Great reasonably priced portrait lens: Ben shooting for a while and just got a Nikon d3100, while not at the top of the food chain its a great move up. Most of what I do is portraits...

Newbee Shutterbug Loc: Pierce City Mo.

Ben shooting for a while and just got a Nikon d3100, while not at the top of the food chain its a great move up. Most of what I do is portraits and I can deside between a 50mm and a 85mm... After lots of reading and research Im leaning toward the 50mm. One note I love sharp subject and a nicely blured back ground exspecialy when shooting out doors

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

I think you will find that the 85mm will serve you better than the 50mm; an 85 will give you more stand off room from your subject, and not be so intimidating.

Newbee Shutterbug Loc: Pierce City Mo.

Any recomendations? Dosent have to be the newest out as long as it works well with my d3100

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Ditto on the 85 if you jave the room to use it. One thing it will do for you is that because it has a narrower angle of view, you include a smaller background area, giving you a less distracting look.

John Lawrence

Newbee Shutterbug wrote:

Ben shooting for a while and just got a Nikon d3100, while not at the top of the food chain its a great move up. Most of what I do is portraits and I can deside between a 50mm and a 85mm... After lots of reading and research Im leaning toward the 50mm. One note I love sharp subject and a nicely blured back ground exspecialy when shooting out doors

I use a Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens for my grandchildren. I'm often shooting within the confines of a house so I don't always have room to use an 85mm. If you're shooting in an area where you have room to move back, I would recommend the Nikon 85mm 1.8 lens. Both great lenses at a reasonable price.

Victor S Loc: SouthCoast MA

I use a Canon 85mm 2.8. Inexpensive (relatively speaking).

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Newbee Shutterbug wrote:

Ben shooting for a while and just got a Nikon d3100, while not at the top of the food chain its a great move up. Most of what I do is portraits and I can deside between a 50mm and a 85mm... After lots of reading and research Im leaning toward the 50mm. One note I love sharp subject and a nicely blured back ground exspecialy when shooting out doors

Perhaps you could define "reasonably priced", as the 85mm will typically cost triple a comparable 50mm lens.

Newbee Shutterbug Loc: Pierce City Mo.

Im saying id like to stay around 300 if possable

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

If you can deal with manual focus:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=859135&is=REG&A=details&Q=
A thread here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1464501@N22/discuss/72157626367651370/
https://www.google.com/search?q=Rokinon+85mm+1.4&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=v3gwUqe4F8GU2gWW8oHQCQ&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=1200&bih=656

Samyang, Rokinon- same lens, different label.

Personally, I would try to find an used Nikon AF. I have trouble focusing manually.

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

Maybe look into B&H referb or used 85mm 1.8D...when they show up...they are gone in a day or so and at 300 to 400 mite fit your budget.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Newbee Shutterbug wrote:

Im saying id like to stay around 300 if possable

In that case the AFS 50mm F1.8 G may be your best bet. The 85mm, even the F1.8 D Model usually sells for $350-$400 used, and it will not AF with your camera. The 85mm AFS G F1.8 can be had for $450 and up, and it will AF with your body, but you definitely need the AFS lenses for your camera, unless you prefer to manually focus, then the AF 85mm F1.8 (pre-D) can be had for around $250.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Bret wrote:

Maybe look into B&H referb or used 85mm 1.8D...when they show up...they are gone in a day or so and at 300 to 400 mite fit your budget.

He shoots the D3100 body, the "D" lenses will not AF for him, might as well buy a manual focus and save more money.

EstherP

Newbee Shutterbug wrote:

Im saying id like to stay around 300 if possable

300... dollars? pounds sterling? euros? circumference of the lens in inches?
Just teasing, but:
the more information you give, the more suitable the answers you receive will be.
One help would have been, if rather than being 'in hiding', you'd put the location where you are in your profile.
I hope you get the lens that will work for you!
EstherP

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

If you want to think out of the box think about a 135mm f/2.8 Spiratone. For head shots you will not find a better lens. It is sharp and you will be pressed hard to find better blur. It's diaphragm has 15 blades so it gives a nice creamy background. They sell on eBay from $15 up. They are a t mount lens so if you buy one that does not have a Nikon mount you can get the mount for another $5. Drawback - this is a true manual lens. You have to focus. You have to set the aperture and if you use anything other than f/2.8 (which you will be shooting in for portraits) you have to close the diaphragm by hand. This has been my go to Portrait Lens since I bought it for $19.95 in 1970. Sold thousands of dollars in pictures taken with this lens. Then get the 50mm for body shots. Just My Not So Humble Opinion. - Dave

elwynn Loc: Near Atlanta, GA

The noses will be smaller with the 85mm.