Best portrait/low light lens Nikon D3000?

Ok so i'm almost ready to buy the 35mm 1.8 nikkor lens. I have heard good things about it. It is going to be my first lens other than the standard that came with my d3000.

I would just like to make sure that i'm making the right choice. I will be taking portrait photos in my room. I'm not sure if a low light lens is really necessary for that but i have always wanted one for other situations. I'm trying to combine my two needs.

It would be cool to get a zoom lens as well…
i don't want to spend over 400 dollars, though.

any input is appreciated!

Added (1). Oh i also wanted to buy a VR lens but i don't see VR for any of the low light ones… Maybe its not necessary?

VR is only really useful on long-zoom lenses, not wide angle ones.

35mm is usually a bad choice for portraits since it can cause distortion of facial features. I'd recommend the 50mm f/1.8, but if you are shooting in your room you might struggle to get more than your head and shoulders in at 50mm. You might have no choice but the 35mm if you want to do full-body portraits.

If you have the kit 18-55mm lens you could try setting that lens at 35mm and at 50mm and seeing what you can fit in the viewfinder.

You can get zoom lenses in this range (for example the 18-55mm) but as you've no doubt already spotted, they are nowhere near as good at low light unless you spent a LOT of money.

Have fun!

Both the 35mm and 50mm are good choices for a low light lens, but I'd lean towards the 50mm if you want to do portraits with it as well. Less distortion, better foreground-to-background isolation. You don't need VR for focal lengths of 50mm or 35mm.