Portrait Lens for a Nikon D5100: Hello all, I'm new to the forum. I'm looking for a wide angle lens (35mm or 50mm) for my Nikon D5100. I have longer lenses already and would like to...

Siren Rising

Hello all, I'm new to the forum. I'm looking for a wide angle lens (35mm or 50mm) for my Nikon D5100. I have longer lenses already and would like to reduce the barrel distortion especially for close up portraits. Any advice would help, especially advice on a 3rd party company with fine optics so I don't have to bite the Nikkor price tag.

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

A 50mm f1.8G Nikkor can be had new for $216. Used on Ebay for about $150. You won't get better than that. Anything cheaper isn't worth your while.

Welcome to the Hogg.

DannyJS Loc: St. Helena Island

Hello Siren Rising,
I still see myself as a bit of an amateur but I have the D5100 and the D7100 Nikons; (both DX sized sensor models). I bought the Nikkor 50mm f1.8 G Lens; good price and nice results. However would wait to see what others (more experienced than myself) suggest.
Regards, Danny JS

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Siren Rising wrote:

I'm looking for a wide angle lens (35mm or 50mm) for my Nikon D5100. I have longer lenses already and would like to reduce the barrel distortion especially for close up portraits.

You have me confused already as to what you want.
Neither 35mm nor 50mm lenses would be considered wide angle on your D5100.
Going to a shorter focal length will increase, not decrease, barrel distortion.
What longer lenses do you have? Perhaps it's a problem of how you're using them and not the focal length?

MarkD Loc: NYC

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S is a good inexpensive portrait lens, but it's a short telephoto on a D5100 not a wide-angle. Wide-angle on an APS-C sensor camera like your D5100 is 24mm or less.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Siren Rising wrote:

Hello all, I'm new to the forum. I'm looking for a wide angle lens (35mm or 50mm) for my Nikon D5100. I have longer lenses already and would like to reduce the barrel distortion especially for close up portraits. Any advice would help, especially advice on a 3rd party company with fine optics so I don't have to bite the Nikkor price tag.

It is precisely those longer lenses with "barrel distortions" what photographers use for portraits.
Wide angles have lots of distortions and the more the camera is tilted the worse the distortions get.
I am in total agreement with the gentleman that pointed out to you that neither a 35mm nor a 50mm are considered wide angles for your camera. Most kit lenses start at 18mm to offer an equivalent field of view in cameras such as yours of 27mm when compared to a full frame camera. For many persons that is a suitable wide angle.

Jcmarino

Can't go wrong with the 50mm. Stay away from 3rd party. You will end up buying twice.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Welcome to UHH. What other lenses do you have?

Siren Rising wrote:

Hello all, I'm new to the forum. I'm looking for a wide angle lens (35mm or 50mm) for my Nikon D5100. I have longer lenses already and would like to reduce the barrel distortion especially for close up portraits. Any advice would help, especially advice on a 3rd party company with fine optics so I don't have to bite the Nikkor price tag.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Siren Rising wrote:

Hello all, I'm new to the forum. I'm looking for a wide angle lens (35mm or 50mm) for my Nikon D5100. I have longer lenses already and would like to reduce the barrel distortion especially for close up portraits. Any advice would help, especially advice on a 3rd party company with fine optics so I don't have to bite the Nikkor price tag.

Close up portraits? What is THAT? Taking a photo of a face at anything under 80 mm (FFEQ) introduces very unpleasant distortion (huge noses, etc) 35 is = to 50 on a 5100 and 50 = 80, no neither is "wide". A good portrait lens on a 5100 would be a 50 mm f1.4 - 1.8. These are available used, in excellent condition for very little - even Nikkors. Google Adorama or B&H used dept.

wolfman

If your looking for a prime lens, I would also recommend the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G (75mm).
I would also take a look at the Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 G (48-127.5mm).
Both are excellent lenses.

Bob

Gdelvecc Loc: Dallas, TX

How about an old used nikon 105. you would need to use it manually, but you wont find one much sharper. We could argue focal length all day, but it may come down to room size.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My personal favorite is a Nikon 85/1.4 which is ungodly expensive. My point is that is about the focal length you'll need on either a FX or DX for a good portrait. In that range, and slightly longer at 105mm, is both the possibility of slower (f1.8, etc.) and used lenses from B&H, Adorama, KEH, Cameta, etc.. In addition, there are some very good alternatives from Sigma, the newer ones, as well as Tamron. Personally, I prefer Nikon and Sigma, but Tamron is not junk. I'd set a price limit and shop around for what you can find. Welcome to the forum.

TJ28012 Loc: Belmont, NC

Remember, lenses w/o motors will not auto=focus on many of the newer Nikons - including the D5100'

Haydon

50mm is fine for three quarter length and full body shots but distortion occurs when you want to do closeup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG1pN5Vic8E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG1pN5Vic8Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG1pN5Vic8E

85mm, 105mm and 135mm, 70-200 are often the best choices.

jmcgloth Loc: Ocean Park, WA

cjc2 wrote:

My personal favorite is a Nikon 85/1.4 which is un... (show quote)

The 85/1.4 is ungodly good, too.