85mm or 50mm Lens ????? Hi, I went full frame with a Nikon D750, I do like the 24-120 lens that came with it, but would like to try a prime, I find myself using the lens at 50 & 85...

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85mm or 50mm Lens ?????

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Aug 19, 2018 14:52:17 #

CliftonAlvin

Hi,
I went full frame with a Nikon D750, I do like the 24-120 lens that came with it, but would like to try a prime, I find myself using the lens at 50 & 85 almost always.

I do a lot of portrait style photography, I sell comics and photograph a lot of cosplays at conventions, I carry and shoot handheld.

I've been looking at the Nikon 85mm 1.8g and the 85mm 1.4g ($1000 more) and also the sigma 85mm f 1.4 art, does anyone have any thoughts on these?

or would you reccomend a 50mm, for what I do?

I do own a DX camera and plan on using my 24-120 on it, so I can have a bit more reach when I need it.

Thank you for your time

Aug 19, 2018 14:54:57 #

User ID

`

If you can't solidly lean toward 50 or 85,
don't forget that Nikon's current macro
"normals" are 60mm :-)

Perznally, and starting from exactly your
current position, I wanted a fast normal
to complement my 24-120 and 28-300,
so I went for the Tamron 45/1.8 becuz I
had come to greatly value the VR of the
two zooms.

OK, 45 is going shorter instead of longer,
but everything else about the lens more
than convinced me to ignore a "shortage"
of about 10mm compared to my ideal of
55mm if that had been available with VR.

"Common Wisdom" argues against your
choosing a 45mm. It also argued against
it for me, too. However, common wisdom
is mainly hot air and lemmingism. OTOH
a hands-on with the Tamron was verrrry
substantial ... and convincing.

`

Aug 19, 2018 14:59:00 #

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

It is generally recommended that you use a longer than normal lens for portraits. Normal for your D750 is about 50mm, normal for a DX is about 35mm. Given the lenses you mentioned, I would go with the 85mm.

Aug 19, 2018 15:01:03 #

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

CliftonAlvin wrote:

Hi, br I went full frame with a Nikon D750, I do... (show quote)

Everyone needs a nifty-fifty, but for "portrait style photography" the 85mm 1.4 or 1.8 would be my first choice.

Aug 19, 2018 17:02:37 #

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

I have a D750 and love the 85mm f1.8 for portraits and even close-ups. Very sharp lens, excellent weight. When I went to Alaska last year, I used the 50mm f1.8 a lot and kept it on my camera most of the time. I also have a D5200 which I keep the 24-120 on, excellent combo. So, IMHO, if you are going more for portraits, then the 85mm is an excellent choice. With the cost of these, both are great bargains, I would get both. You can get them as refurbished for even better bargain. Good luck with your choice, you cannot go wrong with either or both.

Aug 19, 2018 17:11:36 #

srherrmann Loc: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

I would suggest the 85 mm. I have the 1.4 and really like the bokeh produced by it, but I have heard some good things about the 1.8 as well.

Aug 19, 2018 19:05:28 #

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

CliftonAlvin wrote:

Hi, br I went full frame with a Nikon D750, I do... (show quote)

I have the Sigma 50 mm ART lens, which is spectacular to use. Pricy buy spectacular.

Aug 19, 2018 20:19:04 #

mrpentaxk5ii

CliftonAlvin wrote:

Hi, br I went full frame with a Nikon D750, I do... (show quote)

+,
I don't have a Full Frame camera, I use Pentax APSC, I have a 55.F-1.4 and when I shoot a wedding I rent a Pentax 77mm F-1.8. I find the 77 mm more useful shooting in crowds when I need space between my self and the subject, this way they don't feel as if their being photographed, so I would go with the 85mm.

Aug 19, 2018 20:54:54 #

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

CliftonAlvin wrote:

Hi, br I went full frame with a Nikon D750, I do... (show quote)

Clif, welcome to the Hog!
In your situation I would get the 50 1.4.
You are NOT doing portraits, you are doing general photography in venues, not portraits in a studio.
An 85 is too long in a crowded venue, with to many people in the way.
Plus the 1.4 is faster and allows more shooting before you need to go to a flash.
There’s a reason FF came STANDARD with a 50mm for FF for fifty years and NOT an 85!! You can do ANYTHING with a 50 that an 85 will do, but not true the other way around!!
A macro is too slow.
Good luck
SS

Aug 20, 2018 05:49:30 #

gmango85

Some good points. I always liked the 85mm for candids, portraits and just pulling faces out of a group. A hard choice Good luck

Aug 20, 2018 06:12:52 #

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Kmgw9v wrote:

Everyone needs a nifty-fifty, but for "portrait style photography" the 85mm 1.4 or 1.8 would be my first choice.

I feel that I don't need a 'Nifty-Fifty'. I have Nikon 50mm.f/1.8, and Nikon 50mm f/1.2, and the earlier 50mm f/2.0 manual focus. Never bought any of theses lenses by referring to 'Nifty-Fifty' syndrome.

Aug 20, 2018 06:18:59 #

catchlight.. Loc: Wisconsin USA- Halden Norway

DOF (focus) is a factor that tilts to longer lenses and other factors can give you a pleasing back-round for portraiture. I prefer 200mm prime if outdoor myself and always go for the longest lens possible. Some of my best portraits are at 300mm. You just can't get the same effect from short lenses...

85 is very useful but don't be afraid to go longer.

Aug 20, 2018 06:20:14 #

Since you're shooting cosplays at conventions you're probably doing full length shots of the people there. I would get a 50mm. You would need to stand back quite a bit with an 85mm to get full length shots.

Also consider Tamron's new SP series prime lenses. The reason is they all have vibration compensation. They also have a metal lens barrel and are fully weather sealed. I purchased the Tamron 45mm f/1.8 SP VC lens for my Nikons. The vibration compensation is a plus when hand holding the camera.

1/30 second shutter speed with vibration compensation on, hand held camera