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Hi Everyone,
I am on the look out for a good portrait lens for my Nikon d300. I know one of the best one's for canon is the 85mm f1.2.

As I am new to the Nikon range what is the best portrait lens Nikon has available?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Andrew

With a D300 you have to keep in mind there is the 1.5x crop but consider:

-AF-D 85mm f/1.4 - very nice length and nice wide open
-AF-S 105mm VR Micro - great double duty lens
-AF-S 60mm Micro - great double duty lens
-AF-S 50mm f/1.4 - great all rounder, works well as a walk around as well
-AF-D 135 f/2 DC (Defocus Control - allows you to control your Bokeh, I have not used this lens but I though it deserved a mention)

I am sure between these, and any others people suggest we can help you come to a decision

"Best" is very subjective and generally also depends on how you are intending to use it!!

I have 4 lenses in my "usual" kit, and depending on the situation, I use all 4 of them for portraits!

Nikkor AF-S 17-55/2.8 DX - Probably my most used lens as the zoom range is very versatile. Can do medium sized group shots, and does very nicely at portraits at 55mm. Not my first choice portrait lens though

Nikkor AF-D 85/1.4 - I love this one for portraits. Legendary bokeh and razor sharp images. Nice to play at f/1.4, but I get my nicest results at about f/2

Nikkor AF-S 70-200VR - If I have the space, this one is brilliant. I think I actually use it more for portraits than the 85 as I am more likely to have it with me (My most used combo that I drag around is the 17-55 and 70-200).

Tokina 12-24/4 - You're really not supposed to use ultrawide lenses for portraits, but what are rules for if they're not for breaking? Funny enough, my very very most favourite portrait I've ever taken (possibly even my favourite shot fullstop) was taken with this lens at 12mm.



In short, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the following:

Personal Experience: 50/1.8, 85/1.8, Tamron 28-75/2.8, 70-200VR, 85/1.4 (the last 2 particularly good)

Hearsay: 105mm, 135mm, 200/2

If you are looking for a straight replacement for the Canon 85/1.2, the closest bet would be the 85/1.4

Andrew,

The 85mm f/1.4 is the lens you want. Fast, sharp, it has the perfect angle of view for the DX format for shooting traditional style portraits of people.

If you cannot make good images with this lens, it's time to sell your gear.

gstark wrote:Andrew,

The 85mm f/1.4 is the lens you want. Fast, sharp, it has the perfect angle of view for the DX format for shooting traditional style portraits of people.

If you cannot make good images with this lens, it's time to sell your gear.

From my brief experience with this lens (thanks Gary) I would have to agree that it is hard to make a bad image with it. If you used Sony then there is only one lens Carl Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 (I love it, too bad it is not AF-S VR and F-mount).

Agree with all of the above, plus will add a MF low-cost option in the AI or AI-S 105mm f/2.5. This lens is a gem, although possibly a little on the long side for APS-C.

Another vote for the 85/1.4 the lens never left my bag ever since I bought it and it stays on the camera at least 50% of the time.

It does not just do portrait, but it does everything I really need, even landscapes...

Next option up is the 70-200VR, its another amazing lens.

Andrew
You are going to get a lot of conflicting information on this one....but there are a few things that you need to consider. Firstly, I have seen masterwork portraits taken with 20mm, 21mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, 200mm, and 300mm lenses. So there is conflict number one...there ain't no such creature as the best portrait lens. To narrow down a lens that would be suitable for your style of portraiture you need to answer a few questions....what type of portraits would you be taking?
1...Environmental portraits with lots of background or setting
2...full length classical portraiture
3...half figure portraiture...waist up
4...big, close portraits with the head and shoulders filling the frame

The lens that would allow you to take most of the above pics would be the 50mm...a most versatile lens, with the f1.4 being rather special. Many portrait photographers like to work with wider lenses of say 35mm or 20mm. These lenses are tricky and need immaculate handling to get the most out of them. The 85mm and 105mm are supurb for half length portraiture. I have done some nice group shots with a 200mm lens. The slight compression gives a lovely perspective.

Conclusion...the lens is not that important...it's how you use it that counts. The 50mm F1.4 would be my personal recommendation for a first portrait lens because of its superb image quality and its versatility. Go over to Pbase.com and search on portraits. Look at the EXIF of the images that you like most to see what lens was used. This should give you a better idea of which way to lean.

if you have a few hundred dollars, a 50mm prime.

if you have a few thousand dollars, then a 28-70 2.8, or the 24-70 are great mid range zooms.

but if you have the cash, and the shooting distance, a 80-200 or 70-200 2.8 are the ducks nuts, and give more than just a portrait lens.

If AF is not too important because your shooting portraits, old MF lenses are a good option and you can get several lenses for the price of a new lens.
Also, if you dont mind doing some work you can convert some pre AI lenses to AI. There are some great lenses out there.

Some suggestions:

55 f1.2 pre AI, coverted.-Can be a very sharp lens if you work hard on your focus. Wide open this lens has a very flattering softness and on a DX camera would be a 82.5.
I have this lens, its great.

105 f2.5 Like MCWB said, I have a pre AI version that I converted.

135 f2.8 I have an AI version of this lens, it is sharp and the bokeh is beautifull, this lens hardly comes off my D3 when im shooting pre wedding stuff. Might be getting a bit long for DX though.

I have used all these and can say from experience that they are all great.-28 2.8, 35 2.8, 50 1.8 and above lenses.

Mick

the 85/1.4 is over rated and over priced.

Rooz wrote:the 85/1.4 is over rated and over priced.

Chris,

You're welcome to your opinion.

At the moment, it's more expensive than it has been in the past, but it's a magic lens, and IMHO, the best lens Nikon currently make.

gstark wrote:

Rooz wrote:the 85/1.4 is over rated and over priced.

Chris,

You're welcome to your opinion.

At the moment, it's more expensive than it has been in the past, but it's a magic lens, and IMHO, the best lens Nikon currently make.

*** sigh ***

that was perfectly good bait. well placed...well timed...and all i got was a nibble ?!?
i'm very disappointed in you Gary, you take all the fun out of life.

Merry Xmas champ.

Rooz wrote:i'm very disappointed in you Gary, you take all the fun out of life.

I hope you're not expecting a bloody apology? Mind you, if you're not careful with the 85 f/1.4, it's so sharp that it'll cut you, making any such apology bloody.

Cheers, mate. All the best to you and your's.

And their's.

Thanks everyone.... I think I will probably go with the 85mm f1.4 sounds like the one I'm after.

gstark wrote:Andrew,

The 85mm f/1.4 is the lens you want. Fast, sharp, it has the perfect angle of view for the DX format for shooting traditional style portraits of people.

If you cannot make good images with this lens, it's time to sell your gear.

Gear will be sold off then.

I just bought the 85mm f1.4, the 24-70 and a D700.

It's hard to pick between 85 1.4, 24-70 and 70-200 - they all give great results depending on the working space and subject matter.

If I had to choose one it would be the 24-70 as it offers the versatility

viper1968
Be aware that on a D300 that 85mm acts more like a 120mm and that is a fair bit of magnification. You will need a fair bit of space between the subject and the camera for full length portraits.

kiwifamily wrote:It's hard to pick between 85 1.4, 24-70 and 70-200

*Note to self* Two down one to go.

The 24-70 and 70-200 combo is quite formidable!

way too hard to pick just one! I want all three

I'm lucky I have all three now.

I think actually that I might go back on what I said earlier and choose the 85 1.4 for straight portraits - if it's not a group shot and space is OK.

But then again, 24-70 no slouch, Nan from yesterday

Darren
A fine portrait! Maybe a tad too sharp in respect of your subject?

80-200 2.8D AF-ED is a great all round portrait lens too

D3, 80-200 2.8D AF-ED


Mick

outstanding shot.

Rooz wrote:outstanding shot.

Thanks Rooz
Sorry but this guy was cool to shoot, you could clap your hands, stick you tung out and wave your hands in front of his face and he would not take his eye off the ball.

Mick

Matt. K wrote:Darren
A fine portrait! Maybe a tad too sharp in respect of your subject?

I wanted it to be totally representative of the subject so liked it this way. I have others that are less "real" that will be more suitable to be printed for the family I suspect

I guess also the shot is useful to judge the IQ of the lens in context of the thread

cracking shot of the pool player too

If the budget exists, don't forget the 200 f2... awesome lens !! (Both taken in Vietnam last month).

drool

Thanks everyone for your feedback....it has been most helpful.

methd wrote:If the budget exists, don't forget the 200 f2... awesome lens !! (Both taken in Vietnam last month)

The 200mm smokes the 85mm is most ways, so does its price tag.