Best Portrait Lens?
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the best portrait lens and a body for £650. sadly i dont think that will be possible. you will probably need to spend £600+ if you want one the best portrait lenses. portraits are not my thing so i will leave the suggestions to other members. best of luck tho 
the best portrait lens and a body for £650. sadly i dont think that will be possible. you will probably need to spend £600+ if you want one the best portrait lenses. portraits are not my thing so i will leave the suggestions to other members. best of luck tho
Best for the money
Canon 40D + 85mm f/1.8, both second hand
I'll look into prices
Caporegime
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Canon 40D + 85mm f/1.8, both second hand
That's probably the best for £600
The best....no budget, on 35mm...
Canon 5Dmkii with a 85/1.2 or the 135/2 depending what kind of portraits your are after.
Canon 40D + 85mm f/1.8, both second hand
Was going to recommend this myself. Or the Nikon equiv.
The 85 is an awesome lens, however check what focal length you might be more suitable with. If it's 50mm, it'll save a bit.
Second the above suggestions, though I would consider the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro also. Bit more expensive unfortunately.
You're not really going to beat the 85mm 1.8 if you need the lens and body under £600. Unless you can get a 135mm f/2L for £600 and a body for free
You're not really going to beat the 85mm 1.8 if you need the lens and body under £600. Unless you can get a 135mm f/2L for £600 and a body for free
Guys,
Looking for a good lens (Either Canon or Nikon) for portrait photography... I'll want a body aswell, with a max spend of £600-650 for both.
What's best for a portrait lens? A nifty fifty? A bit more?
Thanks
Nikon Portrait lenses:
85 1.4 AF-D, legendary, probably one of the best portait lenses out there.
85 1.8 - technically sharper but misses the dreamlike quality.
135 (and 105) DC. Nikon's Defocus Control (DC) is unique.
These are the main candidates, but lenses like the 70-200 2.8 VR (I or II) are also perfect portrait lenses with beautiful brokeh.
If you want it all in for that money, Namistai definitely has it right. 40d + 85mm f/1.8. They often refer to it as an L lens in all but name, and it is absolutely lovely. Remember as well that glass is king, and you would be wise to put as much of your investment there as possible. When my 40d is finally retired, the 85mm will hang around a lot longer
Yup.
You can always go down the route of 30D or 40D + 85mm, and if you're lucky you might even get the D90+85 in budget.
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You could get a new D5000 for that money (same sensor as the D90 and D300s pretty much and you don't need 8fps and fancy AF for portraits) unfortunately until nikon update the 85mm primes to AF-S it's a bit of a bust as the D5000 lacks the AF motor...
Could get a D5000 and 50/1.4 AF-S (on a crop body that's close to the traditional 85mm on full frame anyway), but a second hand D90 and 85mm make more sense...
Could get a D5000 and 50/1.4 AF-S (on a crop body that's close to the traditional 85mm on full frame anyway), but a second hand D90 and 85mm make more sense...
Yeah, the D500 is a nice camera - although the 'better' lenses to get cheaper IMO are the AF-D's, mostly the nifty and the 85. Can't really go wrong with second hand Canikon's though
Thanks all for the input. I've decide on Canon, either 40D or 500D... Too many damn decisions! 
Just to be 100%, is the 85mm f/1.8 this lens?
Seems all correct, just want to make sure
ALSO! I'm gunna be getting a bonus from work soon and might have around another £3-400 to spend on a lens. I'll have the 85mm... What else would you recommend for general use? Would it be worth getting the 40D with the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens Kit?
Thanksssss!
If you want it all in for that money, Namistai definitely has it right. 40d + 85mm f/1.8. They often refer to it as an L lens in all but name, and it is absolutely lovely. Remember as well that glass is king, and you would be wise to put as much of your investment there as possible. When my 40d is finally retired, the 85mm will hang around a lot longer
Just to be 100%, is the 85mm f/1.8 this lens?
Seems all correct, just want to make sure
ALSO! I'm gunna be getting a bonus from work soon and might have around another £3-400 to spend on a lens. I'll have the 85mm... What else would you recommend for general use? Would it be worth getting the 40D with the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens Kit?
Thanksssss!
