Which camera lens is best for portraits?
I have a Nikon D3200 with an 18-55 mm lens and 55-200 mm lens. I'm doing my own senior pictures, with help from my parents, and I was wondering what is the best lens to use? I'm looking into buying another one but I'm not sure which one would be worth it right now? I would be buying it in the next month. I'm thinking a 200-400 mm or something similar.
I'm also looking into doing some other senior portraits and possibly family/children/baby sessions, etc. What lens would you recommend me buying that I don't already have?
Please explain the purpose this lens would serve also, how would it help me with these portraits?
Any other info would be great!
The Nikkor AF-S 50 mm f/1.8 ($220 USD) s a great one.
Portrait lenses are medium telephoto lenses just like the 50 mm.
The 200-400 mm lf/4 ens ($7, 000) is used primarily for shooting sports or wildlife.
Low budget:
Nikkor 35mm f1.8
Nikkor 50mm f1.8
Mid-range budget:
Nikkor 85mm f1.8
High budget:
Nikkor 85mm f1.4
Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8
The zoom lens you have now has a range of 18mm thru 55mm. This lens covers a range that is moderate wide-angle thru moderate telephoto. Now the center of this range is about 30mm. This value is considered "normal" for your camera, as it delivers an angle of view that is not wide-angle and not telephoto.
Now most experts agree that the ideal focal length for portraiture is 2 thru 2 1/2 times longer than "normal". Therefore, for your camera that's about 30 x 2 = 60mm. Now your lens at maximum zoom is 55mm. That is so close to the recommended 60mm that no one will ever see any difference.
Bottom line, the lens you already own set to maximum zoom will do just fine for portraiture. If you have deep pockets, you would purchase a lens with a focal length in the range of 60mm - 75mm. Don't have deep pockets? Use what you have - no one will know the difference looking at your images.
Bottom line, the lens you already own set to maximum zoom will do just fine for portraiture. If you have deep pockets, you would purchase a lens with a focal length in the range of 60mm - 75mm. Don't have deep pockets? Use what you have - no one will know the difference looking at your images.
You might ask, why is 60mm ideal. Answer, the big mistake people make when doing portraits is working in too close. If you are too close, the nose is rendered too big and the ears too small. These will be microscopic distortions but when it comes to the human face, people will say, "I don't photograph well". Actually it's the microscopic distortion that they are seeing. This is true because they have a mental self-image derived from their make-up mirror or shaving mirror. Duplicate this perspective and your shots will be winners. Using a moderate telephoto forces you to backup. That's all it takes to clear up the facial distortion. You can do this with any lens if you can discipline yourself to back up. Most can't with a short lens as we naturally want to fill the viewfinder. All this is why a moderate telephoto does the trick.