Nikon SLR Cameras

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 or Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 for outdoor portrait photography?

Guest
Guest

I have a Nikon d3200. Looking for a new portrait lens. Is it worth spending the extra money on the 85mm rather than the 50mm? I want to use this lens to do some outdoor portraits and pictures of people. Thanks for the help!

(I already own the 18-55 kit lens and 18-200mm lens)

fhotoace
fhotoace

The 85 mm lens is a portrait lens for full frame cameras. On an APS-C sensored camera it is too long.

The shooting distance is just to far to be able to direct your subjects.

If you use your 18-200 mm lens at tape it at 50 mm and shoot some portraits. Next tape it at 85 mm and take some more portraits. That will tell you more than listening to me or anyone else

Mike1942f
Mike1942f

Of those two, I would go with the 85mm.
You don't give the f/ rating of the 18-200 you already own that overlaps it.

deep blue2
deep blue2

I use both. I disagree with fhotoace that the 85mm is too long. If you're outdoors and have plenty of space to frame your subject, then it's a super lens.

If budget is tight then get the 50mm first.

Guest
Guest

The 50mm will equate to a 75mm (35mm equivalent) on a cropped sensor APS-C camera like yours.

The 85mm will be too long on your cropped sensor camera.

John P
John P

If you will always have plenty of space to work in then 85mm might be ok, but generally I would suggest the 50mm, you will find it a happier lens to work with.

Do not think about the money, think about the practicality. You can see how a 50mm would work by setting your kit zoom to just short of 55mm.

Frank
Frank

The 85mm would be my recommendation for a few reasons:
1. If you upgrade to a full-frame camera, your 50mm lens can no longer be used in the same way.
2. You can always get a Metabones Speed Booster and use the 85mm and not have the crop factor and gain and extra stop of light. 85mm at f/1.0!