What nikkor lens ?

J

jameshobson

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Name
James
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For portraits

Nikkor 85mm f 1.8d af or nikkor 50mm 1.4g

Both very similar price at around £300

85mm available in 2003

50mm available in either 2010 or 2011 not to sure

Thanks
 
The 85 (I don't have one) is probably better as a portrait lens but the 50 f/1.4 (I do have one) has the advantage of being extremely light to carry around. The answer is to get both!
 
Thanks for the reply, and yes I would love both but don't have to money for two primes I am studying photography at uni and have about a £2000 budget and plan on spending half of that on a d7000 or d400 if they release one on the 26th.
 
jameshobson said:
Thanks for the reply, and yes I would love both but don't have to money for two primes I am studying photography at uni and have about a £2000 budget and plan on spending half of that on a d7000 or d400 if they release one on the 26th.
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if i had £2000 to spend on a new camera setup i would definitely not go for a d7000 especially if you plan on doing a lot of portraits!

personally id get a second hand d700 and a couple of primes (28mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.8 possibly)


to answer your question specifically about the two lenses though, ive never used either but from what i know of the 50mm will have better IQ than the 85mm. plus, the 50mm will focus a lot quicker and more accurately, the 1.4G is pretty awesome from what ive seen/heard!
 
Ok thanks for the reply just in my first year at uni atm still trying to find what area in particular I would like to specialise in so yer the advise about a 2nd hand d700 is great thanks and I should get one for a good price soon with the expected d800 but as far as lenses go I am just looking to get one prime as portraiture is new to me and don't want to spend lots of money on potentially a lens that will not be used to its full potential.
 
jameshobson said:
....but as far as lenses go I am just looking to get one prime as portraiture is new to me and don't want to spend lots of money on potentially a lens that will not be used to its full potential.
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If I were you I'd go for the 50mm f/1.4G. I can vouch that it's very sharp - plus it's not a bad portrait lens and it'll be more useful than the 85mm for more general (i.e. non-portrait) work.
 
You're buying for a crop sensor... so portraits.. 50mm would be better - 85 would be further away.
You may want to also consider the 35mm f1.8.


If you can get your hands on a camera and the lenses as a test, see which you would use. If its studio the 85 may be too long. But outside for candids might be ok.

Edit : focal length comparison
 
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Buying for FF, 85mm. Buying for crop, 50mm comes close to equalling 85mm field of view on FF, the "classic" portrait focal length. However, you may find that it is too close or too far, and everyone takes portraits from a different distance of comfort to them - maybe try out each one for a day and see how you like it?
 
Or a 2nd hand D300?

I have both these lenses and they are very good. The 85mm is too long really for indoor shots, but great out and about and the bokeh is very nice. I do find that IQ is better though with the 50mm.
 
Thanks for the reply I understand the d300 maybe good but I thought with the d7000 being new it would be better than the d300 that's what I have been told anyway and they are at a very similar price 2nd hand for d300 and new for d7000
 
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