Help me choose a portrait Lens

  • Thread starter Thread starter ian in lancs
  • Start date Start date
I

ian in lancs

Guest
I'm getting into Portrait / Fashion and want a fast, precise focussing telephoto zoom lens. I understand the hot lens is the Nikon 70-200mm F2.8G AF-S VR IFED at £1430 and the new one is £2k. However, is it really twice the performance of the other lenses I've listed? What I do is mostly in a home based 'studio' a 3 x 5m emptied dining room with through doors to the lounge of similar size where I can shoot from. Single subject head and shoulder portraits through to 3/4 clothing/fashion stuff. Similar stuff outdoors too. Manual camera settings, Lastolite backgrounds and 2-3 speedlights under CLS control, brollies and a softbox. I also hire Calumet's studio with 2-3 Bowens and similar light modifiers. Other interests are landscapes (got that covered) and travel stuff of all kinds.


Nikon 55-200mm F4-5.6G AF-S DX £115 bargain basement?

Nikon 55-200mm F4-5.6G VR AF-S DX IF-ED £160 bargain basement with VR?

Nikon 80-200mm F2.8D IF-ED AF £720

Nikon 70-180mm F4.5D AF £840

Nikon 70-200mm F2.8G AF-S VR IFED £1430 The hot lens the pro's have

Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG APO HSM £630


I already have

Nikon 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED - Iuse the long end of this and its fine but not fantastic

And

Nikon 70-300mm F4-5.6G AF-S VR IF-ED - Fantastic lens but a bit slow focussing and I'm after more DoF flexibility.

As well as the following Sigma lenses

Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM the 50mm end is too short to prevent distortion

And

Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro a great lens that'm using a lot for 3/4 shots.

I have found that closer to the 50mm range distorts the subject and end up using the Nikon 18-105mm a lot - as I said its fine but not fantastic. I'd like shallower or at least more range of DoF thats why I'm using the Sigma 70mm F2.8. What would be ideal is a Nikon 50-150mm f2 or 2.8 VR at about £500... But there isn't one!

Not keen on a prime as in a home space theres limited room to move about although I do use bigger studios.
 
The 70-200VR f/2.8 is a good all-rounder, but I wouldn't be my first choice as a portrait-specific lens...I know you say you're not keen on getting a Prime, but tbh it's the way ahead - cheaper than a zoom and way better in terms of sharpness and overall performance.
I used to have a Nikkor 105 f/2.5, which along with the Nikkor 85 f/2 were the lenses for this application - not the super-fast max aperture lenses, but slightly slower, more refined optics...superb in all respects...

LINKY

LINKY

Both were the old M/F lenses, but something in the same ball-park should suffice, perhaps the modern evolutions:

LINKY

LINKY

In fact the 105 seems directly targeting the sort of images you're after achieving...

Zoom lenses have made us lazy: we need to remember those things attached to the ends of our legs enable us to zoom back and forth at will...
 
I use the 70-200 VR f/2.8 for H/S but I like using my 24/120 VR, light and easy to use in M or AF, ideal for kids especially if you are on the floor with them.
As above, agree about the primes, my 50 will outshine anything I have in my bag, I love using it outdoors in low light, you get nice natural shots.
 
First, I'm a Canon user so can't help you on those specific lenses.

However for portraiture, which is my main use, 70-200 F2.8 or 85mm F1.8 are the order of the day. I wouldn't personally consider an F4-5.6 lens to be of any use for this TBH.

Note I'm FF user so those are 35mm lengths. If your camera is cropped then you need even larger apertures to get the same DoF.
 
I use my 80-200mm for about 80-90% of my portrait work, it is such a useful range and great DoF control. It handles specular highlights beautifully also. If you can get hold of a late AF-S version then you are laughing :thumbs: They are still out there but you have to keep your eyes open not to miss them. Otherwise, the D is still huge value for money
 
ian in lancs said:
I already have

the following Sigma lenses

Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM the 50mm end is too short to prevent distortion

And

Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro a great lens that'm using a lot for 3/4 shots.
Click to expand...
I not under stand this you say you get distortion at 50mm and this is on a crop sensor of 1.5 which is giving you the 35mm equivalent of 75mm lens which is not far off the portrait lens of the film days on 35mm.
It was always about an 85mm lens for this kind of work. Your 70mm will be 105mm equivalent so you should have all you need with what you got.
Prime will always be best but you say you not wanting one and as for zoom with a wide range it’s a no no as far as I am saying.
 
ian in lancs said:
What would be ideal is a Nikon 50-150mm f2 or 2.8 VR at about £500... But there isn't one!
Click to expand...

For me, I prefer primes however one lens you haven't listed is the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 (which I have owned). Lovely range for portrait style work....
 
I am currently looking at the 105mm f/2 DC for a portrait lens, have heard that not only is it a good portrait lens but it deals with shooting hi-key stuff very well where other lenses suffer a bit
 
Foggy said:
I am currently looking at the 105mm f/2 DC for a portrait lens, have heard that not only is it a good portrait lens but it deals with shooting hi-key stuff very well where other lenses suffer a bit
Click to expand...

This would be my staple portrait lens on Full-Frame....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top