've used the
85mm 1.8, the 50mm 1.8. 24-70 af-s 2.8, the 70-200 VR1 the 18-105 VR kit lens for portraits and my favorite so far is the 24-70.

The range is really nice on a cropped body, its sharp, fast, easy to work with and the bokeh it produce between 50-70 is really nice. i love this lens.
I suspect the 70-200 to also be an excelent lens for portraiture but i didnt had the chance to use it that much. I bought the 24-70 after renting it alot, so now ill be renting the 70-200 to test it alot more.

 

[KmH]

An ex coworker of mine gave my name out to a friend of hers and now she wants me to do some family portraits for her. Right now, all I have are my 18-55 and 70-300. What's a good lens that I could get? I have a D5000 and I will be working outside. Oh, and fairly cheap would be nice.

The lenses you have will work fine, as long as you understand how to use them.

There is no one best portrait lens. Which lens gets used depends on a number of factors: indoor or outdoor how many people in the shot, how much light is available, strobed light or available light how far from the background the subject(s) are, etc.?

For a family I would use the 70-300 if I have the room to be back from them.

Were I you, I'd be thinking more about how I would be lighting them.