Best Portrait Lenses For Nikon

[madisonofriel]

Hello everyone!
I want to gather some info about lenses. There are so many I can think of that I want, but I think what I really need right now is a good lens for portaits.
I would like to have a really wide aperture, like maybe 1.8 or 2.0. And for focal length I was thinking between 70 and 135mm.
I am just starting off so I don't have much money, But I want to start saving now.
I have a Nikon D3000 With the 18-55mm and 55-200mm (which I've been using for portraits) lenses.

PLEASE help me out with this... I don't know where to start, Or what to look for in a portrait lens. Thanks in advance!!

 

[astroNikon]

well the "defacto" in a loose sense of the word, portrait lens is a 85mm which basically comes in a f/1.8 or f/1.4
but on a crop that pushes it a bit in the Field Of View. So on a crop for a prime lens people may use (at least) a 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 lens.
Of course, it varies alot. Some prefer 100ish for a prime.

There's no real one answer.

But take a look at your photos and figure out the most used focal length. Then see if a prime can fit the bill at f/1.8 or f/1.4 or a zoom that is a constant f/2.8 aperture, such as a 24-70/2.8 (though once get get to this territory these are large lenses).

 

[ruifo]

For the D3000, consider these prime lenses options, depending on your budget:
- 50mm f/1.8g or 50mm f/1.4g
- 85mm f/1.8g or 85mm f/1.4g

All these options will help you a lot with portraits. The 85mm will give better results, but you will need some distance from your subject. It's perfect for outdoors portraits.

 

[madisonofriel]

For the D3000, consider these prime lenses options, depending on your budget:
- 50mm f/1.8g or 50mm f/1.4g
- 85mm f/1.8g or 85mm f/1.4g

All these options will help you a lot with portraits. The 85mm will give better results, but you will need some distance from your subject. It's perfect for outdoors portraits.

Where is the best place to buy from?

 

[binga63]

I use the 105mm f2.0 dc as my go to portrait lens.....been lucky and have purchased every lens I have via ebay.... touch wood haven't been burnt as yet

 

[ruifo]

Where is the best place to buy from?

B&H Photo Video Digital Cameras, Photography, Camcorders

Photography, Digital Cameras, Lenses, Electronics - 8PM Shipping - Adorama Camera

And many others...

 

[Mashburn]

50mm 1.8 or 1.4

 

[KmH]

A lot of people that don't have a ;lot of experience have major focusing issues with 50 mm f/1.8 and f/1.4 lenses because the depth-of-field (DoF) can get extremely shallow when doing portrait type shots.

Using the D3000 with a 50 mm f/1.8 lens set to f/1.8 and a point of focus (PoF) distance for a head shot of 5 feet the total DoF is only .21 of a foot or 2.5 inches.
1 1/4 inch of that is in front of the PoF, and the other 1 1/4 inch is behind the PoF. Online Depth of Field Calculator
Understanding Depth of Field in Photography

As it is many of the f/1.8 and f/1.4 lenses have to be 'stopped down' at least 2 stops to reach the beginning of the aperture range where they start delivering their sharpest focus.
Two stops down from f/1.8 is f/3.5. Two stops down from f/1.4 is f/2.8

So the 50 mm lens stopped down to f/3.5 to make a head shot from 5 feet then has a total DoF of only .4 of a foot or 4.8 inches.

Ultimately you wind up stopping a 50 mm down to f/5.6 to f/8 to get sufficient DoF for a portrait head shot.
At f/8 using a 50 mm lnes and a 5 foot PoF distance the total DoF is still only a bit over 11 inches with 5 of the inches in front of the PoF.

 

[shadowlands]

80-200 f2.8d is my fav.... it rocks!!!!

 

[Vince.1551]

85 1.8 G

 

[madisonofriel]

85 1.8 G

How much did it cost you? can you send a link?

 

[madisonofriel]

80-200 f2.8d is my fav.... it rocks!!!!

Really? what do you use it for?

 

[sscarmack]

I love my 70-200 2.8


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Trever1t]

I pretty much ONLY use the 85 f1/4 now. It's great but most importantly, it's not cumbersome. As a commando style shooter, I shoot 3 hour sessions and the 85 is not too long or too short nor too heavy, the f1.4 wide aperture allows a very thin dof at a distance for studio or natural locations.

I'd love a 105 and 135....as soon as they're updated I'll be buying.

 

[gwhiz]

I'll second or third the 85mm. I have the 1.8g but it's an amazing lens. You do have to stand a bit further away for portraits but not so much that you feel like you're not involved in the shoot. Sharpness is great and bokeh is amazing.