best portrait lens for my D60

There is no 'best' portrait lens, there is only the right lens for the particualr portrait you want to take.

People go on about c90mm being the 'ideal' focal length for portraits, but that only comes form working in studios and the distance from the photographer to the subject.

You can shoot portraits on any focal length, you just have to choose the right focal length for the shot. If you want to put the subject in context with their environment then you'll want to use a wide angle. If you want to concetrate everything on their face then a mid-telephoto would do. If you want to really compress perspective to bring a distant background closer then a long telephoto would work.

Having said all of the above, for a budget of around £300 I would look to either a Sigma/Tamron/Tokina 24/8-70/75 f:2.8 lens or a Sigma 50-150mm f:2.8 as being the most flexible depending on the type of portraiture you'll be doing. The f:2.8 max paerture will allow you to control the depth of field enough to isolate the subject should you wish to. For either of these you'd have to be looking at the 2nd hand market, and even then you might not find the 50-150mm f:2.8 at your price point.
 
It would make it much easier to offer you advice if you could divulge a little more information about what and how you shoot otherwise you may as well just refer to this similarly posed thread.
 
My opinion would be the AFS50mm f/1.4

This would come in at £289 and would auto focus on your camera. It is VERY quick having a max aperture of f1.4, it is 75mm on your camera which is considered close to ideal for portraits.

I have just bought one and I am very pleased with it.

pearl004.jpg
 
i have been looking at the 50 mm 1.4 so think ill go for that one wasnt sure to go for a zoom one but looking at that pic i think that's the one and as for zoom i can always move back and forwards lol
 
FWIW I can't stand having a 50mm lens on a cropped sensor camera. I used my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 for the first time with my D300 yesterday and it soon went back in the bag. :bonk:

Find the range you would like to work with and have a think about what's available. A 24/28-70'ish lens will work well for portrait work....I used to own the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 lens (before going to full-frame and coming back again) and it is a very nice lens for portrait work. :)
 
camcap said:
i have been looking at the 50 mm 1.4 so think ill go for that one wasnt sure to go for a zoom one but looking at that pic i think that's the one and as for zoom i can always move back and forwards lol
Click to expand...

Very few people have been disappointed with a 50mm. On my D200 I took more pictures with the 50mm than the 105mm and 18-200mm both of which cost 4-5 times as much. I really like mine but if you can I would try out a AFS35mm f1.8 too that would give you closer to the 50mm with your crop factor. The shot above was on a D700. Check both and decide but I think you will be very happy with either.

Keith W, Yes she's lovely :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top