Beginner Best lens for portraits

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Grainne Hallahan

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Grainne
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Hello

I'd really value some advice on what lens to buy next that would be best for shooting people.

Before I had children (and I can just about think back that far through the haze of sleepless nights and food smeared clothes) I was a keen photographer of small still life style shots- and for this I used macro filters etc. Now I mostly shoot children (mostly with a camera and not just with soft toy arrows) and am thinking of treating myself to a new lens for Christmas.

I've tried a wide angle lens on my Nikon D7000 and loved the shots I got- very different to my prime 50. However, is this a sound investment if I continue to take predominantly portrait photography?

Thanks so much for reading!
 
I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along sometime but for what it's worth my first question would be what have you already got and what can't you do that you want to.

From above you already have a 50mm prime which is a great lens for portraits. The one thing that I did find with mine was that it was a bit of an awkward length for getting shots of the kids indoors, either it wasn't wide enough to get them in context or long enough for close ups of faces, etc. I have since got a 35mm and an 85mm. The 35 is probably my most used lens and pretty much lives on my camera 90% of the time but I love the 85 for close ups. The other lens I would like would be a fixed aperture zoom, something like a 17-50 2.8 to give me more option with the kids when they are running around indoors. My kids will very rarely pose for a photo so I have to go for a more candid approach, if your taking more posed shots then your requirements may be different.
 
Thank you for your quick reply!

Yes, you're on the money when you describe not being able to fit them all in the shot- that's why I thought wide angle might be better? I've had a 35mm and prefer my 50mm to that- I guess now I'm toying between the 85mm and a zoom- would an 85 be 'tighter' than the 50 then? Hmmm

I hadn't thought of a fixed aperture zoom- I will investigate that, thank you. I'm certainly challenged by the speed of the children now!
 
Good shout on the 17-50 f2.8.

I use the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 with my d90 and it works well. After I bought the Tamron I sold both the 50mm f1.8 and the 35mm f1.8.
 
When I bought my D7000 I paired it with the Nikon 16-85mm, plenty wide enough at the lower end and gives you the facility to pull someone in on the longer end. The downside is that it's 3.5 - 5.6 and therefore it's depth of field for blurring the background is less favourable than your 50mm but I choose it over my 50mm every time because of the convenience of it's zoom. It's also pricey http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Nikon/Nikon-DX-Lenses/Nikon-AF-S-16-85mm-f3.5-5.6G-ED-DX-VR-Lens but a very versatile lens for your family portraits but also general photography.
 
A longer lens will work better to throw the background out of focus, 50-100mm
 
The zoom will come in handy, but you've got conflicting priorities, which means you'll not be happy till you've resolved those in your head.

My 'go to' portrait kit on FF is 135mm and 35mm, which equates to about 24 and 85 on crop.
One for getting in close and telling the story, and the other for flattering portraits with lovely OoF backgrounds.

But if I could have only one lens on crop, it'd always be the 17-55 2.8.
 
I love using primes, but for most paid work its the Nikon 24-70, great lens and flexible too. If you do more outdoor shoots then the 70-200 would be great. I also have a 50mm and 85mm and again both are great but can be too long for indoor most of the time. It comes down to what you want (zoom or prime) an budget - If you only have £300 it makes the options totally different to having £2k.
 
cambsno said:
I love using primes, but for most paid work its the Nikon 24-70, great lens and flexible too. If you do more outdoor shoots then the 70-200 would be great. I also have a 50mm and 85mm and again both are great but can be too long for indoor most of the time. It comes down to what you want (zoom or prime) an budget - If you only have £300 it makes the options totally different to having £2k.
Click to expand...
Since going full frame. I use the 24-70, but still have my 16-85mm handy as back up if something goes wrong.
 
Lots of food for thought!

So if I am indoors more, would you recommend something like the 24-70? I do love the 'portrait' look of the nice shallow depth of field that the prime gives me, is this going to be lost completely? I appreciate what you say, Phil about accepting the compromise in my head...I think I need to go and snap some photos and see how much of a compromise I will be willing to make!

I am looking to spend £300ish, so not a massive budget but will obviously be looking at second hand...and will probably pay more in the end!
 
Grainne Hallahan said:
Lots of food for thought!

So if I am indoors more, would you recommend something like the 24-70? I do love the 'portrait' look of the nice shallow depth of field that the prime gives me, is this going to be lost completely? I appreciate what you say, Phil about accepting the compromise in my head...I think I need to go and snap some photos and see how much of a compromise I will be willing to make!

I am looking to spend £300ish, so not a massive budget but will obviously be looking at second hand...and will probably pay more in the end!
Click to expand...
Hi

Don't think you will get a 24-70 f2.8 in that budget. With your d7000 I would still say have a look for a Tamron 17-50f2.8.
 
Thank you! Yes, budget is one of those things that always starts small, and then being realistic kicks in...
 
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