Need help choosing... Nikon portrait lenses

[Wet Nose Photographer]

Hey folks -

I need some help making my mind up on which lens or lenses to buy for portraits.

Nikon by the way.

I do both people and pet portraits. Because pets are sometimes easier to photograph from across the room I am thinking about the Nikon 70-300 VR which seems like a helluva lens for under $600. Is there something else that would be better for pet photography?

For people portraits I was thinking about either the Nikon 85/2.8 or the 135/2.8 DC. Has anyone out there had any experience with the DC lenses?

Other suggestions?

Thanks.

- Rich

[Art Scott]

are you still using the D200 or are you moving to FX??

Personally I would opt for a short to med range zoom....there is good results to be had with the Nikon 18-70......
I am a sigma person for the most part but the cams I bought cam with lenses and I am learning to to get very good images from the 18-200 and 18-70.....
haven't decided which I am going to let go of....so I can get some longer glass ..................

[Qarik]

the portrait lens for nikon are as such from best on down imo:

85mm 1.4 for legendary bokeh ..ie the cream machine
50mm 1.4G (9 blade aperature for better bokeh then D plus a little better corner sharpness then D)
50mm 1.4D
then the 1.8 version of these lens

[bloomphotog]

I prefer longer lenses for classic portraiture...just finished using the 70-200 2.8 VR for engagement portraits and it was exceptional.

http://c0409872.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/JMP_3963-Edit.jpg

[borrowlenses.com]

I prefer longer lenses for classic portraiture...just finished using the 70-200 2.8 VR for engagement portraits and it was exceptional.

http://c0409872.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/JMP_3963-Edit.jpg

Great pic and suggestion. Lot of people like the 70-200 for portraits.

[bloomphotog]

Great pic and suggestion. Lot of people like the 70-200 for portraits.

Thanks. On a semi-side note, I rented a 300mm f/4 from Borrowlenses.com recently(great people/service). It was amazing for headshots. For group portraits(3+) I like my 50mm 1.4G, but for anything else, space permitting, the longer the better. A 400mm 2.8 is my dream headshot lens. :D LOL

[NikonsandVstroms]

I use a Tamron 28-75 on my DX body for portraits and love the results:

F2.8 has been narrow enough depth of field for me when I want to separate the subject and background, plus the lens is amazingly sharp:

http://jbeckphotography.smugmug.com/photos/692865547_RR4XJ-O.jpg

[Garrett]

If you are sticking with DX for a while, you might want to look at the Sigma 50-150mm 2.8. I rented it for a trip (two weeks) and really enjoyed it. Let me know if you want some examples. Also, I currently have the Nikon 70-300 VR and find it pretty slow for shooting indoors unless you're using a flash or the room is well light. Outdoors it performs quite well.