Man of Honour
Recommendations please? Budget less than £300 ideally.
50mm portrait lens for D7100
- Thread starter philstanbridge
- Start date
Lovely cheers I'll have a look. I've found the 1.4D for £275.
Soldato
The going rate for a used f1.4 AFD is under £200, usually ~ £180. An AF version (non D) should be even cheaper. The D (distance) information is only useful if you intend to use TTL flash.
The AFD will be a little softer wide open and any highlights in the bokeh will take on a heptagonal shape once stopped down. It does help make superb sunstars though.
The AFD will be a little softer wide open and any highlights in the bokeh will take on a heptagonal shape once stopped down. It does help make superb sunstars though.
Soldato
This.
Either the Nikon 35mm f1.8G or Sigma 30mm f1.4 Art would be my choice on a crop body.
I've got the 35mm AF-S 1.8G. It's an amazing lens but my one is passed it's best. I wanted something to replace it.
Soldato
What do you mean? Is it not working or damaged?
The only lens thats comparable really is the Sigma 30mm f1.4 Art which has a better field of view (in my opinion), is sharper, brighter and also focuses very well but carries a heavier price tag (double), which in itself makes the 35mm G such a great buy.
haha no I know they don't age. I've had this one for a few years and it has been everywhere, including on a wind-swept beach. It has got sand inside it basically. I could get it looked at I suppose, but that may cost more than the lens is worth.
So you're saying the 50mm isn't worth it if I already have the 35? It's actually a chrimbo present to me from my wife.
Last edited:
Not if you have the 35mm, the 35mm is more versatile. You could go longer and get the 85mm f/1.8G, but that is really only useful or head and shoulders. I would go wider, 24mm or 20mm f1.8G are nice lenses and would compliment the 35 on a crop camera nicely.
What other lenses do you have?
The 1.8g is a great lens.
Unless you really want to pay the extra for 1.4 (I wouldn't)
Everybody buys different lenses. I find the 35mm suits me better than 50 but you are not me
and it's not much money for a good lens.
85mm 1.8 would be my choice as a second prime.
The 1.8g is a great lens.
Unless you really want to pay the extra for 1.4 (I wouldn't)
Everybody buys different lenses. I find the 35mm suits me better than 50 but you are not me
and it's not much money for a good lens. 85mm 1.8 would be my choice as a second prime.
I've got the 16-85 and a 12-24. But my portrait lens could really do with some love.
I personally prefer the D's over the G's.
I always find them a lot sharper and I have never needed to micro adjust one unlike my G's which all needed micro adjusting.
50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 are both outstanding portrait lenses on FF however you might want to look at the 35mm for Crop sensor.
I always find them a lot sharper and I have never needed to micro adjust one unlike my G's which all needed micro adjusting.
50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 are both outstanding portrait lenses on FF however you might want to look at the 35mm for Crop sensor.
I think 75mm is a more appropriate effective focal length than 50mm for portraits personally and obviously provides a shallower dof.
My recommendation would be the 50mm f/1.4D it's just as sharp as the new G version and is only ~£170.
30-35mm is a great focal length for crop cameras but IMO the 35 f/1.8G isn't a great lens in general. Too much distortion for my tastes. I have one but rarely use it because of that, whereas I loved the 35 f/2 I had on my old Canon DSLR.
I'd recommend seeing if you can get a full frame 35mm lens instead, which will usually have less distortion. Which one I'm not sure for you're price point though.
That said for portraits, it'll depend on what you're looking for - 50mm could be good, alternatively the 85 f/1.8G may be a good length if you're looking more for head and shoulder shots. Used it would be in your price range (around £380 new).
I'd recommend seeing if you can get a full frame 35mm lens instead, which will usually have less distortion. Which one I'm not sure for you're price point though.
That said for portraits, it'll depend on what you're looking for - 50mm could be good, alternatively the 85 f/1.8G may be a good length if you're looking more for head and shoulder shots. Used it would be in your price range (around £380 new).
Last edited:
http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/628-nikkor3518dx?start=1
Perhaps it's because I previously used the Canon which had next to no distortion it's more obvious to me, but while it can partially fixed by Lightroom it's not a complete fix.
There are certainly better lenses for distortion in this focal length range. That said if you're only using it for single person portraits and not putting anything important near the edge of the frame then you'll probably be ok with that lens. It's awful for things like landscapes.
Perhaps it's because I previously used the Canon which had next to no distortion it's more obvious to me, but while it can partially fixed by Lightroom it's not a complete fix.
There are certainly better lenses for distortion in this focal length range. That said if you're only using it for single person portraits and not putting anything important near the edge of the frame then you'll probably be ok with that lens. It's awful for things like landscapes.