Good Nikon SLR Lens for Portraits?

Question

I'm buying a digital SLR soon, A Nikon D40x to be exact. and I was wondering if any Nikon lenses were good for portraits/photoshoots. I'm interested in other types of photography too, so support for other types would be nice, but I really would like a nice all around lens that make people nice and clear when shooting portraits.

Answer 1

For portraiture, the AF Nikkor 85mm f1.4D IF - if you can afford it. Choose another lens for all-around general purpose photography.

The key to having people nice and clear when shooting portraits is the lighting and focusing.

Some professional photographers are using the "Lensbaby" (lensbabies.com) for portraits and weddings. Just read about it at their web site.

Answer 2

A great lens that's inexpensive and versatile is the Nikon 18-70mm DX lens. It's sharp and has really quick focus. Usually can find them for about $300-350 new. Always buy your lenses new from a reputable dealer. And I would not recommend buying gray market as these will not be covered by a US warranty if anything goes wrong with them. Usually the cost difference between US and gray market is negligble... especially since Nikon's warranty on lenses is 5 years.

For example, I purchased the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 DX lens from Adorama for $1,200 (roughly), loved the bejeezus out of it... recommended it to a friend who was looking at getting a new lens. He bought his on eBay because the deal was too good to pass up... well, it arrived and the lens made grinding noises internally while focusing. Now he has no warranty and had to shell out extra money to have it repaired and ended up costing him more than it would have to buy it new.

The Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 DX lens is also nice for portraits, however it is a HOG and weighs a ton and will feel completely awkward on a D40x.

Answer 3

Nikon makes fantastic lenses, but my favorite portrait lens, the 85mm f/1.4 won't autofocus on the D40x.

Instead, I would recommend the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR AF-S lens which will work not only for portraits but also for lower light sports shooting too. It will autofocus with the D40x and will also provide great "bokeh" (out of focus highlights) that helps to isolate your subject from the background.

Answer 4

various expert's do shoot Canon, yet additionally plenty shoot Nikon. somewhat in some fields Nikon is used greater suitable than Canon. in the suited that's in lots of circumstances real all the way down to client decision. For the certainly no compromise jobs execs could in all probability lease medium or super format cameras such by using fact the Hasselblads, Mamiyas, Sinars or Horsemans which modern a bigger expert performance. once you check out it, Canon and Nikon are very carefully matched. the two have a equivalent form of cameras, from get entry to degree, by utilising utilising complicated/semi expert each and all of the choice to the full on expert cameras. the two their lens lineups are appealing carefully matched, and maximum in all probability if one business enterprise has a sparkling product six months later the choice has already caught up. Canon has greater suitable sensor R&D and are marginally swifter (1D4 vs. D3s). notwithstanding Nikon have somewhat greater suitable build friendly (D3s vs. 1D4), and have instantaneous CLS on all cameras organising from the D70/80/ninety form. oftentimes carrying activities and organic international photographers favour Canon. If a studio photographer calls for digital he will on the full bypass alongside with Nikon in view that digital medium format (e.g. Mamiya) are hideously intense priced. For the press photographer the D300/s is particularly favorite in view that that's complicated and speedy and now not too intense priced if it does get trashed.

Answer 5

I agree that the Nikon Lens 17-55 f/2.8 lens is great.

I love this lens. "The most optically capable and physically rugged “normal” range zoom you can buy for a Nikon DLSR, this gun is large, heavy, and unquestionably expensive. If there’s a chance you’ll trade up to a full-frame DSLR or migrate to film, pass on it. For other Nikon DSLR shooters with adequately deep pockets, this sharp, fast, (almost) distortion-free all-purpose lens, with its nigh-perfect zoom spread for people pictures and outdoor photography, will be hard to resist."

http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/2257/lens-test-nikon-17-55mm-f28g-dx-af-s.html

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_01.html#AFS17-55G

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1755.htm

A couple of my own images:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/412315793/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/412315798/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/412315806/

Some of our pros swear by this lens:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207358-USA/Nikon_1929_Zoom_W_A_Telephoto_AF_Zoom.html I put that one on and off of my personal wish list.......