Which portrait lens?

gez · #1 (**permalink**) 19-11-2009, 03:34 PM

Hi all im after a nikon portrait lens. for weddings etc, looking to spend about £500. what do you think is a good buy.
cheers gez

wizzo · #2 (**permalink**) 19-11-2009, 11:56 PM

Hi Gez.

If you can get a good second hand model of this lens, you simply won't get a better portrait lens mate. Nikon 135mm f2 D AF These lenses are around the £950 mark. Another great lens, and superb value is...Nikon 80-200mm f2.8. These can be obtained for around £650. It's as sharp a lens as the much more expensive 70-200VR version. It's not quite as well made, but is still a professional lens at a great price. Another very highly rated independent lens is the Tamron 90mm macro/portrait lens. I think that others on here will endorse this particular lens, and it's a bargain too! - Wizzo

pressld2 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-11-2009, 08:48 AM

I wouldn't disagree with Wizzo about the quality of any of those lenses but I think they're all a bit long for weddings. Unless you have one of the full frame Nikon bodies the 135 will be a 200mm, the 80-200 will be a 120-300 and the Tamron 90 will be a 135. You'll be taking full length shots of the bride and groom from the other side of the road!

Personally, and this is still assuming you have a body with a 1.5x crop factor sensor, I'd go for the f1.4 50mm prime. This will behave as a 75mm which is a great focal length for portraits. If you want the flexibility of a zoom then the 16-85 is a super little lens that will let you do the close-ups, portraits and group shots without changing lenses. The slight downside to this lens is that it's f3.5-5.6 so you won't be able to get such nice out-of-focus backgrounds as the prime will give you. Both of these lenses are available new inside your budget of £500.

Dave P.

gez · #4 (**permalink**) 20-11-2009, 07:20 PM

Thanks guys,
Ive a nikon D300. The 16-85 looks good & i will take a look at it. im in no hurry as yet, thanks very much
gez

wizzo · #5 (**permalink**) 20-11-2009, 11:05 PM

Actually Dave I'd forgotten to mention the good old 50mm. It's the one lens that I wouldn't be without. Some great photographers have used the 50mm exclusively. It's a great general lens but can be a little unflattering for portraits on a full frame or 35mm film camera. It's also a great lens, however, for learning your craft on, as you have to work to make things 'fit' properly. I would have to say that when I was on the wedding circuit, the most popular lens for 35mm format was always 135mm, and 80-200mm lenses were always great for wedding shots. Of course, as you say, you have to take in to account the crop factor of DX cameras. I'm hopeless at maths, so I'll let others work out the equivelent focal length.

Jonsfotos · #6 (**permalink**) 21-11-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

Hi all im after a nikon portrait lens. for weddings etc, looking to spend about £500. what do you think is a good buy.
cheers gez

Gez,
Having done numerous weddings, i can recommend the 35-70mm AFD 2.8 .It`s a solid, fast and sharp Lens.If you can find a good one and they are still about, it`s worth considering and they are well within your price range.I have also used the 70-200 AFS 2.8 for long shots. Super lens, but were my arms aching at the end of the day !

Jon