Recommend my next lens?

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Pinpho

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Danny
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Hello everyone, since my camera was stolen last year I haven't been able to do any photography. I am going to be buying a Nikon D3100 again when I can afford it (hopefully February). I have asked for a lens as a Christmas present - waiting until I have a camera again before my parents buy it. Could you recommend a good lens for portraits? I am interested in this one but thought I would ask for the opinion of you guys before I get this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001S2PPT0/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?qid=1389286090&sr=8-12&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

Danny
 
Hi Danny

I'm not a nikon shooter, but although I'm sure that lens is likely a good one, it won't be ideal for portraits. It's an ideal everyday lens though. I think the D3100 is a crop sensor (APS-C) camera, so you'll probably want to be looking at a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 (for full body portraits), or an 85mm 1.8 (for tighter head shots), depending on what you prefer for portraits. I'd recommend a 50mm on a crop as it's wide enough to shoot quite general purpose too to start with.
 
Lovely little lens that one, got one myself but for portraits I would agree that on the D3100 the 50mm version is a better choice.
 
For portraits on a crop I'd suggest an 85mm. It gives you a bit of working distance for portraits, and that makes for a more comfortable shoot and a more flattering result.

A 30/35mm is a better walkabout zoom for a crop-sensor camera, and it will do a head-and-half-body or wider portrait. But the wider angle of view puts you very close to your subject if you try and get in closer, which is both unflattering (noses and cheeks look wider) and it starts to intrude into the sitter's comfort space.

50mm primes are generally recommended only because they are cheap and plentiful, but if you look at the very many threads asking similar questions you'll see that a lot of people on this don't rate that focal length for a crop sensor camera very highly. If you use a crop sensor and have three primes in your bag (at 30/35mm, 50mm and 85mm), I'd bet that the 50mm would hardly be used at all. It's my experience that on a crop-sensor camera, 50mm is too tight for walkabout and too short for portraits.
 
I assume then that your camera gear wasn't insured, Danny :(

I just insured mine within a house contents policy which also covers my gear when in my car. No-one likes to pay insurance costs but..
 
I own that lens and use it on my D7000, whilst not ideal for portraits, it is a cracking all-round lens that I would recommend for general usage.
It can be found for less money.

For portraits, go for an 85mm (if you plan on the 35mm too) or the 50mm if you are only getting 1 prime.

I have an old manual 50, but rarely use it since getting the 35.
 
I agree with the reservations about 50mm on crop bodies. They have some appeal because fast, fairly affordable, lenses are available but I find they're too long for a walk around and too short for a telephoto. If you want a prime for general use, I'd look at 30mm - 35mm (which gives you a similar field of view to 50mm on a 35mm film body or FF digital), or 85mm for portraits - less feature distortion and you're not in the subject's face - and short telephoto work.
 
Hi everyone, thanks for your help, I am undecided on whether to go for a 50mm or 85mm now. On a crop sensor would an 85mm not be the equivalent of somewhere around 100mm and the 50mm be somewhere equivalent to 85mm? Maybe I am really misunderstanding this xD

As for insurance, the gear was insured, just a shame that it covered everything except for loss and theft :(
 
Ignore equvilants, we're all very specifically talking about the suitability of 85mm *on a crop sensor*.
 
The lens you linked to is Ideal as your only lens to begin with. (Check out 50mm portraits online to see if you like the image possibilities) If you want somthing longer later on you could look at the Sigma 70mm 2.8 macro (uber sharp) and you have a fast 105mm (equiv) lens for macro and portraits
 
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Pinpho said:
Hi everyone, thanks for your help, I am undecided on whether to go for a 50mm or 85mm now. On a crop sensor would an 85mm not be the equivalent of somewhere around 100mm and the 50mm be somewhere equivalent to 85mm? Maybe I am really misunderstanding this xD
Click to expand...

You are right, an 85mm on an APS-C camera is equivalent to 136mm on full frame.
A 50mm works out at an 80mm equivalent on full frame.

I'll disagree with the people on this thread that recommend an 85mm first. Unless you are sure you want that length, the 50mm is without a doubt the best one to start with, imo. From how I've found them, the 85mm will be too tight to use in most indoor rooms, and will really only be useful outside where you can get some distance. The 50mm on APS-C is a perfect start for both indoor and outdoor portrait work, and if you then decide that you need more length you can look into an 85mm or even a 100/105ish.
 
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