Shallow Depth of Field Lense for Nikon D3100

[Simon_G]

Not sure why this was double posted?

The 35 has too much Barrel Distortion when used as a close up lens, I would not go less than 50mm for that (even a 50 can distort if used too close). Ever seen those images where someones nose or forehead is slight enlarged, and makes them look really strange??? That is what wide angles to to peoples faces! A 35 won't be as excessive as a wider angler would be, but will still be much less flattering than a 50, or even better... an 85mm.

User error, sorry! Thanks for the all responses, certainly food for thought...

 

[colnago1331]

As others have noted, the 35mm is an excellent lens but probably not what you want for portraits. Depending on budget, the 85mm f/1.8g is your BEST bet for portrait photography. But it's a $500 lens. The $220 50mm f/1.8g is a very good lens too. Not ideal for portraits, but definitely serviceable for such a use.

 

[gardy]

As others have noted, the 35mm is an excellent lens but probably not what you want for portraits. Depending on budget, the 85mm f/1.8g is your BEST bet for portrait photography. But it's a $500 lens. The $220 50mm f/1.8g is a very good lens too. Not ideal for portraits, but definitely serviceable for such a use.

The 85 with a longer focal length will render a more out of focus background than a 50 shot at the same Fstop as well

 

[suryopras]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I was wanting to use the lens mainly for portraits and generally relatively close-up shots

if you want to shoot more for portrait with good bokeh, go with AF-S 85mm f1.8G. You will like it for portrait works. The AF 85mm f1.8 D is also good choice but if your body has built-in focus motor otherwise it cannot auto focus.

You need to get really close to subject with the 35mm to get cream bokeh at wide open, and it makes annoyed distortion to the face of subject.

Anyway I have both AF-S 85mm and 35mm with the 35mm I use more for street photography and indoor low light.

Kindly visit my Flickr: http://flickr.com/suryopras I have lots of sample shot with 85mm on D7000 and D3100.

 

[squirrels]

You might want to spend a little time time playing with your kit lens at a fixed focal length of 35 and 50 to get a feel for how the focal length for your prime would play out.

I'm new to this and picked up a 50mm 1.8G for Christmas mostly for taking pictures of my kids with the same camera. I love the nifty fifty, but I'm spending a lot of time squished back against walls and scrunched into corners trying to fit all of a 2 year old into the shot. For full body shots of infants and non-full body shots of toddlers, I love it.

I didn't realize how much time I'd spend plowing backward through legos and lincoln logs trying to get my shot.

HTH,
C

 

[BobSaget]

Portrait and shallow depth says you should look for something in the 70mm-80mm range as opposed to a 35mm or 50mm.

 

[Geaux]

First lens I bought for my d3000 (pre-d90) and loved it, hardly left my camera body.

I had no problem shooting portraits with it, examples below.


First Time Portrait by NOLA_2T, on Flickr


First Time Portrait by NOLA_2T, on Flickr


Untitled by NOLA_2T, on Flickr

Personally, I didn't have any distortion problems like others have said. On other hand, my 85mm 1.4 is now my new go to portrait lens