Outdoor Portrait Lens

[rouxster]

I did a quick search and didn't really find the answer to my question, but if anyone has seen a post that can help me out, let me know. Otherwise, I would like your advice.

I have a D60 and I am looking for an outdoor portrait lens with a low aperature. Actually, I'm looking more for advice on focal length. I really like the 50mm, but I have heard from a few people that for portraits, that I need to go higher, like maybe an 85mm. What do you all think?

Ryan

[Trader]

I have a Nikon D300 and I use a Nikkon 105mm 1:2.8G lens for most of my outside portrait work. Granted I am shooting dogs (sometimes the handlers are in the shot too) but the 105 is a very nice sharp prime lens.

[kencaleno]

The time-honoured standard lens length for portrait photography is between 90mm and 135mm,but too many rules kill creativity. The 50mm lens on crop(DX) cameras is 86mm-ideal. Regards, Ken

[inkista]

As Ken mentions, the traditional portrait lengths work out differently on a crop body.

A 50mm is similar to an 85 on a full-frame.
An 85mm is similar to a 135 on a full-frame.

50, 85, and 135 are all traditional portrait focal lengths.

So, either focal length is likely to do well for you. The main difference is going to be in working distance. Obviously, if you plan on standing farther away or concentrating on head shots, rather than full length or torso shots, a longer lens is going to be more useful than a shorter one. But 85 and above are harder to use in a studio setting on a crop body because the working distance, especially for full-length shots, gets pretty big.

The reason you want a longer lens is that telephotos tend to perform better than wide angles: less distortion, sharper, typically more out of focus blurring, less CA, less vignetting, etc.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by rouxster

I really like the 50mm, but I have heard from a few people that for portraits, that I need to go higher, like maybe an 85mm. What do you all think?

They may be referring to the Nikon 200 f/2 and 300 f/2.8 (in FF) for outdoor portraits.

[rouxster]

The 105 is a nice lens, but a little more than I was looking to spend. Once we start getting paid for our work, maybe move up, but right now we are doing free work for friends just to get our name out there. We are in New Orleans, so the market is tough. There are so many place to take portraits and so many things to take pictures of, everyone wants to do it.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by rouxster

The 105 is a nice lens, but a little more than I was looking to spend.

Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI and manual focus with your D60.

[sybren]

I absolutely adore my Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. It's perfect for portraits, especially outside where you have plenty of room.

[Austin_HXC]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

The time-honoured standard lens length for portrait photography is between 90mm and 135mm,but too many rules kill creativity. The 50mm lens on crop(DX) cameras is 86mm-ideal. Regards, Ken

I believe that Nikon DX cameras have a crop factor of 1.5 not 1.6, so the ideal would be 85mm. Sorry couldn't resist.

And I just got my Canon 85mm f/1.8 recently and love it!