Nikon Portrait Lens

[Dooginfif20]

So I recently purchased a D90 upgrading from my D60 and now I am interested in lenses. I am looking for a portrait lens and I was looking at the Sigma 70-200 2.8, Tamron 70-200 2.8, and the Nikkor 70-200 2.8. Due to price the Nikkor was out of the running. To make things tougher I went to my local camera store and the guy there told me I should look at the Nikkor 85 1.4. That tends to look a little pricey as well. Does anyone have any advice on this subject?

[Harryb]

So I recently purchased a D90 upgrading from my D60 and now I am interested in lenses. I am looking for a portrait lens and I was looking at the Sigma 70-200 2.8, Tamron 70-200 2.8, and the Nikkor 70-200 2.8. Due to price the Nikkor was out of the running. To make things tougher I went to my local camera store and the guy there told me I should look at the Nikkor 85 1.4. That tends to look a little pricey as well. Does anyone have any advice on this subject?


The 85 1.4 is an excellent peice of glass but if $ is an issue the 85 1.8 which can be had for under $400 is considered to be an excellent lens. The Nikon 50mm 1.4D is also an excellent lens and is under $400. The newer Nikon 50mm 1.4G goes for around $500. For a real bargain the Nikon 50mm 1.8 is very good and goes for around $130.

You can check out reviews of the above mentioned lenses here (http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests)

[catspaw]

The newer Nikon 500mm 1.4G goes for around $500.

he means the newer Nikon 50mm 1.4G :) which IS an amazing lens (as I FINALLY got mine last thursday!) but they are short supply so it's not an instant-pick-up lens unless you hit a store that just got their stock in:thumb


On the less-insane-expensive but still VERY GOOD quality, I'll echo the 50mm 1.8 as well as the 85mm 1.8. I also like the 60mm 2.8 macro, but it does lovely portrait work as well. and if you wanted a macro lens, it's a good starting point too. double-win! :D

[R. Scott]

Harry beat me to the punch. I love the 70-200VR for portraits (and lots of other things), but the 50mm f1.8 can be a super portrait lens and is the best Nikkor lens bargain to be had.

[Dooginfif20]

Thank you for all the comments! I was wanting to keep it under $800 so all those lenses are in my range for sure! I think I will do more research on all of the 50 1.4 and 1.8 as well as the 85 1.8!

[Cygnus Studios]

Add another vote for the 50mm 1.4, it is a great lens.

[jeffmeyers]

So I recently purchased a D90 upgrading from my D60 and now I am interested in lenses. I am looking for a portrait lens and I was looking at the Sigma 70-200 2.8, Tamron 70-200 2.8, and the Nikkor 70-200 2.8. Due to price the Nikkor was out of the running. To make things tougher I went to my local camera store and the guy there told me I should look at the Nikkor 85 1.4. That tends to look a little pricey as well. Does anyone have any advice on this subject?

Well, don't rule out the 105mm VR. I LOVE it for portraits. And you can get one for just about 800 bucks.

[Dooginfif20]

Depending on how things go over the next couple months maybe I can afford two of the group. I dont know time will tell but until then more research!!