What lens would you suggest?

[Stina3246]

I have a Nikon D90 with a Nikon VR 18-55 F3.5, a Quantaray 28-80 F3.5 a Nikon VR 55-22 F4 and a Nikon 50mm prime F1.8 I primarily shoot wedding and events. I'm ready to move up to a nicer lens but not sure where to start. I need a nice fast portrait lens. What would you suggest if money were NO object and what if my budget were about $300 max?

[ceremus]

A fast 85mm prime is a favorite for portraiture, especially if you go for something like a f/1.4. Those tend to be pricey no matter which way you go, but if you want to blow for the big time (and you don't mind manual focus) the Zeiss 85 1.4 is pretty drool-worthy.

I don't know Nikon all that well, but I believe you can get those in Nikon and Sigma flavors as well.

[Doug Sundseth]

24-70 f/2.8 if money is no object. It's one of the best lenses Nikon makes and it's probably the primary lens of most wedding photographers.

For under $300 there aren't a whole lot of choices, and most of that is covered by lenses you already have. I'd probably be looking at lighting gear in that price range.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by Stina3246

I have a Nikon D90 with a Nikon VR 18-55 F3.5, a Quantaray 28-80 F3.5 a Nikon VR 55-22 F4 and a Nikon 50mm prime F1.8 I primarily shoot wedding and events. I'm ready to move up to a nicer lens but not sure where to start. I need a nice fast portrait lens. What would you suggest if money were NO object and what if my budget were about $300 max?

That's why i discourage ppl to buy the kit len together with the camera. Now you are looking for new lenses and what will happen to your vr kit len? A new kit len costs about less than USD100 in my country.. just no one wants it. Everyone buys it together with camera because they want to sell at higher price.. but get dissapointed.

a New kit len costs less than USD100. 2nd hand kit len with 10 months warranty usually sold at USD45..So far, i never see anyone buys it. You can also get very cheap 2nd hand 50mm f/1.8 with 10 months warranty. All they want is 35mm f/1.8. May be we all are influenced by KenRockWell? Even the Nikon recommended 35mm f/1.8 for better sharpness and beautiful bokeh. 50mm f/1.8 has very soft bokeh.. not nice. I heard from Grace that, 50mm f/1.8 has very poor autofocus? But i know it has the fastest autofocus speed.. compared to nikon 50mm f/1.4, sigma 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.8 .. 35mm f/1.8 is sharper than 50mm f/1.8; 50mm f/1.8 is sharper than 50mm f/1.4... According to Grace, sharpness is everything, and therefore, I think you should go for 35mm f/1.8

I read about 50mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/1.8. Why does 35mm is more suitable for low-light? 35mm f/1.8 sharpest at f/2.8 while 50mm sharpest at f/5.6. Then why not you just use your vr kit len 55mm at f/5.6?

If i am you, I will buy a camera bracket that support 2-3 speedlights and 1 umbrella attached to that bracket ;D. Then buy off-camera dual/triple TTL Code ...with that USD300. D90 supports Nikon CLS, how about SB units? ;D

I wander why the manufacturers cannot out come with wireless TTL tranceiver for Nikon CLS system that utilize other speedlights. It looks like that Speedlights and wireless technology is just started recently..

"when things get too common, their prices drop significantly.."

[inkista]

Sell the kit lens and the Quantaray, and see if you can save up a bit more, to get your budget up to $400-450, and then get a Tamron 17-50/2.8, or, as ceremus suggested, a Nikkor 85/1.8D.

If you really can't scrape together any more cash, and you're a manual focus whizz kid, you might want to try the Rokinon/Samyang/etc. 85/1.4, but it doesn't seem like a manual focus lens would be the optimal choice for wedding shooting. Autofocus and aperture control from the camera are good to have when event shooting moves really fast. OTOH, with the right technique and level of experience it's not impossible. Just really really hard.

[sk66]

if money were no concern, the 17-55 f/2.8 for a crop body....$300 max; external flash an a couple cheap modifiers. But if you shoot "primarily weddings and events"...WTH do you need my advice?

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by sk66

if money were no concern, the 17-55 f/2.8 for a crop body....$300 max; external flash an a couple cheap modifiers. But if you shoot "primarily weddings and events"...WTH do you need my advice?

What do you primarily shoot? I can learn something new from anyone. Everyone here gave me great advise. Some of it confirms what I thought all along, others teach me something I didn't know. Both very important.

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by ccting

That's why i discourage ppl to buy the kit len together with the camera. Now you are looking for new lenses and what will happen to your vr kit len? A new kit len costs about less than USD100 in my country.. just no one wants it. Everyone buys it together with camera because they want to sell at higher price.. but get dissapointed.

a New kit len costs less than USD100. 2nd hand kit len with 10 months warranty usually sold at USD45..So far, i never see anyone buys it. You can also get very cheap 2nd hand 50mm f/1.8 with 10 months warranty. All they want is 35mm f/1.8. May be we all are influenced by KenRockWell? Even the Nikon recommended 35mm f/1.8 for better sharpness and beautiful bokeh. 50mm f/1.8 has very soft bokeh.. not nice. I heard from Grace that, 50mm f/1.8 has very poor autofocus? But i know it has the fastest autofocus speed.. compared to nikon 50mm f/1.4, sigma 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.8 .. 35mm f/1.8 is sharper than 50mm f/1.8; 50mm f/1.8 is sharper than 50mm f/1.4... According to Grace, sharpness is everything, and therefore, I think you should go for 35mm f/1.8

I read about 50mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/1.8. Why does 35mm is more suitable for low-light? 35mm f/1.8 sharpest at f/2.8 while 50mm sharpest at f/5.6. Then why not you just use your vr kit len 55mm at f/5.6?

If i am you, I will buy a camera bracket that support 2-3 speedlights and 1 umbrella attached to that bracket ;D. Then buy off-camera dual/triple TTL Code ...with that USD300. D90 supports Nikon CLS, how about SB units? ;D

I wander why the manufacturers cannot out come with wireless TTL tranceiver for Nikon CLS system that utilize other speedlights. It looks like that Speedlights and wireless technology is just started recently..

"when things get too common, their prices drop significantly.."

Thanks for your detailed info. I actually love my kit lens. It's GREAT for well lit situations and is better then my partners L series cannon lens for the detail shots, the ring, the cake etc. That's why he always has me shoot those shots. I just want my portrait shots to look more.......crisp.....professional......better?? I know it's the photographer not the equipment BUT, it's always good to have GREAT equipment.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Stina3246

What do you primarily shoot? I can learn something new from anyone. Everyone here gave me great advise. Some of it confirms what I thought all along, others teach me something I didn't know. Both very important.

Me? I shoot action, motorsports/wildlife....I also shoot "creative shots"/detail. And what I shoot is very relevant to the topic....You probably should listen to the wedding photographers if anyone....and yourself.

I would not buy an 85mm for the crop body and wedding/indoor portraits. If you must get a lens on a budget the 35mm 1.8 is a bargain and "normal" on a crop. The 50mm 1.8 is also good and would be considered a "portrait length" on a crop body.

But I think a flash is more beneficial in more situations and with any lens....

[scootermcq]

SK66 is right.... flash before anything... then his suggestion of 17-55 f2.8 if money were no object.

$300 max.... buy a used 18-70 f3.5-4.5....