First Portait Lens?
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Which camera do you have and what's your budget?
For canon, the 85mm f1.8 USM is outstanding, especially when you can pick one up for around £300. Can't recommend it enough!
For canon, the 85mm f1.8 USM is outstanding, especially when you can pick one up for around £300. Can't recommend it enough!
TCR4x4
Wishes he had a couple more Inches
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For the D3000 you will probably want something with AF-S unless you dont mind manual focus only.
If AF-S only, your options are limited in the prime lens market, really only the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 and the Nikon 50mm f/1.4.
If you dont mind manual only, then the 50mm f/1.8 and the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 are probably the "best".
Of course you could get a zoom rather than a prime, in which case something like the Nion 24-70mm would be fantastic, but at over £900 probably not very realistic.
Which leaves you with the 3rd party varients by Sigma.
I think Tamron have a highly regarded f/2.8 lens but I forget which it is, so Ill leave that to someone else.
Im sure there are loads of other AF-S zooms that are up to the job, but Ive never used them, so cant really reccomend them.
*edit* If going for the D90 soon, you might be better off considering the non AF-S lenses too, as the D90 doesnt need them, opens up a lot more choice
If AF-S only, your options are limited in the prime lens market, really only the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 and the Nikon 50mm f/1.4.
If you dont mind manual only, then the 50mm f/1.8 and the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 are probably the "best".
Of course you could get a zoom rather than a prime, in which case something like the Nion 24-70mm would be fantastic, but at over £900 probably not very realistic.
Which leaves you with the 3rd party varients by Sigma.
I think Tamron have a highly regarded f/2.8 lens but I forget which it is, so Ill leave that to someone else.
Im sure there are loads of other AF-S zooms that are up to the job, but Ive never used them, so cant really reccomend them.
*edit* If going for the D90 soon, you might be better off considering the non AF-S lenses too, as the D90 doesnt need them, opens up a lot more choice
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Nikon:
35mm f1.8g (jessops for around 170?)
50mm f1.4g (300 ukp ish)
50mm f1.4d (200 ukp ish)
50mm f1.8 (100 ukp ish)
sigma
30mm f1.4 (around 250 second hand.. 300 ukp ish for new)
I have the 50mm f1.4 and its ok from f4 onwards (f1.4 dof is very narrow, so wobbles from either party means blur/soft) however it does have nice bokeh.
The sigma 30mm is wider tho on the crop sensor and I prefered it (but I got a duff copy that required fixing - it got returned). The bokeh is great on it. Worth it if you can get a good copy.
35mm f1.8g (jessops for around 170?)
50mm f1.4g (300 ukp ish)
50mm f1.4d (200 ukp ish)
50mm f1.8 (100 ukp ish)
sigma
30mm f1.4 (around 250 second hand.. 300 ukp ish for new)
I have the 50mm f1.4 and its ok from f4 onwards (f1.4 dof is very narrow, so wobbles from either party means blur/soft) however it does have nice bokeh.
The sigma 30mm is wider tho on the crop sensor and I prefered it (but I got a duff copy that required fixing - it got returned). The bokeh is great on it. Worth it if you can get a good copy.
LongLensPhotography
Th..th..that's all folks!
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The ultimate one is 70-200mm f/2.8
A cheaper one with AF-s is 105mm macro
Anything shorter has somewhat limited use for portraits apart from journalism style or environmental shots.
A cheaper one with AF-s is 105mm macro
Anything shorter has somewhat limited use for portraits apart from journalism style or environmental shots.
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If it's for a wide variety of portraits then you can't go wrong with the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. It's an excellent lens and cheap too! It has a useful focal length for portraiture on an APS-C sensor and it will AF on your D3000 body 
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DJMorgan said:
I would say the 50 1.8 is a great lens for starters. At least one can learn to control the depth of field or learn more about it then. It's a great portrait lens for its cheap price!