What lens should I buy for portrait/closeup shots?

[katcam]

Hi Guys,
I have bought a Nikon D5000 (yep I wanted the D90, but couldn't afford it at the time) and it came with the AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G Lens and the AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G lens.

I have been taking portrait shots, but want something with a larger aperture (smaller f/#) for capturing natural indoor lighting in portrait shots.

I can spend $100-$300, but I prefer to spend around $200 as I am also saving for a macro lens.

Any suggestions or advice welcome.

Thanks
Kat

[kiwi]

50 1.8 or 35 1.8 if you can stretch that far

[katcam]

AF or AF-S?

[kiwi]

Af-s is required if you want to autofocus.

[wolffman]

Get the new 50f1.8 afs when it comes out and then get some macro extension tubes. Portrait lens and macro taken care of and you get the best of both worlds.
Or get the nikon or sigma 50 f1.4 now with the extra money you saved by not needing a macro lens

[ving]

the 50mm f1.8 if gunna be out of your price range in af-s most likely, I'd go for the 35mm f1.8

[ElectricImages]

I am going to break the mould and suggest that it depends what kind of portraits you want to make. Portraiture can be so many things, apart from bog-standard mug shots in a studio. XD

• If you want to shoot environmental portraits (pictures of a subject contextualised by their surroundings), then a wide or normal lens would be useful. I'd go with the 35mm (which equates to a "normal" lens on a crop-sensor body) or wider for this kind of shot.
• If you want to make "standard" portrait shots with people posing, then a slight telephoto is beneficial. I'd go with the 50mm, which will give you a flattering perspective when shooting pictures dominated by the subject.
• If you want to shoot candid portraits, then a telephoto is good, as you want to be able to capture people "in the moment" without getting too close and distracting them from what they're doing. Get the longest, fastest telephoto lens you can afford - at least 85mm.

[katcam]

I want to do pregnancy, newborn and child shots, I have two lined up to practise with (they are friends). The kids shots are unposed and I want to be able to use natural lighting for the prenatal and baby shots. Any further info would be appraciated. Thanks

[Gregg Bell]

Though you can't afford any of the primes I'd suggest but a 90-110mm is the kind of focal length you'd want to do head and shoulders portrait. 50mm f/1.8D is affordable and a good lens, the 35mm f/1.8G is better.

[smallfooties]

have you looked at the tamron 90mm macro? there was a hype about it being a great protraiture and macro lens awhile ago...I'm not sure if this lens is outdated and if there are better suited lenses out there now?

[katcam]

Thanks eveyone for your ideas. I ended up purchasing a Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G lens (had to dip into the savings, but it will be worthwhile in the longrun). I have been playing with it today. Still having a bit of a play with it. I am finding it great while on manual, but the fast autofocussing is being a bit of a bugger. I think I need lots of practise setting the distance. Thanks again

[kiwi]

Nice one, I have one too....just don't try to be at 1.4 all the time

[phantom]

I'm thinking of getting the same lens, it's been a few weeks now since you purchased the lens, how are you finding it, are there still autofocus issues? Does anyone know if this is common for this lens?

[katcam]

Hi Phantom,
The lens is great, I just had to make sure that I set the distance correctly. I don't use the autofocus much ATM as I am practising manual focussing. I have also noticed that I prefer not having it at f#1.4, but somewhere between f#2.4 and 3.5 for mu closer up shots. Still playing, but really glad that I have bought it.
Kat