Portrait Photography

[nixon0501]

Hello,

I own a Nikon D90 and I am looking to purchase a lens suitable for portaiture, I have been looking at fixed 50mm and 85mm options, are these the most suitable or are there other options I should explore? Can anyone recommend a specific lens? I would be willing to spend £300 maximum if it was for the right lens.

Thanks

[ianpinion]

Hi Nixon and welcome to the forum. Have a look at the Nikon 50mm f1.8 VR. It's as cheap as chips and absolutely cracking for portraits with your D90s cropped sensor. You'll see a few other threads on this very lens on this forum, so have a look round and have a read.

[Mr Bump]

Welcome nixon0501. As ianpinion says, the 50mm f1.8 is incredible value for money and will auto-focus on your D90 (but not on lower-end Nikon SLRs). I have not seen a VR version of this lens but perhaps I am just out-of-date?

To throw something of a curved ball, you could also consider the Nikon 60mm f2.8 G AF-S ED which will not only serve as a great portrait lens with its 9-blade rounded diaphragm but also give you true 1:1 macro to expand its usefulness. Although £399 new, a good used example could be within your budget. There is also the Nikon 60mm f2.8 D AF Micro version at around £320 new. Just something you might like to consider.

Bump

[amk1977]

The 50mm f/1.8D is a great lens for portraits. Razor sharp with a shallow depth of field that gives wonderful bokeh. Its excellent for natural and low light situations too. They are around £100 new. About £70 second hand on eBay. The 85mm f1/.8D is also a fantastic lens. More expensive than the 50mm, and routinely goes for £200-£250 on eBay for a used one.

As Bump says, you could go for a macro lens that doubles for portraiture. If you did decide to do this, I'd go for something a bit longer than the 60mm, like the Tamron SP90, Tokina 100mm or Sigma 105mm, all of which are f/2.8 lenses. Any macro lens shorter than this is fine for still life but, for skittish insects, you'll probably find they fly off before you can get close enough, more often than not.

For value for money though, you really cannot beat the 50mm. I love mine. Virtually all of the portraits in my gallery were taken using that lens. You will not be disappointed with the results. In fact, if £300 is your budget you should easily be able to pick up mint copies of both the 50mm AND an SP90 for £300 on eBay.

[nixon0501]

Thanks for the advice everyone, it seems nobody has a bad word to say about the 50mm f1.8 so I will have a shop around for the best deal. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by amk1977

Any macro lens shorter than this is fine for still life but, for skittish insects, you'll probably find they fly off before you can get close enough, more often than not.

True, unless Cutter's hibernating non-plastic fly technique is used (BTW I hope Mark is feeling better now).

Originally Posted by amk1977

In fact, if £300 is your budget you should easily be able to pick up mint copies of both the 50mm AND an SP90 for £300 on eBay.

Good thinking Aaron.

Bump