mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I loved my nifty 50 1.8 Nikon and I love my 50 1. 8 equivalent for my Olympus.

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

Actually, either one will give you results. If it is a 50 1.8 and an 85 1.8 you are looking at. I own both and to be truthful I use a Nikon 28 1.8 on my lens most of the time. But, if I was going to pick one of the two you are considering for groups and singles, it would be the 50 1.8 e. You can do singles with it and groups would be much easier with the 50 vs. the 85. When I am shooting my young relations I generally use the 28. But if I were to get serious and want the background to go out I would use the 50 1.8 almost wide open. Make sure the eyes are in focus, if nothing else is in focus, it's OK, but the eyes MUST be in focus. I have found my Sony a9 particularly excellent at this feature. When I upgraded the software it was a big difference. You can even set it for animal eyes, I shot a Bobcat yesterday coming at me with a rabbit in it's mouth and the eyes are nailed sharp.
Any way, I digress, the 50 1.8 e is a fantastically sharp lens that will serve you well for years and years to come. I enjoy mine a lot, you will too.
AND, it is currently on sale.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766516-USA/Nikon_2199_AF_S_Nikkor_50mm_f_1_8G.html

Shkhar

If you get a 50mm, get the Nikon 50mm f1.8. It is cheaper by $200 than the f1.4 and sharper.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

If it’s $179 is the 50mm the AF-S version? You don’t need that for the D850. You can get the non-AF-S for about $130.

Shkhar

The af-s is still the better lens for quality and it is a far focusing lens. Great for pics of moving kids.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

You already have a 20-70 and a 70-200. You say you are interested in "single portraits and a group setting" If one is a 2.8 and the other is not, I would opt for the lens that gives you more speed than you have now. Otherwise, are you currently more disappointed in your single portrait or group results? If it is about even, I would say the 85mm (either 1.4 OR 1.8) for portraits will yield more improvement than a faster 50mm will give you in group shots, where you may be closing down for more DOF for group shots anyway.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

You have everything covered from 20 to 200, but if it were me for my first prime I would get the 50, it can work for the group shots and somewhat for portraits but it's a little short for that.

Najataagihe

First preference:

Whatever makes you happy!

We do this for the fun of it, you know.


Second preference:

Your current lenses with either an SB-400 or SB-700 and an SC-29 remote cord to get the flash off-camera.

Grandkids never stay still and a flash freezes motion far better than any shutter speed your camera can achieve.


The SB-400 has a tilt head and recycles quickly.

The SB-700 tilts, swivels and zooms, can light up a basketball court and recycles quickly. It also comes with filters to correct color balance for incandescent and fluorescent lighting.


Current Nikons do a fabulous job of balancing fill flash and ambient light for you, so you can focus on your subject.

Point the flash in the direction of their faces with a slight bounce upwards, holding it overhead and to the side to eliminate any outline shadows.

Cost is about the same as one of the lenses you are considering.


Third preference:

50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4. The f/1.8 is a lot cheaper and both are excellent lenses.

The key to portraiture is not focal length, it is camera-to-subject distance.

For a good head shot with a 50mm, stand as far away as you would with an 85mm and crop the photo for head-only composition.

With 45MP (sheesh), IQ will NOT be a problem.


My recommendation, with your situation:

Wide-to-tele zoom, SB-400 on-camera and bounce flash.

Small, light and effective.

But, since you would have to wait and find an SB-400 used, the SB-700 would be the best "right now" solution, buying from your box store.

It works perfectly well on-camera, bouncing the light to eliminate shadows.

It won't give you the modeling you can get off-camera, but it will get you great pictures.


Merry Christmas and Happy Shooting!


P.S. This is the only way we can get away with shooting our grandkids and not end up in jail.

Just sayin'.

tommyII Loc: Northern Illinois

Good luck with your new toy. Quite a "starter" camera. It took me a log time to work up to a D850. You'll love it. I have both 50mm and 85 mm. I still love to shoot with the 50. it's been one of my favorite lenses since I started shooting with my Minolta SRT102 film camera, back in the early 70"s.

dugeeeeeee

I got both used Nikon 1.8 for around $50 each. Not sure if the newer ones are that much better than the used ones. But I’m quite satisfied with both.

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

Also look at the 45mm Tamron gets high marks and very close to the way a naked eye sees.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The 50 would be more versatile especially if your not outdoors or you don’t have a big enough room to move back for a group with the 85.

photoman43

I use both on my d850 and d810. I love the 85mm f1.8 when I want more of a portrait view. For groups, I use a 35mm or a 50 mm. For the money, the 50mm is a great deal.

JohnH3 Loc: Auburn, AL

Think of it this way. You can always step closer with a 50mm, but especially inside, you can’t always step far enough back with an 85mm to get the field of view you desire. Honestly, I find that more true with a 135mm than an 85mm as compared to a 50mm, but based upon what you have described, I think the 50mm would be the more versatile lens for your purposes.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

I agree with the 50/1.4. With such a high resolution body, a sharp, large aperture 50mm could also be used as a single portrait lens with just a bit of cropping without losing too much IQ. At least start with the 50. There is nothing like a large group portrait that holds up in large prints.