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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> what lens to compliment my 50mm for portraits??
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 03/06/2007 12:26:16 PM · #1


I am looking to invest in another portrait lens to comp my nikon 50mm 1.8. My budget is 400 dollars. Please help me out because I have a lot of models that want to work with me.
 03/06/2007 12:33:29 PM · #2
sigma's 105mm f:2.8 ex dg macro lens works well for tight compositions. though the AF isn't less than fast - the manual focus barrel is pretty good IMO. looking at around $350 new. it comes in nikon mount too...

there are others out there, but this one fits your budget.

//www.dpchallenge.com/lens.php?LENS_ID=560

Message edited by author 2007-03-06 12:34:25.
 03/06/2007 01:05:58 PM · #3
If the Nikkor 85mm f1.8 is anything like the Canon version, get it
 03/06/2007 01:09:09 PM · #4
105's a little long for my taste, but it would certainly work.

also look at the tamron 90mm (which i have) and the 85mm f/1.8 for a little more room in low light...
 03/06/2007 01:18:07 PM · #5
The 85mm f/1.8 looks like a natural. That's a great focal length on your camera, and it's very fast & sharp & within your price range. If I were in the market for a new prime right now, and unable to afford a 400mm (jejeje) I'd be looking at Canon's 85mm f/1.8 myself, I love that lens.

R.
 03/06/2007 01:21:50 PM · #6
indoors ... 35mm prime

outside ... 85mm prime
03/06/2007 01:25:46 PM · #7
boy i didn't realize that canon 85mm f:1.8 USM was so cheap. i may buy it today - if the optics are equivelant to the 50mm f1.8 II...


03/06/2007 02:01:44 PM · #8
Originally posted by soup:
boy i didn't realize that canon 85mm f:1.8 USM was so cheap. i may buy it today - if the optics are equivelant to the 50mm f1.8 II...


Actually, I'd say they're better. Maybe not sharper, but that's debatable. The 85mm f1.8 has better color, smoother bokeh since the lens diaphragm has more blades, it has USM and it's much more sturdily constructed.
 03/06/2007 02:07:09 PM · #9
hmm - tempting. i like primes... i was gonna buy this one...

//www.adorama.com/Catalog.tpl?page=il_refine_search

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Actually, I'd say they're better. Maybe not sharper, but that's debatable. The 85mm f1.8 has better color, smoother bokeh since the lens diaphragm has more blades, it has USM and it's much more sturdily constructed.

 03/06/2007 02:15:58 PM · #10
Originally posted by soup:
hmm - tempting. i like primes... i was gonna buy this one...

//www.adorama.com/Catalog.tpl?page=il_refine_search

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Actually, I'd say they're better. Maybe not sharper, but that's debatable. The 85mm f1.8 has better color, smoother bokeh since the lens diaphragm has more blades, it has USM and it's much more sturdily constructed.


That just takes me to the main page for Adorama. I'm pretty sure you weren't gonna buy the whole store.
 03/06/2007 02:33:04 PM · #11
Librodo does OK with the 60mm Macro Nikkor
 03/06/2007 02:49:26 PM · #12
oops - well maybe most of it ;}

//www.adorama.com/SG1020EOS.html

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
That just takes me to the main page for Adorama. I'm pretty sure you weren't gonna buy the whole store.

 03/06/2007 02:50:47 PM · #13
I am leaning toward the 85mm 1.8d, but someone said I dont need that because I have the 50mm which is equal. I guess????? Today is my birthday and I want to purchase a lens today. I need more suggestions!!!! Lol
03/06/2007 03:08:05 PM · #14
do you find the 50 to be a good length? Is it too short? too long?

it's hard to recommend a better lens than what you have if we don't know if we should be recommending longer or shorter lenses

if you like the 50 ... buy a flash

Originally posted by Dlove:
I am leaning toward the 85mm 1.8d, but someone said I dont need that because I have the 50mm which is equal. I guess????? Today is my birthday and I want to purchase a lens today. I need more suggestions!!!! Lol
03/06/2007 03:17:16 PM · #15


I want portrait shots similar to magazine covers like Esquire. 3/4 lengh body shots with sharp results.
 03/06/2007 03:19:04 PM · #16
Originally posted by Dlove:
I am leaning toward the 85mm 1.8d, but someone said I dont need that because I have the 50mm which is equal. I guess????? Today is my birthday and I want to purchase a lens today. I need more suggestions!!!! Lol


The focal length doesn't change. If you want to equate lenses by field of view, the 50mm on your D50 has about the same FOV as a 75mm lens on a 35mm camera. The 85mm lens on your D50 has about the same FOV as a 135mm lens on a 35mm camera, so, unless you shoot the 50mm on your D50 and the 85 on a 35mm camera, you have been misinformed, they are not even close.
 03/06/2007 03:23:07 PM · #17
So go with the 85mm lens?
 03/06/2007 03:30:43 PM · #18
Originally posted by soup:
oops - well maybe most of it ;}

//www.adorama.com/SG1020EOS.html

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
That just takes me to the main page for Adorama. I'm pretty sure you weren't gonna buy the whole store.


Well, that's a very different beast than the 85 f1.8. I guess it depends on what you want to do with whatever you do buy.
 03/06/2007 03:34:22 PM · #19
Originally posted by Dlove:
So go with the 85mm lens?


85mm would be more for face shots, not 3/4... sounds like you want wider than 50mm.

maybe the nikon 24mm 2.8? or even the sigma 30mm 1.4 (which i have and enjoy...)
 03/06/2007 03:48:14 PM · #20
Originally posted by Dlove:
So go with the 85mm lens?


I would, for what I like to shoot, but for 3/4 length shots, you may want wider than 50mm, maybe a 35mm f2.0.
 03/07/2007 08:05:36 AM · #21
yeah i know, but i almost reallocated the funds.

i'll stick with the wide angle for now i think/.

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by soup:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
oops - well maybe most of it ;}

//www.adorama.com/SG1020EOS.html

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That just takes me to the main page for Adorama. I'm pretty sure you weren't gonna buy the whole store.


Well, that's a very different beast than the 85 f1.8. I guess it depends on what you want to do with whatever you do buy.


 03/07/2007 08:42:23 AM · #22
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 beats the pants off the Canon 50mm f/1.8 for everything, including sharpness, especially wide open.

I understand that the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is better than the Canon variant though, so it's probably roughly the same.

If it were me, I'd probably look at the 35mm f/2 area or the 30mm f/1.4 by Sigma. If you start to go too wide, you start leaving the realm of portraits.

On the other hand, if you don't have anything in the 24mm range, that's an option.
 03/07/2007 11:07:28 AM · #23
The OP has an 18-55 and a 70-300, so just set your 70-300 at 85mm and at 100mm and see how you like the framing. Use your 18-55 at 24, 30 and 35 or whatever prime lengths you're interested in. See how the shot is framed, don't worry about IQ, bokeh, etc (that's what you're getting the prime for).
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