Portrait lenses

[TravisL]

I've got a d5000 and the only lenses I have are the kit lenses. I'm looking to upgrade to a maybe a prime lens because I've heard they are sharper. Whatever I get it needs to have a higher apperature value than the f/3.5-5.6. Really the purpose of this post is to find out what lens you all enjoy using the most for portraits. I need some opinions because I don't want to buy something and feel like I should have gotten something else.

Thanks

[SusanH1970]

What's your budget? Do you like to shoot indoors or outdoors?

[Rentham]

If I shot Nikon, I'd grab the 105mm f/2.0 if I had the budget. The 85mm f/1.8 if not.

[Dave C.]

If your budget allows it's hard to say anything bad about a 70-200 2.8, other than the price!

[TravisL]

Im wanting the budget to be around $500.

[TravisL]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

What's your budget? Do you like to shoot indoors or outdoors?

It would be for both indoors and outdoors.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by TravisL

Im wanting the budget to be around $500.

Originally Posted by TravisL

It would be for both indoors and outdoors.

At a budget of $500, I second the 85mm 1.8. Fantastic, sharp lens. The only thing is, it's a tad long on a crop sensor for indoors. My second recommendation would be the 50mm 1.4 (the 1.8 won't autofocus on your camera).

I shoot Canon and use the 50mm 1.8 for nearly all of my portraits (until I can afford a few new lenses - but the 85mm is at the top of my list). I also plan on upgrading to the 1.4 - it's a much better build and renders much nicer bokeh than the 1.8.

Hope this helps.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by TravisL

It would be for both indoors and outdoors.

This:
Nikon | Imaging Products | AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

or this (few bucks more)
Nikon | Imaging Products | AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G

The 85mm is a wonderful portrait lens, but you need a really large space to work in to get a full body shot with that lens. The 50mm equals the equivalent of 75mm on film or full frame. 75mm to 100mm was always considered the "range" for a portrait lens.

I have the 50mm 1.4D (will not autofocus on your body) and honestly nothing can touch it, especially if you look at the price.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

The 50mm equals the equivalent of 75mm on film or full frame. 75mm to 100mm was always considered the "range" for a portrait lens.

This is true, but newer folks should remember this applies to field of view only. Optically speaking, a 50 is a 50 regardless of the body. It will compress/expand perspective like 50, distort like a 50, etc.

[TravisL]

The 50mm is kinda the road Im thinking about following. I read in a review that the sigma is sharper. Is this true?