Portraits and zooms

[Sloper]

Having just bought my first DSLR, I find myself needing a portrait lens, as the supplied kit lens (Nikkor 18-105 F3.5/5.6) does not give a sufficiently shallow DoF to blur-out cluttered backgrounds.

I'm considering the Nikon 50mm F1.8 'nifty fifty' which I think gives a 35mm equivalent of about 75mm (ideal for head and shoulder portraits). Trouble is, I'd really prefer a zoom; a general lens that will always be ready for most other shots. What I want to know is, if I got a zoom with an aperture of F2.8 (eg Sigma 24-70) would it give me the shallow DoF I want?

I ask because, in this thread , Rutherfordium kindly posted some examples of shots at F2.8 with a Sigma zoom lens, and the DoF doesn't look shallow enough to me. I'd like to blur the backgrounds more than that. I presume ALL F2.8 lenses will give the same DoF (at the same focal length) - or am I wrong?

 

[Nawty]

You are right, the trick is to put more distance between the subject and the background.

 

[Sloper]

You are right, the trick is to put more distance between the subject and the background.

That's not always possible though. I'm not talking about formal posed portraits, but more of candid, casual shots.

Thanks

 

[Nawty]

Well... the 50mm 1.8 is dead cheap and dead good so there's always a 2nd hand market for them. Try one and see if you like it, if not sell it on.

 

[Sloper]

Well... the 50mm 1.8 is dead cheap and dead good so there's always a 2nd hand market for them. Try one and see if you like it, if not sell it on.

Aye, that is very likely what I'll do. I was just wondering that if I found a used f2.8 Sigma 24-70 (or similar) at a good price, whether it'd be worth going for.