fast prime lens for nikon camera (Page 2): You have received good advice, from some of the most experienced so far. I own a DX version 35mm f1.8G and the Nikon 50mm f1.8G. Both of...

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

zphotorayz wrote:

I am in the market for a fast prime lens for my nikon D7200. I will be using the lens primarily for portraits using natural light. My short list consist of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G, f1.4D, f/1.8G, and f/1.8D. Reading the reviews they are all over the place with some photographers loving certain lenses while others thinking the same lens is pure garbage. Since there is only 1/2 a stop difference in these lenses, the most important factors in my mind are price and sharpness. Any thoughts?

You have received good advice, from some of the most experienced so far. I own a DX version 35mm f1.8G and the Nikon 50mm f1.8G. Both of these lenses are very good. You can get the Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.8G for about $220 Brand New from B&H. You won't be disappointed with it. Yes, the f1.4 will gain more light, but you probably won't need it. In most instances.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Fast lenses are nice but you have to understand the limitations of distance to subject, bokeh and the distortions that various focal lengths can cause as others have stated. If you don't have one get a good DOF Calculator app and play with it to understand how shallow acceptable DOF can be. An 85mm f/1.2 lens can leave one eye I focus and the other one out of focus at headshot distance. See the example below... I often shoot portraits at f/4 to f/8 in studio with additional lighting. Fast lenses are great but you need to understand their best use and limitations.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

(Download)

OviedoPhotos

Nikon makes a 35mm DX lens that is very inexpensive but nicely built. I used it for years on my D300

AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

zphotorayz wrote:

I am in the market for a fast prime lens for my nikon D7200. I will be using the lens primarily for portraits using natural light. My short list consist of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G, f1.4D, f/1.8G, and f/1.8D. Reading the reviews they are all over the place with some photographers loving certain lenses while others thinking the same lens is pure garbage. Since there is only 1/2 a stop difference in these lenses, the most important factors in my mind are price and sharpness. Any thoughts?

Any will produce a SHARP, CLEAN image. The cheapest is the 1.8D, and if you lined them all up and compared the results, you would be very hard pressed to see the difference in any of them. So, you want to go heavy or lite? And I meant both price and weight.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

zphotorayz wrote:

I am in the market for a fast prime lens for my nikon D7200. I will be using the lens primarily for portraits using natural light. My short list consist of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G, f1.4D, f/1.8G, and f/1.8D. Reading the reviews they are all over the place with some photographers loving certain lenses while others thinking the same lens is pure garbage. Since there is only 1/2 a stop difference in these lenses, the most important factors in my mind are price and sharpness. Any thoughts?

I have a D7100 and my prime is a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4. On the crop sensor this gives the effect of roughly a 75mm on a full frame camera. I could have gone with a 35mm lens but this just causes me to take a couple of steps back and not be in the subjects face. I also have a Nikkor 18-70mm zoom if I want closer or wider. I have 3 Nikon SB Flashes (SB800, and 2 SB910s) plus the popup on the camera(s). I also (now) have a Nikon D610 (full frame) which currently gets most of my wide angle to normal shots (including portraits). My D7100 spends most of it's current life with a Nikkor 80-400mm lens on it. HOWEVER, their is nothing wrong with the portraits that I shot with the D7100 except for the full frame D610 having a little more convenient depth of field. I do have ONLY Full Frame lenses as they can easily be used on both. NOTE: the Nikkor 18-70mm lens is a crop sensor (DX) lens.

rdjordan44 Loc: Montgomery, Texas

Agree! You need FX equivalent of 75mm or similar for portraits to avoid getting too close to subject. 1.8 is ok, better bokeh with 1.4, but expensive.

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

I just received my 85mm 1.8 G yesterday for my D7200. Only got to play with it a short while last night, but I can see I am going to love this lens! I was going between the 50mm 1.8 & the 85mm 1.8 and I finally decided on the 85. I have been using my 35mm, but for portraits I found I had to be too close to my subject to get the look I wanted. I have to say that just the couple of shots I took with it on my D7200 last night I was very pleased with the color and the bokeh. Took a couple of my husband and of my dogs and was quite happy! Of course, I think I will need a macro for my 3 yr old granddaughter, as she likes to stand 2 inches from the camera lens and the 85 just won’t allow that!

Hbuk66 Loc: Oswego, NY

I have the 60mm f2.8 D micro Nikkor and it's a great lens for any purpose... do some research...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

rdjordan44 wrote:

Agree! You need FX equivalent of 75mm or similar for portraits to avoid getting too close to subject. 1.8 is ok, better bokeh with 1.4, but expensive.

Sorry, a 1/2 stop of bokeh is hardy noticeable and certainly not worth the difference in price. Better Brokeh ? I think not. But there are many people who think as you but really, not noticeable. If both lenses are shot wide open the difference in bokeh is nil.

MisterNormal

My opinion, due to spacial difficulties, I think a 80mm-100mm lens is better for portraiture...

Hbuk66 Loc: Oswego, NY

I forgot --- just yesterday UPS delivered my new Tokina 100mm macro f2.8D; unfortunately it's been snowing ever since and I have yet to venture outside with it... it has gotten pretty good reviews...we'll see...

spraguead Loc: Boston, MA

zphotorayz wrote:

I am in the market for a fast prime lens for my nikon D7200. I will be using the lens primarily for portraits using natural light. My short list consist of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G, f1.4D, f/1.8G, and f/1.8D. Reading the reviews they are all over the place with some photographers loving certain lenses while others thinking the same lens is pure garbage. Since there is only 1/2 a stop difference in these lenses, the most important factors in my mind are price and sharpness. Any thoughts?

I have the D7000 and have found the 85mm 1.4D to be nice for portraits. I've used this a couple of times as there is a rental place near me and they'll let me have equipment from friday noon until monday noon for a one day price. Here are some samples of a shoot I did at a local food bank last fall. A little more casual that real "portraits", but you can get a sense of the bokah. I see some think this lens is less than sharp, so I'd like to try the G some time. Worked well for this assignment which is for their web site only.

All were shot fully open, 100ISO aperture priority.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Why not the 85mm f1.8 D?

ole sarg Loc: south florida

WRONG

The have the field of view of a the longer lenses. The MM remains the same!

rjaywallace wrote:

I don’t disagree, except that on a Nikon D7200, the “-real- nifty 50” would be a 35mm lens. Respectfully, the 50mm lenses you are talking about are all “nifty 75s”.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I don't think Nikon makes a 50mm prime for a crop sensor, they're all full frame lenses. When used on a crop sensor they will be equivalent to a 75mm lens, great for portraits.