What are some good, fast lens for cheap? Thinking old manual focus lens?

I know about the 50mm f/1.8 AF Nikon has, but I'm wanting something a bit more longer for portraits, like 85mm and up for my Nikon D200.

Anyone wanna suggest some old manual focus lens? F/1.8 - f/2.8, from 85mm to anywhere to 200mm

Actually the 50 mm IS the portrait lens for cropped sensor cameras like your D200 (75 mm). The 85 mm is a bit long for shooting portraits (135 mm equivalent). The longest lens would be the 60 mm f/2.8 (90 mm equivalent) and closer to the 85 mm when used on a full frame dSLR or 35 mm SLR.

200 mm for shooting portraits is way too long (300 mm equivalent)

Where did you get the idea that long lenses were used for shooting portraits?

For a more complete explanation of what lens lengths are used for certain subjects, you may want to visit a few local portrait photographers in their studios and see what they have to say. I'm sure it will enlighten you.

The choice of a lens for shooting portraits has all to do with the way a lens exaggerates facial features (as when using a wide angle lens) or compresses the facial features (as when using a long lens).

There are magic focal lengths for shooting portraits using a 35 mm SLR, 85 mm or 105 mm.

When using a medium format (6x6 cm) camera, the 120 mm is a favorite and when shooting using a 4x5 inch view camera, the lens I use is a 360 mm lens.

50mm is perfect on a cropped sensor, I reach for my 50mm f1.4 every time.

If you want something longer then try a Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 1:1 Macro off eBay. It's a sharp macro and a nice portrait lens too.

You can search on eBay for older manual focus Nikon lenses in the focal lengths you want. You can also search the Used Dept. At these sites:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...ovideo.com
http://www.adorama.com/...dorama.com
http://www.keh.com
http://www.samyscamera.com
http://www.cametacamera.com
http://www.uniquephoto.com

Now as to what focal length to use for portraits… Perhaps these articles will give you a new direction.

http://www.shutterbug.net/techniques/portraiture/0808portrait/index.html

http://www.shutterbug.net/techniques/outdoor_travel/0505improve/index.html

Any of the Nikkor 85's.MF's were available with f/1.4, f/1.8 and f2.0 apertures at various times, some were better than others wide open, all are still pretty spendy since they have cult status. Also consider the Tamron 60mm/2.0 macro.