Best portrait lens for Nikon DX and FX

M

munkee

Messages
330
Name
Lee
Edit My Images
No
I'd appreciate recommendations on what portrait lenses to shortlist for Nikon DX and FX bodies.
 
munkee said:
I'd appreciate recommendations on what portrait lenses to shortlist for Nikon DX and FX bodies.
Click to expand...

Budget?

In my mind, the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 easily offers the best performance for your money if you're willing to focus manually.
 
70-200 VR2 is hard to beat for quality and versatility
 
85mm 1.8G is cheap and cheerful, other than that Sigma 50 1.4 and 85 1.4, all depends on budget.
 
Last edited:
The 60mm f/2.8 macro on either format works very well. I like the 85mm f/1.8G on FX. Depends on your budget and where you're shooting etc.
 
I expect full head style of portraits and money is no object:

1st choice Nikon AF-S 200 f/2G (if not distance limited)
2nd and 3rd choice Nikon 105mm f/2 DC or Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
4th choice Nikon AF-S 85/1.4G
5th choice Nikon AF-S 70-200/2.8G VR

Practically, 70-200 is the most flexible and can still take stunning portraits.

DX/FX thing shouldn't matter for head portraits. Anything above 85mm flatters perspective. You will just a few steps back with DX.
 
mpe said:
I expect full head style of portraits and money is no object:

1st choice Nikon AF-S 200 f/2G (if not distance limited)
2nd and 3rd choice Nikon 105mm f/2 DC or Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
4th choice Nikon AF-S 85/1.4G
5th choice Nikon AF-S 70-200/2.8G VR

Practically, 70-200 is the most flexible and can still take stunning portraits.

DX/FX thing shouldn't matter for head portraits. Anything above 85mm flatters perspective. You will just a few steps back with DX.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with that but if on a budget I would go with a SH Nikon 85 1.4D or a Nikon 85 1.8G
 
Thanks everyone. Very helpful. The two Nikon 135mm DC lens look particularly interesting. Rumour has it though that Nikon has a replacement in the pipeline. Anyone know more?
 
There has always been rumours of an update, but the 135 will still be a good lens if they do replace it. I had one on a D700 and it was very nice, up there with the Canon 85mm f/1.2 for portraits. One of my favourite portriat lenses was a Canon 300mm f/2.8 IS, but it was impractical inside.

If you are looking at manual glass then Nikon and third party manufacturers have a wealth of it available, some really good glass with plenty of character which I think a lot of the newer lenses lack.
 
Not used them but the 105 and 135 dc nikons are hard to beat. Throw in the 85mm too.
 
To use on both formats, my prime choice would be a 50mm (speed dependent on taste and budget) while my zoom suggestion would be a 24-70 f/2.8 (brand dependent on budget).
 
I have 105DC and love it BUT!!...I would love 135DC...135mm is just better for me .. at the time when I was looking for 135DC, there was none to be found in UK...so had to go for 105Dc which is great lens no doubt

[if somone has 135 and wants to swap let me know ;) ]
 
Nod said:
To use on both formats, my prime choice would be a 50mm (speed dependent on taste and budget) while my zoom suggestion would be a 24-70 f/2.8 (brand dependent on budget).
Click to expand...

I have a 50mm f/1.8 but I was thinking of something longer in the 85-105mm range.
 
bastic said:
I have 105DC and love it BUT!!...I would love 135DC...135mm is just better for me .. at the time when I was looking for 135DC, there was none to be found in UK...so had to go for 105Dc which is great lens no doubt

[if somone has 135 and wants to swap let me know ;) ]
Click to expand...

Do you want to sell it?
 
85-105 is a good range to consider for FF but is possibly a bit long for Dx (in modern, smaller houses, although in a decent sized studio you should be able to footzoom back far enough for full length portraits).
 
munkee said:
Do you want to sell it?
Click to expand...


I had for sale thread but never got anyone that wanted it...and won't until I get 135 for reasonable price to replace it :)

and am not sure if we are not breaching forum rules here by discussing it here...

as for lenses...it all depends on how much space you will have to take portraits...if you have a long/large room or space, longer lenses are better.
 
Nod said:
To use on both formats, my prime choice would be a 50mm (speed dependent on taste and budget) while my zoom suggestion would be a 24-70 f/2.8 (brand dependent on budget).
Click to expand...

Both a 50 option and the 24-70 are a bit short for portraits especially the 50 on full frame.
 
But still useable. An 85 on Dx is often too long and the OP is after a single lens for both formats (or that's how I read his post!)
 
If f/4 is fast enough, there's the 24-120 f/4 VR that might suit.
 
Why too slow?
Do you plan to take photos in poor lit spaces?
 
I do often shoot in low light. For me though the main appeal of a fast tele lens is the shallow depth of field.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys. I've narrowed it down to these four...

Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.8G
Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G
Nikkor AF 105mm f/2 DC
Nikkor Micro AF-S 105mm f/2.8

Time to go shopping!
 
munkee said:
Thanks for all the advice guys. I've narrowed it down to these four...

Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.8G
Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G
Nikkor AF 105mm f/2 DC
Nikkor Micro AF-S 105mm f/2.8

Time to go shopping!
Click to expand...

I now use 4 lenses mainly for portraits

Samyang 85 f1.4 (as already mentioned, an awesome lens if you don't mind MF)

Nikkor 50mm f1.8

Tamron 28-75 f2.8

Sigma 70-200 f2.8

I've had some decent results with those (see my Flickr).
 
I have the 135 DC, the 105 micro, and the 85 1.4 Samyang.
The 135 is my favourite portrait lens. Ever.
It's the lens I go to whenever possible. Sometimes it's a bit long in a studio, but outdoors it's amazing.
It's not just the way the bokeh can be "dialled in", but the lens design means that the red portion of the spectrum is focussed on a slightly different plane (I think that's the best way of describing it, I'm not that technical!) which means the way skin tones are rendered is very special.

Finally, a 135mm on a DX body gives you a 200mm f2 lens !!
 
GHP said:
I have the 135 DC, the 105 micro, and the 85 1.4 Samyang.
The 135 is my favourite portrait lens. Ever.
It's the lens I go to whenever possible. Sometimes it's a bit long in a studio, but outdoors it's amazing.
It's not just the way the bokeh can be "dialled in", but the lens design means that the red portion of the spectrum is focussed on a slightly different plane (I think that's the best way of describing it, I'm not that technical!) which means the way skin tones are rendered is very special.

Finally, a 135mm on a DX body gives you a 200mm f2 lens !!
Click to expand...

I think the 135mm is going to be too long. The 105mm version is definitely at the top of my list though.
 
munkee said:
I think the 135mm is going to be too long. The 105mm version is definitely at the top of my list though.
Click to expand...

Try one, if you've not had a go, you won't know.
Where are you? If you're somewhere near, we could meet up, and you can have a go with mine if it will help/
I'm in Essex BTW.
 
GHP said:
Try one, if you've not had a go, you won't know.
Where are you? If you're somewhere near, we could meet up, and you can have a go with mine if it will help/
I'm in Essex BTW.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the offer. That's very kind of you. I'm based in Manchester though so I doubt we'll be able to meet up anytime soon. I'd formed the opinion that 135mm would be too long based on the loan of a friend's 18-200mm zoom. I have a D7000 body today but that's really a stopgap to moving to full frame. The 135mm would probably be ideal on a full frame body but would be impractical indoors on the D7000. The 105mm seemed like a good compromise and has the added benefit of being a bit cheaper.
 
donkey_kong said:
I would disagree with this. I have bought an 85 1.8 for my crop DX D3100 and I find it the perfect focal length for portraits.
Click to expand...

An 85 on a crop has an equivalent view to a 135 on Fx (Approx) so it is, IMHO, an ideal length.
HOWEVER, in a studio this may well be too long for anything other than headshots. And this is why I keep my 85 for use indoors. (On Fx)
 
Gary gets my point! 85mm on Dx/crop can be restrictive due to space constraints. I completely agree that it's a lovely FL for portraiture (as is 135mm) on FF.
 
Just to clarify, this is what I use:
Indoors (House) DX 35mm/50mm FX 50mm/85mm
Studio with enough room DX 50mm/85mm FX 85mm/105mm/135mm (if a big studio)
Outside: As long as possible on either. Normally my 80-200, but wherever possible I'll go to my 135mm
At the end of the day, whichever is the longest lens you can use given the space restrictions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top