lens for portrait work

[anderson_paul]

how this is the right place to put this, I'm getting into some portrait work on location (beach). Wanted to get some suggestions on lens for this I'm using a nikon camera set-up.

[LiquidAir]

My preference for portrait work is to use primes; I'd suggest a 35mm and a 50mm that open to f/2 or wider. If you would prefer a zoom, look for somthing that covers the range from 24-70mm range with an f/2.8 aperture.

[Northern Monkey]

I would use a little longer for portraits, and wide open, for a small depth of field. I'm in the canon camp, but I use a 50mm f/1.8, or an 85mm f/1.8 if I've got a bit more room. I suppose you'll have plenty of room on a beach.

You don't say what lenses you have available to you, but if you have a 70-200, that will do the job at the wide end. The only disadvantage, is that some people don't like a huge big lens pointing at them.

[z_28]

My preference for portrait work is to use primes; I'd suggest a 35mm and a 50mm that open to f/2 or wider. If you would prefer a zoom, look for somthing that covers the range from 24-70mm range with an f/2.8 aperture.

Great advice - except that Nikon don't have 24-70/2.8 lens !!!

Anyway for portraits I'd suggest light primes like 50, 85, 135, 200 or just standard zoom 70-200/2.8 (both Canon and Nikon got them :D)

[LiquidAir]

Great advice - except that Nikon don't have 24-70/2.8 lens !!!


They've gotta have some sort of normal-to-wide 2.8 zoom. Something akin to the Canon 17-55/2.8 would work too.

As for focal length, I was suggesting on the wide end because I assume on the beach he'd want to include some ambiance. 85mm is a great focal lengh for headshots on APS-C (which is all you can get from Nikon). On an APS-C body, I'd use 135mm for candids, but not often for posed shots.

[Shane422]

They've gotta have some sort of normal-to-wide 2.8 zoom. Something akin to the Canon 17-55/2.8 would work too.


Tamron makes a nice 28-75MM f2.8. I just got mine this week from Adorama and so far I really like this range. The Nikon mount is $359 after a $10 rebate. I think I also saw it on Abe's of Maine for $339. I also got to rent a 85MM 1.4 a few weeks ago, and what a fine piece of glass that was. But at over $1000, its out of my range. But the f1.8 version is $360.

[Mitchell]

Paul, I'm also a Nikon guy and have done several beach shoots.

What kind of portrait work are you going to be doing? Groups, headshots, couples?? What glass and body do you already own?

I recently did an engagement shoot and opted for just two lenses on there own bodies. I'm reluctant to change lenses at the beach. I did most of the shooting with the Nikkor 28-70mm, f2.8. This is easily my favorite lens.
http://www.clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/145831977-M.jpg

http://www.clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/145419053-M.jpg

I also brought the Nikkor 70-200mm, f2.8VR for some longer portraits with some better background separation.

http://www.clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/145419076-M.jpg

Hope this helps. Good luck on the beach!!

[Nikolai]

how this is the right place to put this, I'm getting into some portrait work on location (beach). Wanted to get some suggestions on lens for this I'm using a nikon camera set-up.
The rule of thumb is "as long as you can get away with". If all you have is a garage or a bedroom-turned-studio, you'll be forced to use 50mm or less. If something bigger is available, the 70..200 range seems to fit almost any practical requirements.The faster the lens the better, of course, but f/2.8 fits the bill nicely without creating a red alert for your wallet.
HTH

[Lex]

17-55 zoom for lowest light, maybe 28-70 stopped down a bit. Even 70-200VR a nice choice of some for portrait work.

85 1.4 creamy bokeh

200 2.0 VR, also creamy bokeh, but have to setup further away of course.

Nice work Mitchell

[Jnichols]

The lens that I LOVE is my 50mm 1.8 - this is by far my favorite lens. I am going to go ahead and get the 50mm 1.4. I have also used the 85mm 1.8 - beautiful bokeh and color. I hope to get some other primes to check them out as well as money permits!!! Good luck!

[Art Scott]

I have always prefered a longer lens....Ihave had clients thank me for not poking my lens in their face as so and so did on the last shoot....over the years I have adapted to shoot with nothing shorter than the 70mm end of my 70-210 2,8 Siggy......now I am trying to get used to using a 24-70 for landscapes and such..seems on the aps-c cameras it might be aleright for portrait work also......but I still reach for the body with the 70-210 the most.......

At one time all the photo instruction books said lenses of 85-170 were considered portrit studio lenses...so I felt good about my Vivatar Series 1 70-210 2.8/5.6 lens....that lens literaly paid my wages for many years until it was stolen and I was told that Vivatar no longer had it......so I moved over to Sigma.