Best lens for portraits?
Nov 29, 2015 17:26:27 #
Any recommendations for an affordable lens that is great for portraits? I have a Nikon D3200 and was thinking of the 35mm F/1.8.
Nov 29, 2015 17:33:35 #
Not that one! That's a normal lens on DX cameras. Look for a 50 to 85mm minimum. A 100 to 105 would work, too. Get as wide a maximum aperture as you can afford.
Nov 29, 2015 17:39:09 #
Sandito wrote:
Any recommendations for an affordable lens that is great for portraits? I have a Nikon D3200 and was thinking of the 35mm F/1.8.
I found a 105mm F2.8 worked well on the D7100 for portraits because it also allowed closeups.
Nov 29, 2015 18:39:18 #
Sandito wrote:
Any recommendations for an affordable lens that is great for portraits? I have a Nikon D3200 and was thinking of the 35mm F/1.8.
The 35mm 1.8 DX is a great, affordable lens that would serve you well on a 3200. It can be used for portraits, but an 85mm would be a better lens for that purpose.
Nov 29, 2015 18:39:23 #
For Portraits I like a 105MM. If you can find a 85-105 Zoom, that would be ideal.
Sandito wrote:
Any recommendations for an affordable lens that is great for portraits? I have a Nikon D3200 and was thinking of the 35mm F/1.8.
Nov 29, 2015 18:54:15 #
Sandito wrote:
Any recommendations for an affordable lens that is great for portraits? I have a Nikon D3200 and was thinking of the 35mm F/1.8.
If you mean group shots, that might be okay. But not for individuals.
Focal lengths for typical portrait shots range from the 35mm film equivalent of about 75mm up to at least 200mm. Way back when, before zoom lenses were good enough, the typical compliment was a 50mm "normal" lens and a 135mm "portrait" lens. For those who wanted a wider angle the 105mm f2 DC and 85mm f/1.4 lenses were specifically designed for portraits.
With a APS-C sensor an 85mm equivalent would be about 50-58mm, a 135mm equivalent would be 90-105mm, and a 200mm would be something near 135mm.
The newer 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 lenses would be super great, and they are AF-S so you can use them for general purpose photography with fully functional Auto Focus. On the other hand, the older AF-D lenses may also be useful when limited specifically to manual focus portrait work.
Nov 29, 2015 19:08:58 #
Think of how far you want to be from your subject and how much of the subject you want to include in the frame as well as how much of the subject you want to be in sharp focus.
Those will dictate your lens choice.
Those will dictate your lens choice.
Nov 29, 2015 20:00:48 #
Kmgw9v wrote:
The 35mm 1.8 DX is a great, affordable lens that would serve you well on a 3200. It can be used for portraits, but an 85mm would be a better lens for that purpose.
For full length or group shots the 35 mm would work well but not for head shots! That short of a lens well distort your subjects so the have big noses. Here is a thought. Go ahead with the 35 mm and the buy a used 135 mm f/2.8 for head shots. You can get great glass for almost nothing on eBay but they will be completely manual. I have a 135 mm Spiratone preset (look it up) and it has a 15 blade diaphragm so wide open it gives blur with great bokeh, They are about $25 on eBay and have a t-mount so you can buy a Nikon mount for about $5 if it has a different mount. Any brand with a Nikon mount will work well. - Dave
Nov 29, 2015 21:29:57 #
Nov 29, 2015 21:42:34 #
The first lens I bought after getting in to digital was an f/1.8, 85mm, for a crop body. Never looked back.
Nov 29, 2015 22:43:54 #
The Nikon 85MM F1.8 is an outstanding lens.
djtravels wrote:
The first lens I bought after getting in to digital was an f/1.8, 85mm, for a crop body. Never looked back.
Nov 30, 2015 01:46:09 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
Sandito wrote:
Any recommendations for an affordable lens that is great for portraits? I have a Nikon D3200 and was thinking of the 35mm F/1.8.
Let's make sure we're on the same page when you mention portraits. Generally many if nnot most of us would consider a portrait an image of the head, shoulders and upper torso, or perhaps including most of the torso. As a general rule on a crop camera, a minimum of a 50mm lens would be recommended with 85mm, around 105mm, or 135mm preferred. A 35mm lens for that type of shot would require you to be too close to the subject, potentially causing facial distortion. If you are talking about a mostly full body shot, or a portrait of two or more people together, a 35mm might work better.
Nov 30, 2015 01:48:12 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
Wilsondl3 wrote:
For full length or group shots the 35 mm would wor... (show quote)
Agree. Just noticed your post. I basically posted much the same thing.
Nov 30, 2015 02:31:46 #
A lot of pros use the 70-200, move away from their subject and shoot at 200.
The 35 is a wide angle lens, it was not made for portraits.
Do the math on your crop factor, and go with an equivalent of not less than 85mm.
If you can afford the 85 1.4 that would be the way to go.
The 35 is a wide angle lens, it was not made for portraits.
Do the math on your crop factor, and go with an equivalent of not less than 85mm.
If you can afford the 85 1.4 that would be the way to go.
Nov 30, 2015 06:14:13 #
Sandito wrote:
Any recommendations for an affordable lens that is great for portraits? I have a Nikon D3200 and was thinking of the 35mm F/1.8.
I like my Nikkor 50mm 1.4 on my Nikon D7100 or I use a Nikkor 18-70 but it has a higher f/stop. The 50mm gives great bokeh and control of depth of field. The 18-70 gives a better close-up or wider shot but you give up aperture. I also use a 70-300 at times. I guess the best answer is to constantly experiment and not be afraid to try new lenses in any type of shot. They might surprise you. NOTE: I would almost never use my Tamron 10-24mm for a portrait. At 10mm it tends to have a hint of fisheye and it is too wide across the board - probably even for group shots. I would just take the 18-70 and move back.
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