This guide will help you select the best Nikon Portrait lenses for your cameras. Portrait photography has always been one of the most popular types of photography, and luckily you can take pictures of people with just about any lens.
Portrait photography isn’t just for humans anymore. Pet Portrait photography has been increasing over the past few years. In 2013 pet ownership increased to a 20-year high, to where about 68% of U.S. households had pets. So, if you’re a professional photographer the growing trend of pet photography is one you should consider adding to your list of services.
If you want to improve the quality, feel and look of your portrait shots, then investing in a lens that’s better suited for portraits isn’t a bad idea. If you are specifically looking for a Nikon wedding photography lens we have more specific recommendations here.
For this guide, we looked at a ton of different lenses from Nikon, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and narrowed it down to our top picks.
If you have one of Nikon’s newer mirrorless cameras that uses the Z-mount, then at least ninety F-mount NIKKOR lenses that are fully compatible with the Z series cameras as long as you have the proper adaptor. Although if you’re buying new then we’d recommend buying a lens that is specifically designed for a Z-mount camera.
The Top Nikon Portrait Lenses:
1. Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S
2. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM
3. Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S
4. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM
5. Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S – [Most Popular]
6. Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S
7. Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
8. Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S
9. Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
What makes a good Nikon portrait lens?
One of the most common questions people have is ‘Which lens is the best for portrait photography?” The answer to that goes just beyond the popular focal range of 50mm – 85mm. To insure our recommendations covered the best options we asked ourselves the following questions for every lens we checked:
1. Sharpness – How sharp is the lens, especially at its widest aperture?
2. Focal Length – Between 35mm and 200mm is ideal (from group shots, to tight portraits).
3. Quality – How much aberration, flare and vignetting is visible, and is the quality top notch?
4. Bokeh – Creamy, smooth bokeh makes your subject pop out and isn’t distracting.
5. Price – Do you have to sell your car to get it? The lens better be worth every dollar.
6. Autofocus – Is it fast and accurate, or is it more appropriate for still subjects.
The size of your DSLR’s sensor is also important, as DX cameras (all under $1,500) have a 1.5x crop factor. This means that a 50mm lens on DX camera like the D5600 actually gives you the same field of view as a 75mm lens on full frame camera (just multiply your focal length x 1.6 = full frame equivalent).
So if you see us say that “50mm is great for full body shots on full frame”, you’d actually need a ~35mm lens for your APS-C to get the same field of view. You don’t have to worry about this too much though, as long as you’re in the 35 to 200mm range you’re good to go for portraits.
Perspective and lens distortion is an important thing to understand with any type of photography, but especially with portraits. When you know how the lens will impact the subject you are shooting you can adapt the way you shot or do your post processing to insure you get natural and pleasing results.
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How can I tell what lenses are compatible with your Nikon?
If you have a Nikon DX camera (aka: Crop Sensor Camera) then it can accept both DX and FX lenses (FX stands for full frame) so you don’t ever have to worry about a lens not fitting (physically).
There are however differing levels of compatibility. You can consult to Nikon’s Official Compatibility chart the to see what will work with all the different types of Nikon lens.
If you’re not familiar with Nikon’s F mount, that’s the reference to the physical attachment of the lens to the camera body. In addition to that, to determine the compatibility of a lens with your Nikon you would then look to see if it’s a DX lens or an FX lens, which refers to the size of the sensor in the camera.
The F mount is universal between both sensor types, meaning the lens can physically attach. Although DX lenses aren’t something we would normally recommend on a FX (full frame) camera. One reason is because of vignetting around the edge of the image.
Determining the lens type is a bit more challenging since lens names are a bit of an ‘alphabet soup.’ But once you understand the basics of lens terminology you’ll start feeling like a pro.
Review of the Best Nikon Portrait Lenses
1. Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX
The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is the most affordable Nikon prime lens, offers superb image quality and fast auto focus. If you’re looking to buy your first lens after the kit 18-55mm or just never owned a prime lens before, you’ll be amazed by the quality as these lenses are top notch!
Aperture f/1.8 will make your portrait shots look more professional due to the shallow depth of field and lovely bokeh. Colors and sharpness are also really good for a lens this price. It’s a perfect choice for a whole lot of different styles, from nighttime, portraits, kids and pets running, nature to traveling and wedding photography.
Since it’s for DX cameras (all up to D500), the field of view once mounted will be equivalent to a 50mm lens due to the 1.5x crop factor. This makes it a great choice for casual portrait photography, but also anything that involves other parts surrounding your subject (trees in the nature, indoor objects).
Simply put, if you want to shoot everything including portraits, but don’t want to spend too much yet, you’ll love the 35mm f/1.8G. This is why this is the best Nikon portrait lens if you are on a budget.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- most affordable Nikon prime lens
- superb image quality
- fast auto focus
- great sharpness
Cons
- 35mm lenses distort portraits a little bit
- doesn't include images stabilization
| Key Lens Specs for the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G | |
| Lens Name | Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G |
| Lens mount | Nikon F (DX) |
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Maximum aperture | F1.8 |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 210 g (0.46 lb)^ |
| Length | 53 mm (2.07″)^ |
| Filter thread | 52 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 7 |
| Min Focus | 0.30 m (11.81″) |
| Max magnification | 0.16× |
| Materials | Plastic barrel, metal mount |
| Price Range | $ | Least expensive price range for lenes |
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
2. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM is the widest lens we chose. On a full frame Nikon DSLR, it’s great for group shots and environmental portraits. This makes it an excellent choice for weddings, streets, and concerts, and is ideal for when you want to have more than strictly your subject in the shot.
Quality wise, the lens is spectacular. Sigma’s Art line features lenses that have excellent sharpness, contrast and colors even at f/1.4. It’s quick at auto focusing thanks to the Hyper Sonic Motor, although it’s not unusual for it to hunt in low light. Mounted on a FF camera, you’ll see some vignetting at f/1.4 as with all other 35mm lenses, but it’s nothing drastic.
For a 35mm lens, bokeh looks surprisingly good, and it also features full time manual focus (FTM) and has a closest focusing distance of 11.8″ (0.30m). On APS-C cameras like the Nikon D500, the field of view will be equivalent to a ~50mm lens on full frame, which is a common focal length for all different sorts of portraits.
There is a Nikon 35mm f/1.4G available, but it costs twice as much. Does it beat the Sigma anywhere? It shows a little bit less flare and has a different bokeh look (which is subjective), but the Sigma is noticeably sharper, especially in corners. One thing to note, the Nikon lens has weather sealing. It’s up to you to decide which one fits your work style, but for the money, nothing beats the Sigma.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- great for group shots
- spectacular quality
- quick auto focus
- excellent sharpness
Cons
- 35mm lenses distort close up portraits a little bit
- doesn't include weather sealing
| Key Lens Specs for the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art | |
| Lens Name | Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art |
| Lens mount |
Canon EF, Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF3, Sigma SA Bayonet, Sony/Minolta Alpha, Sony FE
|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Maximum aperture | F1.4 |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 665 g (1.47 lb)^ |
| Length | 94 mm (3.7″)^ |
| Filter thread | 67 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 9^ |
| Min Focus | 0.30 m (11.81″) |
| Max magnification | 0.19× |
| Materials | Plastic barrel, metal mount |
| Price Range |
$$$ | Within price range for the majority of lenses
|
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
3. Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S
The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is our favorite prime for both newcomers to photography and more advanced users looking for quality in a lightweight lens.
On DX cameras, it’s equivalent to a 85mm lens which is an ideal length for closer, more personal portrait shots. If you’re looking to spend little and don’t own any lenses yet, the 50mm f/1.8G will become your best friend!
If you often find yourself using the kit lens more or less near 50mm, this lens was made for you. Not only is quality years ahead of the kit zooms, it also focuses faster and lets you go all the way to f/1.8! The 35mm and 50mm prices are almost identical, yet we recommend you to go with the 50mm if you prefer a little bit tighter shots (15mm difference between the two lenses) and want slightly better looking bokeh.
It’s still recommended for the same types of photography as the 35mm above though.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- quality lightweight lens
- fast f/1.8 aperture
- wonderfully sharp image
Cons
- 50mm doesn't give you a ton of reach
- some Chromatic aberration
| Key Lens Specs for the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F1.8G | |
| Lens Name | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F1.8G |
| Lens mount | Nikon F (FX) |
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Maximum aperture | F1.8 |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 185 g (0.41 lb)^ |
| Length | 53 mm (2.07″)^ |
| Filter thread | 58 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 7 |
| Min Focus | 0.45 m (17.72″) |
| Max magnification | 0.15× |
| Materials | |
| Price Range | $ | Least expensive price range for lenes |
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
4. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM
There’s a ton of 50mm f/1.4 lenses out there so we know we had to include one due to their popularity, and we decided to give our spot to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM. It costs more than Nikon’s version but is better when completely wide open, which is where you’ll want to use it anyways.
It’s bigger and heavier (28.7oz/815g) too, but feels more sturdy in hand. It takes 77mm filters instead of 58mm, so if size is very important to you, you might want to skip the Sigma. It’s not huge by any means, just bigger than both Nikon’s 50mm lenses. Just like the 35mm above, it has a 9 blade diaphragm so bokeh looks soft and pleasing to the eye. Bokeh looks good thanks to a 9 blade aperture and you will hardly see any haze, chromatic aberration or ghosting.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 has an AF motor built-in which means it will auto focus normally on bodies like the D3400 and D5600. Speaking about focus, the accuracy and speed are very good thanks to the Hyper Sonic Motor, but you can always expect some hunting from time to time with all third-party lenses. It’s great for both stills and action photography though, including low light. You can see the review which mentions the difference between focusing on Canon and Nikon bodies at Photography Life.
If you can’t decide which 50mm to go with, here’s a tip: if you absolutely need/want f/1.4 with great sharpness and plan on using the lens at this aperture most of the time, get the Sigma. For low light or just beautiful bokeh, that extra third-stop of light can make a big difference.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- better than the Nikon when fully open
- beautiful bokeh
- excellent for low light
- great sharpness
Cons
- more expensive then the Nikon version
- larger and heavier than a prime with a smaller aperture
| Key Lens Specs for the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art | |
| Lens Name | Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art |
| Lens mount |
Canon EF, Nikon F (FX), Sigma SA Bayonet, Sony/Minolta Alpha, Sony FE
|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Maximum aperture | F1.4 |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 815 g (1.80 lb) |
| Length | 100 mm (3.94″)^ |
| Filter thread | 77 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 9^ |
| Min Focus | 0.40 m (15.75″) |
| Max magnification | 0.18× |
| Materials | |
| Price Range |
$$$ | Within price range for the majority of lenses
|
5. Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S
For wedding, concert, portrait, night time or close sports photography, we recommend the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S because the quality and sharpness are top notch. It’s also relatively affordable and gives you more bang for the buck than the f/1.4 version. This is probably one of the reasons this is one of the most popular lenses among our readers. It’s among the best lenses for wedding photography on just about any list you read.
There’s just something about 85mm length on both DX and FX cameras that makes it magical for portrait photography. The depth of field looks shallow even when stopped down a bit because your focal length is quite long, but obviously shooting at f/1.8-f/2.8 makes bokeh and background look amazing.
Compared to the lenses above it’s not as good for street, tight indoor and walk-around purposes, but is ideal if you can’t always be close to your subject. A perfect example would be weddings, outdoor nature shots or simply situations where you have a lot of space between you and your subject. Its closest focusing distance is 80cm/31 inches.
This is not only a highly recommended lens by us, but just about everyone that has one!
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- fast f/1.8 aperture
- great focal range
- beautiful bokeh
- great in low light
- universally a high recommendation
Cons
- not as good for street or tight indoor photography
- 85mm may few a bit long for some shooters
| Key Lens Specs for the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm F1.8G | |
| Lens Name | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm F1.8G |
| Lens mount | Nikon F (FX) |
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Maximum aperture | F1.8 |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 350 g (0.77 lb)^ |
| Length | 73 mm (2.87″)^ |
| Filter thread | 67 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 7 |
| Min Focus | 0.80 m (31.5″) |
| Max magnification | 0.124× |
| Materials | |
| Price Range | $ | Less expensive than majority of lenes |
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
6. Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S
If you like the 85mm above but want something with a slightly bigger max. aperture and even nicer color rendition, check out the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G. Oh, it also costs 3x more and is bigger and heavier.
The best bang for your buck belongs to the 85mm f/1.8G, but if portraits are a big passion of yours and you want the best there is, then it’s worth paying more for a gem like this.
If you’re starting out in photography we don’t really recommend getting the f/1.4G immediately, it would be much smarter to get the 1.8 and then seeing if you really need anything better. However, if you’ve been doing portraiture for quite some time and know exactly what suits you, you’ll love it.
The f/1.4G is a lot bigger, heavier and has 9 blade apertures instead 7 so you can expect even nicer bokeh.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- super fast prime
- amazing bokeh
- great sharpness
- excellent color rendition
Cons
- much more expensive than the f/1.8
- heavy for a prime
- if you don't need the f/1.4 go with the f/1.8
| Key Lens Specs for the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm F1.4G | |
| Lens Name | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm F1.4G |
| Lens mount | Nikon F (FX) |
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Maximum aperture | F1.4 |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 595 g (1.31 lb)^ |
| Length | 84 mm (3.31″)^ |
| Filter thread | 77 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 9^ |
| Min Focus | 0.85 m (33.46″) |
| Max magnification | |
| Materials | Magnesium alloy barrel, metal mount |
| Price Range | |
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
7. Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro
No Nikon portrait lens list is complete without a macro lens. The Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Macro gives you the most bang for your buck.
It’s got everything you’d want in a macro lens. Quick and precise auto focusing, great image quality, Vibration Reduction and little to no quality issues. Chromatic aberration is very well controlled, same goes for flare and distortion which you’ll rarely have on pictures. For a more precise rundown on how much flare etc., check out the ePhotozine review here.
The Tamron 90mm has a focus limiter to make it easier when focusing on subjects close to you, and while AF performance is quick and precise, you might get hunting from time to time. It’s also compatible with the Tamron Tap-in Console so you can manually calibrate the lens and get even better performance if you experience any issues, as well as update the lens’ firmware. It’s a simple dock that can be attached to your computer.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- affordable macro
- large aperture for good low light performance
- precise auto focus
- allows for manual calibration
Cons
- the AF will sometime hunt a little
| Key Lens Specs for the Tamron SP 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD 1:1 Macro | |
| Lens Name | Tamron SP 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD 1:1 Macro |
| Lens mount | Canon EF, Nikon F (FX), Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Maximum aperture | F2.8 |
| Image stabilization | Yes (3.5 stops) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 609 g (1.34 lb)^ |
| Length | 117 mm (4.61″) |
| Filter thread | 62 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 9^ |
| Min Focus | 0.30 m (11.81″) |
| Max magnification | 1× |
| Materials | |
| Price Range |
$$$ | Within price range for the majority of lenses
|
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
8. Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S
Zoom lenses are also an excellent portrait choice, but they can get quite expensive, especially if you want an f/2.8 zoom. With that in mind, the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED is our top pick for both DX and FX shooters that want an all-around, high-quality zoom that can be used in low light and outdoors, for all different types of photography.
The 24-70mm is a type of lens you can take anywhere and forget about the rest. For portraits, the 24mm is wide enough to capture group shots, or just your subject with some other elements included (interiors etc.). When you feel the need to get closer, simply twist the zoom and you’re at 70mm which is good for isolation your subject. Best of all, the lens stays at f/2.8 throughout its entire zoom range, and that’s one of the biggest reasons for its hefty price.
There’s a cheaper Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 with Vibration Reduction and similar image quality. However, what ultimately led us to go with Nikon was more solid build quality and construction, and a faster, more reliable AF system even in low light. You can check out the comparison at Camera Labs, where both corner and center performance look similar for both lenses. Starting in 2015, Nikon also started selling their own 24-70mm f/2.8 VR but it’s will cost you a bit more.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- top pick - all around lens
- great image quality
- really versatile lens
- solid build
Cons
- a zoom with a large aperture is more expensive
- sometimes wish there was a little more focal range
| Key Lens Specs for the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED | |
| Lens Name | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED |
| Lens mount | Nikon F (FX) |
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
| Maximum aperture | F2.8 |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 900 g (1.98 lb) |
| Length | 133 mm (5.24″) |
| Filter thread | 77 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 9^ |
| Min Focus | 0.38 m (14.96″) |
| Max magnification | |
| Materials | |
| Price Range | |
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
9. Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
The Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 is our favorite 70-200mm lens out there.
Here’s why. It’s cheaper than the rest, delivers nearly identical image quality and sharpness, has great Vibration Reduction with 5 stops of help and great auto focus. On top of that, you get 6 years US warranty! Talk about customer support.
Compared to Nikon’s most expensive 70-200mm f/2.8 FL, you could get two Tamron’s for that price. The image quality is nearly indistinguishable between the two, however the Nikon is slightly more accurate when it comes to auto focus. The Tamron is good, don’t get us wrong, and it’s precise and quiet, but there’s only a few people that would be willing to spend twice as much to get even better AF than what you get with this lens. The Tamaron is the best budget choice for someone looking for a portrait lens in this focal range.
For portraits, having the absolute fastest AF is not such a priority, which is why it’s better to save the money.
The lens is perfect even for high megapixel cameras such as the D810 with its 36MP sensor. The VC works wonderfully up to 5 stops so you can expect sharp results with 1/15 where you’d need ~1/500 normally. The lens has weather sealing so if you’re shooting outdoors in difficult weather, or happen to be near water, you’ve got much less to worry about.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Pros
- well built
- less expensive than Nikon's version
Cons
- not weather sealed
| Key Lens Specs for the Tamron SP 70-200mm F2.8 Di VC USD G2 | |
| Lens Name | Tamron SP 70-200mm F2.8 Di VC USD G2 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF, Nikon F (FX) |
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
| Maximum aperture | F2.8–22 |
| Image stabilization | Yes (5 stops) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Weight | 1500 g (3.31 lb) |
| Length | 194 mm (7.63″) |
| Filter thread | 77 mm |
| Diaphragm blades | 9^ |
| Min Focus | 0.95 m (37.4″) |
| Max magnification | 0.16× |
| Materials | |
| Price Range |
$$$ | Within price range for the majority of lenses
|
| ^Better than Average, when compared to over 750 other lenses | |
Which Nikon Portrait Lens To Buy?
1. Zoom or Prime?
Many professional portrait photographers prefer prime lenses due to the fact that they’re usually sharper and have a way bigger maximum apertures. The difference between f/1.4 and f/4 is enormous, in both the shutter speed and ISO settings you need to use to get the desired shot, as well as in bokeh. We suggest a minimum of f/2.8, but if you’re after those creamy backgrounds, get yourself a prime.
With a zoom lens you don’t have to move all the time, which is sometimes a big plus as you don’t want to distract anyone. If that’s important to you, then a zoom might be a better choice, but if for portraits you usually have enough space to move as you wish, you’ll easily see the benefits of prime lenses.
2. Focal Length
The most important factor! With a wideangle lens you need to be really close to your subject, which ultimately distorts their faces. For portraits, stick to 35mm to 200mm and your clients will be thankful as their faces and bodies will look normal.
35mm lenses are great for showing more than just your subject isolated (perhaps their workplace, the environment, streets, nature and so on).
50mm lenses are ideal for full body shots and casual shooting
85mm lenses have the perfect combination of focal length and bokeh, and are also most usable for head shots
135-200mm lenses are best for when you can’t be too close to your subject, or you’re looking for the most background blur and flat faces due to such long lengths.
Most photographers use a 50mm and/or a 85mm lens, so any of these two will be great if you’re still confused. If you can’t decide what length to go with, use whatever zoom you currently have and stick to one single length for a few days to get the feeling.
3. Auto Focus
Unless you prefer manual focusing, you want AF that you can count on. Shooting with large apertures is tricky since your focus needs to be spot on. If you accidentally focus on the nose instead of the eyes at f/1.2, that might just ruin the shot. You always want to make sure your lenses don’t have front/back focus issues and that they’re as accurate as they can be. If you never did any tests before, check out the video explaining you how here.
The lenses on our list are good at focusing though, the only exception might be the 85mm f/1.4G since it’s so big it’s a little bit slower than the rest.
4. Image Stabilization
Having IS is always a big plus, but unless your subjects are always completely still, you won’t actually benefit from it here. This is why you shouldn’t worry so much if a prime doesn’t come with IS, that big aperture makes up for it.
For portrait photography tips, check out the video below.
Nikon Portrait Lenses FAQs
If you’re getting started in your photography career you may be wondering what the best Nikon lens for portraits is? Professional photographers use a variety of lenses.
If you speak with seasoned photographers, you’ll often hear that they prefer Prime lenses because they are fast and light. However, it’s really more about the style of photography someone is doing and what their preference is. There are many professionals that prefer to pack light and want to be able to react quickly to any situation so they might decide on a nice zoom lens.
Although it’s quite universal that professional photographers are going to use lenses with a wide maximum aperture (aka: a fast lens). This just gives a lot more freedom and quality when trying to balance out that exposure triangle.
So a professional might be willing to spend the extra money on a lens with a f/1.4 rather than a f/1.8. But for a hobbyist or someone just getting started the smaller aperture would be just fine.
Both of these focal lengths are really popular, and so you’ll probably get a different answer about whether to buy a 50mm or 85mm prime, depending on who you talk to.
A 50mm equivalent lens (remember that a crop sensor camera zooms in more than a full frame) is around the natural view of the human eye. This is one of the reasons it’s such a popular option.
With a 50mm you have to be a little more intimate with your subject and since it’s a little wider you’ll get more of the surrounding environment. An 85mm lens puts you shooting a little farther from the subject which may provide more natural behavior. It also is common for the classic headshot since it will get you up-close and won’t have a lot of lens distortion.
One of the keys with wedding photography is flexibility. No matter how much you prepare you don’t know what’s going to happen on the bride’s big day. Plus, from event to event, the wedding venues and size of the crowds will change.
A zoom lens allows you to quickly capture a moment without changing lenses, thus being able to be prepared for everything, at any time.
Many people use prime lenses and we’re not saying they’re not good or anything, it’s just that unless you’re a little bit experienced, carrying only a prime may not be the best option when starting out. You might not know how to position yourself properly yet, you might not have the full confidence to move freely etc.
In reality, the best choice would be a combination of both; 2-3 good zooms and a couple of primes that you use when you want to get a specific look. This is not the most budget friendly way of course, so we recommend starting out with an all-around f/2.8 zoom.
- Verdict: Bring zoom lenses if you want to be as secure as possible. Many people use primes only, but most do that after shooting a few weddings, so they know what they need. Best case scenario, bring both types of lenses so you get awesome shots in every situation
To answer the question of ‘when should you buy a camera lens?’ you need to determine what criteria you would use to consider something as a necessity.
For some, necessity will revolve around cost. For example, ‘do I have extra money in my budget to purchase a new lens?’
For others, necessity will be determined by the use case for a new lens. A professional photographer might find a lot of uses for a long telephoto lens, where an avid photographer may only use it on one or two trips in their lifetime.
So common criteria you can use to judge whether it’s a good purchase or not are:
- Does the cost fit in my budget
- Use cases for a new lens
- Do I have good alternatives, such as renting a lens
- Added value of adding a new lens to your equipment (ROI)
- Emotional benefit/joy over time of purchasing a new lens
- New opportunities or creative avenues that it might open
After going through these criteria you should be able to quickly determine if you should just rent a lens or if you are ready to buy one. So the next question you’d ask is “How do I choose what lens to get?“
Here’s a list of the benefits of renting a camera lens
- Gives you a chance to try equipment out before purchasing
- Low-cost option to get the right gear for a particular situation
- May be more convenient that traveling with your own gear, since you could have the rental shipped to where you are going
- Expands your options for creativity
- Can give you more professional results, allowing you to charge more for your services
- Can save you money, storage space, and overhead from having to own certain equipment
- You can use the best and latest gear, as opposed to having to use the same purchased lens for many years
This sounds obvious but you should rent the camera lens that you ‘need.’ The tricky part is figuring out what lens you need.
First off, in determining what camera lens you should rent, is to determine which lenses will work for your camera.
For many that will just be narrowing or filtering your search results to the camera brand. Beyond that you need to make sure you’re aware of the type of lens mount you have on your camera. With more and more mirrorless cameras out there, if you have a DSLR you need to pay attention to the lens mount, not just the lens brand.
There are also great 3rd party lenses that can make for less expensive options, and often have as good or maybe better specs than the main brand lens.
Even for someone that knows a lot about lenses it can be hard to keep up with all the options and features, so be willing to ask questions. There are also a lot of lists people put together of lens recommendations for specific camera models. Our Lens Hub is a great resource for finding a lens for your camera based on photography type or a specific model.
Best Nikon Lenses For:
First and foremost, I’m a husband and father. Then professionally I’m photographer, designer, blogger, and Esty store owner. My homebase is near the stunning Wasatch mountains in Utah but I love traveling with my family as part of our homeschooling journey. I also love teaching and helping out others. My faith is one of the biggest aspects of my life and brings be a consistent joy that I haven’t found in anything else. My main blog is BestPhotographyGear.com and I strive to make photography simple for anyone looking to learn or find gear for their individual needs. By nature, I like to study, research, and analyze things and I use that help provide the best advice and reviews I can.