Granddaughter's Prime Lens: I have a granddaughter who has just started her photography business. She has purchased a Nikon 750 with kit lens. She already has a few gigs, including a...

Steve Dollar

I have a granddaughter who has just started her photography business. She has purchased a Nikon 750 with kit lens. She already has a few gigs, including a wedding. She has a wonderful eye and has produced some excellent photos. She doesn't have a prime lens. What prime lens would you recommend for her head shots. I believe that a 100mm more or less but what manufacturer. I could buy her the Nikor but is that really what is needed and is that the price one needs to pay?

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

~ 85mm F 1.8 D, G or whatever! The 85mm is Fantastic at weddings and "gigs" without breaking the bank!! Or, if she is brave and artistic, a Nikon 100mm F 2.8 Series E lens (used, as these haven't been made since the '80s, I believe) has a very unique look to the images produced - old school Tech!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

yorkiebyte wrote:

~ 85mm F 1.8 D, G or whatever! The 85mm is Fantastic at weddings and "gigs" without breaking the bank!! Or, if she is brave and artistic, a Nikon 100mm F 2.8 Series E lens (used, as these haven't been made since the '80s, I believe) has a very unique look to the images produced - old school Tech!

I have a Nikon 85 1.8D for sale in the classified section.
It would autofocus with the D750.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Tokina 100mm, great price and great lens for the money.

BebuLamar

Nikkor 105mm f/1.4

Keen

Nikon's 105mm AFS-VR Micro f/2.8 G IF ED would be good for portraits of people, and close ups of wedding rings, etc.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I agree with Earnest. The Tokina doubles as a portrait lens and macro for much less than the Nikon lenses and the quality is excellent. Not that the Nikon's aren't, they just cost a lot more.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

I love primes -- I own 6 lenses & 5 of them are primes -- However I'm not trying to run a business with them -- Especially Wedding Photography
I suggest that your Granddaughter contact other "Pro" wedding shooters & find out what lenses they use -- I would be very surprised if many if any of them actually rely on primes to get the job done -- However a good Nikon portrait lens say a 85/100 or my favorite Canon 135mm 2.0 would make my list --

Vietnam Vet

You could ask her what her photography instructors recommended. The 70-200 is a great portrait lens. If you want a prime get her the one with the widest aperture at 85mm. You are talking a business and not just a hobby right?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Steve Dollar wrote:

I have a granddaughter who has just started her photography business. She has purchased a Nikon 750 with kit lens. She already has a few gigs, including a wedding. She has a wonderful eye and has produced some excellent photos. She doesn't have a prime lens. What prime lens would you recommend for her head shots. I believe that a 100mm more or less but what manufacturer. I could buy her the Nikor but is that really what is needed and is that the price one needs to pay?

Look at the AF DC Nikkor 105mm f/2D. The defocus control is perfect for portraits.

Steve Dollar

Very happy with all the responses. Thank you so much. Really appreciated the non-Nikon info, really didn't know about those. Just really neat to get all the feedback from you experienced people. Thank you. Right now I will look at the used Nikon for sale and look into the Tokina and the Nikkor 105 with defocus is really interesting. Thanks again

Steve

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

Steve Dollar wrote:

I have a granddaughter who has just started her photography business. She has purchased a Nikon 750 with kit lens. She already has a few gigs, including a wedding. She has a wonderful eye and has produced some excellent photos. She doesn't have a prime lens. What prime lens would you recommend for her head shots. I believe that a 100mm more or less but what manufacturer. I could buy her the Nikor but is that really what is needed and is that the price one needs to pay?

Nikon 85mm 1.8 for $426.00. One of the best and sharpest lenses produced. Read the reviews here.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=nikon%2085mm%20f%2F1.8&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

A good piece of advise for a beginner is to NEVER engage in wedding photography if first a training period is not observed. How to pose the couple, what has to be photographed, what is important during the ceremony and the reception are only a few of the many details to learn.
Posing is most important and learning to pose the couple has priority.
When a person has to ask what lens is good for portraits that tells me that the person asking the question is not qualified to shoot portraits.The best advise I can offer here is to work with a person who has expertise in portraits and wedding photography to learn, not to mention a mastering of the camera and how to expose the subject.
A wedding is a serious matter to the point that could be legal implications.
Respectfully submitted.

CO

Take a look at Tamron's new SP VC series prime lenses. The reason is they all have vibration compensation. They also have a metal lens barrel and are fully weather sealed. Very few prime lenses have vibration compensation. It really helps when hand holding the camera. I use their 45mm f/1.8 SP VC lens on my D750 for full length shots. For your head shots, look at their 85mm f/1.8 SP VC lens.

ELNikkor

85 is my favorite portrait lens