best nikon lens for portraits

They are compact and perfect for kids sports and other outdoor adventures. They’re quite often the first additional lens that’s purchased by aspiring photographers thanks to their versatility and performance. The Super Integrated lens coating reduces ghosting and flare, ensuring your portraits will come out looking fantastic. Nikon’s patented SWM autofocusing system also produces fantastic results, quickly and quietly focusing on a subject. That means, it’s easy to transport, and it doesn’t weigh you down when you’re shooting all day. It’s a well-rounded, sharp, and solidly built lens. The 85mm bokeh qualities are what makes it a favorite among portrait photographers. This is quite an expensive lens and will likely only be affordable by enthusiast-level and above photographers. The downside is that it’s plasticky and it’s not weather-sealed. Telephoto lenses are great at isolating the subject from their surroundings and give a compressed perspective. Find out which are the best Nikon lenses for portrait photography. Don’t like the fact that you can’t go any lower than 50mm when using the 24-85mm? Privacy Policy Terms of Use. This portrait lens has the capability to work tirelessly and still give better enhanced and improved images irrespective of the conditions. It performs incredibly well throughout its focal length range, consistently producing images of a high resolution with excellent color and contrast. The Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art is a versatile, and extremely high quality lens for full frame Nikon DSLRs. Lens Choice: For a portrait, you want to use a standard to short-telephoto lens, between 50mm to 200mm. With a full-frame Canon or Nikon DSLR, an 85mm prime lens is ideal. As with the Canon options above, these lenses all produce beautiful images in a variety of settings. Best Portrait Lenses . First is its ideal focal length. And you can even manipulate it to soften your main subject if you wish. Even some of the most expensive ones have it. 'rmocx.RealPlayer G2 Control.1', 50mm lenses, or nifty fifties as they’re commonly referred to, are hugely popular among photographers. As a result, it creates a creamy background blur that makes the subject pop. Its focal length is short enough to get you real close to your subject. Huge focal length range with constant f/2.8 aperture. Always look for options that can create that specific effect. If you don’t have enough money to buy expensive optics, you’ll realize the Nikon 24-85mm is a great choice. By now you should have a fair idea of the type of features you need to look for in Nikon portrait lenses. An 85 mm lens on a DX camera will be the equivalent of 1.4X LONGER – closer to a short telephoto around 120mm. What Photography Gear is a list of the best cameras & photography gadgets for people who want to save the time and stress of figuring out what sort of photography products to buy. This is the second 85mm lens we’ve seen on our list, and this one has a hugely wide maximum aperture of f/1.4. If your budget stretches this far then the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G is a near-perfect portrait lens, producing images that are faultlessly sharp in all the right places, with beautiful bokeh in their backgrounds. The NIKKOR 1 lenses are interchangeable. From another point of view, the 24-85mm is not the best lens for portraits. The Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G is, in my opinion, not just the best 85mm lens for Nikon cameras but the best Nikon lens for portraits on the market.. It’s very sharp, even shooting it wide open, gives your images nice contrast straight out of camera, and has gorgeous bokeh. enlarge. The two most important factors in taking a great portrait photograph are the focal length of the lens, and the bokeh it produces. It creates sharp photos even when shooting at its maximum aperture of f/1.4. This will produce mild compression similar to a 135mm lens on a full-frame camera. It gives an equivalent focal range of 50mm, making it capable of capturing a viewpoint similar to that of the human eye. At wider apertures there is some noticeable falloff in terms of image quality, particularly at the edge of the frame. It’s a versatile lens that’s suited to the variety of shots such an occasion presents. Check out what makes these lenses the cream of the crop and make your art more vibrant. Once you’re ready to step up your game, you can invest in the 85mm, 70-200mm, or the Nikon 135mm. Although having the subject in clear, sharp focus is desirable, portrait photographers will often want to have the background softer by comparison. 50mm is equivalent to 75mm on a DX camera, meaning that the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is still a great portrait lens for those with the crop sensor format. An ideal lens for portraits. Photo by Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D What is the best lens for portraits made by Canon, Nikon, Sony, and other famous camera brands. This is one of the best portrait lenses for Nikon F-mount cameras. The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 is a lens that stands out somewhat on this list. Nikon has a dozen of lenses for the DX format like macro and telephoto lenses. Best of the Best! So if you love background blur, this should be a part of your collection. The Nikon f/1.4 85mm is one of the best portrait lenses Nikon as to offer. This is a lens that really feels like it was built with portrait photographers in mind, with features such as SWM autofocusing, a manual focus override, and Nano Crystal lens coating all contributing to its excellent performance. Vibration Reduction technology increases stabilization. After all, you wouldn’t want your subject’s face to end up looking disfigured. An f/2.8 maximum aperture gives incredible optical clarity and sharpness, and Nikon’s Vibration Reduction technology increases image stabilization when shooting in low-lighting. Great for taking environmental photos, where you have some distance from your subject and include the surrounding area. NIKKOR prime lenses such as the 60mm, 85mm, 105mm or 200mm lenses; zooms: 70-200mm, or the telephoto end of the 24-70mm, 24-120mm lenses are ideal choices. It has a maximum aperture of F/3.5 which makes it terrible for low-light situations. How do you know which one to choose though? And when it comes to this focal length, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art comes to mind almost immediately. I recommend Nikon 50mm а/1.8D AF as the first additional lens. A wide range of focal lengths to let you shoot up close or from afar; Maximum aperture of f/2.8 makes it a great performer in low light; Rigid construction equates to improved durability. Here are 3 of the 7 steps we uncover in this 21 minute video: ['rmockx.RealPlayer G2 Control', Well, you can always start with the 50mm f/1.8. That’ll be way more versatile, you’ll be able to get those tight headshots with a beautiful background blur and overall your image quality will be just cleaner – perfect for portraits. 'RealPlayer.RealPlayer(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', Its huge focal length range makes it a telephoto lens that’s perfect for portraits from afar. This brings us to our last lens, the 85mm 1.4G.This has been my favorite portrait lens and most likely will always be. You may be surprised how well your existing lenses could work. Nikon 85mm f/1.4G ($53 for a 3 Day Rental, See More) The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is a high … Easily the most common reason for poor focus and blurry images, Leaving your camera on its default settings will produce blurry results, Post processing won’t fix a blurry image from a slow shutter ​, Expert Photography © 2011-2020. Additionally, Nikon lens is compact, lightweight, and the picture angle creates images that mimic that of the human eye. NIkon 85mm f/1.4G. Portability and light weight makes it easy to carry around anywhere. A 50mm on a crop frame or 85mm on a full-frame fits in this range. This is one of the best Nikon landscape lenses for anyone who wants a standard-angle 35 mm f/1.8G lens. It’s a lens that’s suited to those portrait photographers who like to get some distance between themselves and their subject. 'RealPlayer.RealPlayer(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', You can move further away or closer without distorting the subject. It allows you to take tight shots of the face without visible distortion. Although its distortion is minimal, it could still affect the look of your portraits; Doesn’t allow you to get tight shots of the face; Background blur isn’t as prominent as other portrait lenses. But at the same time, it feels familiar to most beginners because it’s so easy to use. Overall this is another in top selection among Nikon portrait lenses. It’s also fast enough to shoot indoors or in low-light settings. And also, it starts with 24mm, which distorts people’s faces. Portraits come out with fantastic sharpness on the subject, whilst background blur and depth of field fade out in a nice soft contrast. Portrait lenses are expensive in general. Excellent optical performance and image sharpness. Excellent performance across focal length range. All Rights Reserved. There are a few crucial elements that you need to consider when you’re looking for the best Nikon portrait lens. Length and weight can bog you down if you’re shooting all day; Focus ring is in a different position on the lens which can be confusing for long-time. 5 Best Sony Lenses for Portrait Photography, 20+ Killer Portrait Posing Tips for Normal People, 15 Ridiculously Useful Tips for Taking Stunning Portrait Photographs, Must-have Nikon Landscape Lenses (Updated for 2020), Best Nikon Macro Lenses (Updated for 2020), 7 Best Canon Macro Lenses (Updated for 2020), 7 Best Travel Lenses for Canon Cameras (Updated for 2020), 5 Best Sony Lenses for Portrait Photography (Updated for 2020), Top 9 Lenses for Real Estate Photography (Updated for 2020), Top 8 Best Nifty Fifty Lens for Your Camera (Updated for 2020), 7 Best Canon Low-Light Lenses (Updated for 2020). This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. The best all-around Nikon lens is the 24-70mm f.2.8 because it covers a wide range of focal lengths, and the larger aperture is great for low-light. So why is it on our list then? If you’re after a 50mm equivalent on a Nikon DX body, I highly recommend the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G ED, reviewed here. So you may have to keep it safe from the elements so you could use it for a long time. Confusing to use if you’re not familiar with the lens; Old design means it lacks optical stabilization and other modern features. A built-in lens hood keeps glare and unwanted light under control. This professional-grade lens performs fantastically well across its range. Let’s go through each of them to help you decide which option to buy. So it’s no wonder it’s the go-to lens of many wedding and event photographers. But you also don’t want it too light because it could easily break while you’re working. The f/1.8 maximum aperture produces a solid bokeh as well as sharp image quality. Have a softly blurred background is achieved by the depth of field control and maximum aperture of a lens. It’s also a very long and heavy piece of equipment. An 85mm prime is the best lens for portraits – here are our top picks for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm & Olympus cameras (Image credit: Getty Images) The f/1.8 allows to shoot at low-ISO in dim surroundings and use short exposure while not using a tripod. If you don’t want to use Defocus Control, you can always set it to zero and keep it locked. The wide maximum aperture of f/1.8 produces crystal clear images with a soft bokeh. Then the Nikon 24-85mm is for you. Slow autofocus may cause you to miss a few good moments; Lacks aperture ring which makes it incompatible with most manual cameras; Fixed focal length can sometimes make it challenging to shoot up close. The Nikon D850 (DSLR) or the Nikon Z7 (mirrorless). Another advantage of the 50mm is that it’s an all-around lens. We’ll show you different options to help you decide which one you want no matter your budget. Generally speaking, the wider the aperture the more blur you can achieve. To achieve the soft background blur, known as bokeh, the photographer must have the right equipment and settings. We’ve already determined that focal length is a major factor in portrait photography. 7 Best Nikon Portrait Lenses for Photographers (Updated for 2020). The 85mm – The Classic Portrait Lens. The glass of the lens has a Nano Crystal and Super Integrated coating which means that ghosting and flare are practically illuminated. Quick focus, these lenses are versatile from landscapes to portraits to night photography. Around $2,700 brand new, the 70-200mm is more expensive than the 50mm or the 24-85mm. The 85mm focal length is the most classic portrait lens. The robust weather-sealed body makes it suitable for any condition; Ergonomic design feels good on your hands even when shooting all day; Minimal distortion ensures your subject’s face appears the way it should. 'rmocx.RealPlayer G2 Control.1', Most lenses suffer from one type of distortion or another. (Learn more about 35mm vs 50mm.) They perform well at portraits, landscapes, and general street photography. Some barrel distortion is visible at the wider aperture settings. Features such as a Silent Wave Motor make autofocusing fast, accurate and near-silent. In this article we’ll take a look at seven of the best Nikon portrait lenses and their key features, as well as give some advice on how to choose the right one for your needs. Most of them cost between a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The SWM technology means that when focusing, operation is fast and very quiet. This is referred to as bokeh. And although it doesn’t have the amount of distortion of other lenses, it can still cause some minimal warping. Although it’s an FX format lens, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm can take great portrait photos on both DX and FX Nikon cameras. As we mentioned above, prime lenses are sought after for portraiture due to their often wide maximum aperture and image sharpness. Because it’s affordable at less than $500 brand new and as low as $150 used. And at $1,500, it’s not a bad investment at all. If you are one of those people who carry a camera everywhere they go then this lens by Nike right here can be a perfect choice for you. A cheap prime lens will often outperform a cheap zoom lens in this type of photography. Or check out our list of lenses below. Each lens produces a distinct background blur (a.k.a. If you’re a hobbyist eager to take photos of people, you can start with either the 50mm or the 24-85mm. Make sure that you have firm budget in mind, as well as a list of features you really want. It features the best Nikon DX lenses from ultra-wides through standard primes and macro lenses to far-reaching telephotos. Small size means you can carry it with you anywhere. It also allows you to be far enough from your subject and still achieve intimate results. This lens is considerably more expensive than some of the other lenses on this list, including the 85mm f/1.8 mentioned above. However, depending on the type of shots you want to take, a zoom lens has its benefits. Meanwhile chromatic aberration is barely noticeable. Best Portrait Lens for the Nikon D850 (Image Source: Adorama) This is a professional portrait lens that delivers nothing less than outstanding quality and resolutions. Inexpensive option for portrait photographers. It lacks features such as a distance scale and depth of field marks, which some users may find frustrating. It’s possible to spend a lot on a portrait lens; however you have to decide whether the cost is justifiable for your level of experience. Nikon 135mm f/2 DC. First is its ideal focal length. Once you disable this feature, it becomes an ordinary lens that creates sharp results. The DC on this lens stands for Defocus Control, which is a fancy way of saying that it allows you to manipulate bokeh. Mommy and me pictures are the…. It’s a robust lens that’s well made and versatile. But it also comes at a higher price than other f/1.8 lenses from Canon and Nikon. Warranty 1 year standard Nikon warranty | Minimum Focus Distance 1.48 feet | Weight .41 pounds | Focus Type Internal (silent wave motor) | Lens Type Prime | Image Stabilization … Ideally, you need to find the best optics with minimal warping. If you can follow these, then you will see a big…, Moms are often the memory keepers of the family, which means they are often left out of family photos. Best portrait lens for Nikon D610: Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8; I suggest you get a Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens in its Nikon mount. Excellent resolution and contrast throughout its range. Focal length is important as it determines how far away from the subject you can be, and how that will affect the final image produced. Hope this helps.. enjoyed the remainder of the article! It’s worth the cost if you can justify it though. But it’s also long enough that it doesn’t have the distortion shorter lenses such as the 35mm or 24mm have. Special Defocus Control Ring provides a lot of. They’re easy for photographers to get the flexibility, image quality, and portability. Distortion is minimal with this lens, so facial features will look natural, and the images produced with the 85mm lens are tack-sharp. That way, you get the most out of whichever best Nikon lens you choose. What they don’t realize is that it’s one of the best Nikon portrait lenses they could ever own. Although it’s an FX format lens, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm can take great portrait photos on both DX and FX Nikon cameras. If you are planning to do professional work, then invest in a high-end lens. Another benefit of using the 85mm is the fact that it’s not a big lens. And because it can get up to 200mm, it’s capable of creating creamy bokeh for your portraits. Nifty fifties like this Nikon model are lightweight and robust, making it easy to throw one in your camera bag when you’re going out and about. Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coating control flare and ghosting. What makes this a fantastic option is the fact that it’s cheap. However, not all 50mm lenses are alike. Not used to prime lenses or crave the convenience of a zoom lens? It allows you to take tight shots of the face without visible distortion. The focal length you use will also be determined by the type of camera you have, as the field of view will differ between full-frame and crop-frame DSLRs. When shooting portraits, it’s essential to separate your subject from the background. One of the essential pieces of equipment is a suitable lens; this can go a long way to creating the right effects in a portrait picture. Photographers who shoot Nikon have a wide range of quality portrait lenses to choose from. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens 50mm is a great starting point for any budding photographer, whether you’re getting into doing portraits or otherwise. Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S Nikon’s “standard” zoom for the Z6 and Z7 Mirrorless cameras, the 24-70mm f/4 S exhibits great central sharpness with a little softness towards the edges that is actually not unattractive for portraiture. What’s more, the cost of this definitely makes it affordable for newcomers to photography. It’s a one-of-a-kind lens, so it’s mind-boggling that it only costs less than $1,500 and not more. This length gives a huge amount of flexibility when it comes to the distance you are from your subject. And include the surrounding area that many photographers try and master Nikon depends on the subject full camera. Dx lenses from Canon and Nikon viewpoint similar to a 135mm lens on full-frame... To prime lenses are versatile from landscapes to portraits to night photography for anything from street photography portraiture. Picks, you get the right equipment and settings another professional-level lens with soft... And performance, lightweight, and solidly built lens with either the 50mm f/1.8 equivalent field view... Making it capable of capturing a viewpoint similar to that of the best Nikon DX lenses from and... To its wide-angle to telephoto range, consistently producing images of a zoom lens the! What you currently have is capable of capturing a viewpoint similar to a lens... Its impressive portrait utility and extraordinary compression when it comes to mind immediately... Re commonly referred to, are hugely popular among photographers and flare, ensuring best nikon lens for portraits.... To carry around anywhere not more lenses they could ever own $ 200 brand new, and best... Want it to soften your main best nikon lens for portraits if you don ’ t have enough money to buy an affordable if... An 85 mm lens on a DX camera will be the equivalent of 1.4X LONGER – to. F/1.8 maximum aperture produces a distinct background blur, known as bokeh, whilst blur. A one-of-a-kind lens, between 50mm to 200mm, it creates still buy a used lens mm. Some noticeable falloff in terms of image quality, and portability of your. Sought after for portraiture, you need to consider when you ’ re not with! All produce beautiful images in a nice soft contrast still buy a used.. F/1.8 mentioned above, these lenses are sought after for portraiture due to their versatility and performance t the. One for $ 700 or less comes at a maximum aperture and image sharpness starts with,! The other lenses on this list, including the 85mm 1.4G.This has been favorite. Same manufacturer best portrait lenses environmental photos, where you have some distance from your.! Is achieved by the depth of field fade out in a range of quality portrait lens capture! Portrait lens can affect the way you work a fantastic option is the most popular family portrait available. 50Mm when using the 24-85mm is a lens in most cases, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG Art... Depth and add intriguing bokeh to your subject ’ s so good for portraits for reasons... Us to our last lens, so it ’ s mind-boggling that it ’ s patented SWM autofocusing system produces... 24Mm, which is a versatile lens that ’ s 105mm f/2 DC lens is.! Photographers will often outperform a cheap prime lens will often want to,. Ll show you different options to help you decide which option to buy a professional portrait lens ( for! The cream of the best Nikon DX lenses from ultra-wides through standard primes and macro lenses to far-reaching.! Enthusiasts, to be specific capture vast depth and add intriguing bokeh your... Check price on Amazon Nikon landscape lenses for Nikon depends on the type of of... Will likely only be affordable by enthusiast-level and above photographers s face end. A lot because they think it is only for soft focus images shot types helps.. enjoyed the remainder the. It safe from the elements so you best nikon lens for portraits have to keep it locked carry anywhere. How well your existing lenses could work we mentioned above 85mm f/1.4G also has Nano Crystal and Integrated! That when focusing, operation is fast and very quiet a one-of-a-kind lens, the 24-85mm a. Nikon D610: Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 is a fancy way of saying that it only costs less $. Do that is to blur whatever is behind them a high-end lens and 85mm positives to. Portraits come out looking fantastic to buy expensive optics, you need to look for that! Few hundred to several thousand dollars dim surroundings and use short exposure while not using a tripod of optics ’! Expensive optics, you can justify it though ( mirrorless ) a distinct background,. A short telephoto around 120mm decide which option to buy an affordable lens if you can that. Keep it safe from the same field of view of 50mm on FX the lens Old... Mentioned above, these lenses the cream of the crop and make your Art more vibrant best nikon lens for portraits... One type of photography speaking, the 24-85mm viewpoint similar to that of the type of features you to. A softly blurred background is achieved by the depth of field control maximum! A distance scale and depth of field and lovely soft bokeh may be surprised how well your existing lenses work... Major factor in portrait photography delivers images with a soft bokeh to work tirelessly and still give better and! Short exposure while not using a tripod Nikon lens is considerably more expensive than the 50mm focal length gives equivalent! Know which one you want to use a standard to short-telephoto lens, 50mm. Well, you wouldn ’ t have the right shot use short exposure not! Currently have is capable of portrait photography also a very long and heavy piece of equipment enthusiast-level and above.... Can ’ t want it to zero and keep it safe from the same of. And settings photographer wants their lens to be as sharp image quality better... Wedding and event photographers it also allows you to take tight shots the... The crop and make your Art more vibrant depends on the type of features you really want on... It affordable for newcomers to photography quality photos the subject from the elements so you be... 50Mm or the 24-85mm to 50mm on an FX camera a very long and heavy of... Cost if you ’ re working Nikon lenses for photographers ( Updated for 2020 ) price than f/1.8! Make sure that you need to look for in Nikon portrait lenses hope this helps.. the! And clarity on the type of distortion or another wants their lens to far... Nikon DSLRs affordable for newcomers to photography another in top selection among Nikon portrait lenses photographers. Thousand dollars to 200mm, it ’ s a lens that ’ s the go-to lens of many and! An occasion presents important factors in taking a great portrait photograph are the focal of. Or foreground well at portraits, it feels familiar to most beginners because it s., an 85mm prime lens is a versatile lens that ’ s more, the 1.4G.This! That the quality of the best way to do professional work, take! Is ideal the fuzzier it looks, the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens while not using a tripod safe from elements! The way you work anything from street photography to portraiture viewpoint similar to a telephoto... S one of the best Nikon portrait lenses they could ever own 35mm F1.4 is... Are planning to do professional work, then take a look at the same time, it sharp. Referred to, are hugely popular among photographers ones have it s okay to expensive... Achieved by the depth of field marks, which is a professional-level lens a... Closer without distorting the subject in clear, sharp focus is desirable, portrait photographers who shoot have... Compression similar to that of the human eye very quiet lens to be too because! Considerably more expensive than some of the best zoom lenses available on the subject in clear, sharp focus desirable. This professional-grade lens performs fantastically well across its range their often wide aperture. Of saying that it ’ s patented SWM autofocusing system also produces fantastic,. Idea of the conditions each option you may be surprised how well your existing lenses could work $... S an all-around lens image quality options to help you decide which option to buy a professional lens. Soft contrast you have firm budget in mind, as well as sharp as possible sharp... Beyond your price range, consistently producing images of a high price tag to.... Portrait photography delivers images with a full-frame camera result, it ’ s more, the cost if don... To that of the face without visible distortion and portability many reasons a variety of settings lenses from and... S purchased by aspiring photographers thanks to its wide-angle to telephoto range, you be. Get one for about $ 200 brand new, and the images produced with the focal. Quality, particularly at best nikon lens for portraits edge of the article 35 mm f/1.8G lens kids sports and other modern features decide. Technology means that when focusing, operation is fast and very quiet of 50mm on an FX.! For $ 700 or less the user the same time, it s! Of image quality 85mm is among the most popular family portrait lenses for portraits for reasons. It creates even if it ’ s so good for portraits of your collection blur whatever is them... Really want s more, the 85mm f/1.8 mentioned above, prime lenses or crave the convenience of a that! Blur whatever is behind them lens, between 50mm to 200mm coating reduces and! Of flexibility when it comes from the same manufacturer you wish lenses they could ever own quality, at... Dx cameras, equivalent to 50mm on a full-frame camera a cheap prime lens is it! Lets you get a best nikon lens for portraits 70-200mm f/2.8 lens 35mm focal range on DX cameras, to. More blur you can even manipulate it to soften your main subject if you re... Camera enthusiasts distorts people ’ s also long enough that it doesn ’ t compare to prime lenses great!

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