Portrait lenses

[paparazzipete]

I am looking for advice I have a D3200 and a 35mm fx and 50mm fx lens and two dx lenses 18-55mm and a 70-300mm and was thinking of of upgrading to full frame camera but that means getting new batteries for the full frame I am want to do portraits in my small studio but do stuff outside also but also take other photos I need a good around lens that can do close up to far Way.

 

[photoflyer]

First, if you can afford it, get a full frame. It is not necessarily better than APS-C, just different and a good tool to have available.

I shoot Canon but Nikon has an equivalent. My preferred portrait lens is the 85 f 1.8 and on a full frame, to me, it is perfect. On APS-C you may find you have to backup a bit more but that depends on the setting.

Others will have their favorite so you could go to a camera store and see what works for you.

 

[jcdeboever]

I think you may want to practice with your current gear. Maybe you have? I would focus more on lighting and tools. Maybe a strobe or even off camera flash. What are you lacking with the d3200 and your current lenses. You can do a lot with what you already have.

 

[paparazzipete]

I think you may want to practice with your current gear. Maybe you have? I would focus more on lighting and tools. Maybe a strobe or even off camera flash. What are you lacking with the d3200 and your current lenses. You can do a lot with what you already have.

I did do off camera flash for a while I have a little studio with backdrops can't use the studio at the moment as it's full of the wifes clutter in the process of tidying it up so I can get back to what I was going.

 

[paparazzipete]

First, if you can afford it, get a full frame. It is not necessarily better than APS-C, just different and a good tool to have available.

I shoot Canon but Nikon has an equivalent. My preferred portrait lens is the 85 f 1.8 and on a full frame, to me, it is perfect. On APS-C you may find you have to backup a bit more but that depends on the setting.

Others will have their favorite so you could go to a camera store and see what works for you.

I will look into getting a 85mmm f1.8.

 

[ac12]

You need to understand that a "portrait" lens, depends . . .
. . . on what KIND of portrature you shoot, and how far from the subject you are.

A 10 person family portrait in a small studio may require a wide angle lens, say 35mm.
A "tight" face portrait a mid to longish range tele, say 200mm.
And everything in between.

Back in the film days, the standard Nikon head and shoulders portrait lens was the 105.

Today it seems the standard choice is the 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8 pair. But those are pricey lenses.
A good alternative is something like the Tamron 35-150/2.8-4.

ONE lens, vs. two.
From moderate wide (for group shots) to moderate long (for the tight face shots).
Not the WIDE aperture and shallow DoF of the 85/1.8, but more flexible.​

I would sit down and look at your prior pics with an editor that can read the EXIF data.
Then determine what focal length you seem to shoot at the most.
Multiply that by 1.5, and you have your FF/FX equivalent lens.
Example 50mm x 1.5 = 75mm
This is most useful with pics that you shot with your zoom, as you would be zooming to the focal length you need for the shot. vs. a prime lens when you just have to "make do."