Red Sky At Night

So I just discovered a box store a half hour from where I recently moved. What a wonderful surprise. I’m still fairly new to all of this. I bought a D850 as my starter camera which caused quite a stir on this forum ;). But I love my new camera and could not be happier with my decision. I will grow with it for a long time. I am ready to add a new lens to take pictures of my brand new and older grandkids. All of them will be here for Christmas. I can’t really get both right now so I’m wondering if a 50mm or an 85mm would be most useful and why? I’d like to take both single portraits and a group setting. Thanks in advance for your responses.

chevman Loc: Matthews, North Carolina

Get both! Use the 50 for group settings and the 85 for portraits.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It depends. I have both 50s and 85s, but for me, I 'see' in the 35 to 50mm range more naturally. Others will feel more natural a bit further back from the subject that 85mm affords in candid settings. If you have zoom lenses that cover these prime lengths, you can test a bit for which focal length you prefer. Either lens will produce excellent results.

chevman Loc: Matthews, North Carolina

Oops!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

What lens(es) do you currently have?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Best wishes on your new to you D850. Single portraits a 85MM works well, and a 50 can work for the groups as well as single portraits. It is great to have a box store 30 minutes away. You are a lucky guy. Happy Holidays and Best for the New Year.

Red Sky At Night

20-70 & 70-200.

Bill_de Loc: US

Glad somebody thought to ask that.

I guess everyone else was in such a hurry they didn't read, I can’t really get both right now ...'

I think I would go with the 50. The op has both focal lengths covered, but a light, affordable, 50mm F/1.4 would be nice.

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sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Between the two, I believe the 50 will be the most useful for the purpose you describe.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

With a full frame camera such as the D850 an 85mm lens is a popular choice for portraits. 50mm is not quite as popular for portraits, although, still a good lens choice, but its wider field of view would be far more useful for group shots and probably all around shooting. Depending on what else you shoot, of course.
Not all lenses have the same characteristics. Exactly which ones are you looking at? There are also some very good lenses from Sigma and Tamron for very reasonable prices. You should take a look, if you haven't already.

Red Sky At Night

I’m looking at Nikon lens. I could consider others if I can save enough and not sacrifice quality?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I don't explicitly do a lot of portraits, and since the 50 on a full frame basically replicates the depth perception of the human eye, I purchased a 50 years ago. For the few times I do portraits, I would use my zoom if I preferred a longer focal length.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

B&H has a holiday Sale on both of these lenses. The FX 50mm f1.8G, selling for $179 new. Or the FX 85mm f1.8G for $426 new, a reduced price of about $50. I don't know how long the Sale will last. I own the 50mm f1.8G. I paid about $218 for it some time ago. On a full frame D850, I think the 85mm f1.8G is the best choice. Good luck.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Unless money is burning a hole in your pocket, what makes you think a prime is a better choice than either of these assumed f/2.8 zooms?

User ID

You have grandkids ?? How steady are your hands ?

Your zooms may well have image stabilization. Most
primes do not. I wanted a 50 with in-lens IS [Nikon
calls it VR, generic term is OIS]. I've been very well
pleased with a Tamron 45/1.8 with OIS. So pleased
that I bought a second copy, for my other brand of
bodies. If I needed one for yet a 3rd brand, I'd do it.

For you and your D850, it makes even more sense
than my pair of lower MP SLRs. You can crop much
more than I can, easily imitating a 65 or 70mm/1.8
with no visible loss. The extra 5mm width of view
will be handy for your group shots, and you'd not
really notice it in other applications.

===========================

8 Pros and 2 Cons:

Only $400, excellent imaging, has OIS, feels solid,
operates nearly silently, full time MF-AF override,
has focus scale, tulip hood** included.

BUT ! It's rather bulky for a normal lens. Focusing
scale is good to have, but this one is a bit crowded.

**Since it's kinda bulky, I tested it very thoroughly
for all possibilities of flare. It proved so immune to
flare, even with a filter in place, that I don't use
the hood, thus reducing its bulk. BTW, it's not a
huge lens, just rather bulky for a normal lens.