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Archive 2016 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated

  
 
trenchmonkey
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


^ Greentoe, Jon...just be firm AND patient.
Be forewarned, it's a rather sizable chunk o' glass.



Jun 16, 2016 at 06:07 PM
j.curtis
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


I like a heavier lens. Keeps my hands steadier.


Jun 16, 2016 at 06:14 PM
m.sommers00
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


Sigma 50 1.4 ART


Jun 16, 2016 at 06:43 PM
nolaguy
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


Will's (trenchmonkey) recommendation sounds very intriguing if you can swing it - he knows his business. If not the Sigma, literally everyone says the 85 1.8 is a wonderful lens and one of the best values out there.

Very few are impressed with any of Nikon's 50mm offerings, save the adopters who are enjoying the newish 58 but it's said to have distinct characteristics that you either love or shrug about.

Much as I love and respect the 35 1.8 DX, it's more because it's such a solid lens at a ridiculously low price. It's not a go-to portrait lens unless you're saving up and just need something competent to get by with until you get what you really want.

Good luck with it and let us know how it goes.

Chuck



Jun 16, 2016 at 06:45 PM
j.curtis
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


I'm thinking the 85 or 50-100. The versatility of the 50-100 would be nice, but the 85 for half the price...


Jun 16, 2016 at 06:51 PM
elkhornsun
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


Most portrait shots are taken at between f5.6 and f11 and sharp images are for the most part a negative attribute. For more than 100 years there have been special "portrait" lenses that were soft and therefore did not show every blemish and wrinkle in sharp detail.

What is important is the working distance from the photographer and their subject(s). I dislike the 85mm on a APS-C crop camera as it provided the FOV of a 135mm lens on a full frame camera which was terrible for most indoor use.

Consider also that one of the most popular lenses for fashion photographers shooting indoors and outdoors is the 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens.



Jun 16, 2016 at 07:34 PM
Elan II
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


The Sigma 50/1.4 pre-Art version is stellar for portraits on DX. It can be had pretty inexpensively right now.






Jun 16, 2016 at 08:09 PM
Bruce_T
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


I will make my usual suggestion: Tamron 60mm f/2 Macro. Takes lovely portraits and doubles as a fine macro lens. Low-light autofocus is painfully slow, but that is usually not a problem for portraits. Available used in your price range.


Jun 16, 2016 at 08:31 PM
Charles Loy
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


Another thumbs up for the 85 1.8 AF-S, exactly what you need.


Jun 16, 2016 at 08:59 PM
BSPhotog
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


Bruce_T wrote:
I will make my usual suggestion: Tamron 60mm f/2 Macro. Takes lovely portraits and doubles as a fine macro lens. Low-light autofocus is painfully slow, but that is usually not a problem for portraits. Available used in your price range.


Ha, I always forget that this lens exists. No first hand experience, but this would theoretically be a solid choice.



Jun 16, 2016 at 09:21 PM
rw11
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


http://www.bythom.com/Tamron-60mm-review.htm

last para.



Jun 16, 2016 at 11:28 PM
rico
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


elkhornsun wrote:
Most portrait shots are taken at between f5.6 and f11 and sharp images are for the most part a negative attribute. For more than 100 years there have been special "portrait" lenses that were soft and therefore did not show every blemish and wrinkle in sharp detail.

What is important is the working distance from the photographer and their subject(s). I dislike the 85mm on a APS-C crop camera as it provided the FOV of a 135mm lens on a full frame camera which was terrible for most indoor use.

Consider also that one of the most popular lenses for
...Show more

Listen to the man.

I do like the Nikkor 70-200/4 for portrait on FX, and stop down for reasonable DOF. I also find the kit zoom 55-200 DX to be excellent at those f-stops on either FX or DX bodies, and it can be had for $100 refurbished. VR isn't needed with studio strobes. Recent example of 55-200 DX @ 135mm on D3X, one light, no fill:




Jun 16, 2016 at 11:35 PM
shekarn64
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


Wondering why no one has mentioned Nikon 60 2.8. Angry photographer highly recommends this lens for portrait work!

BTW, there is one on sale here. I saw it only after posting this and edited to include the link. Have no relationship to the seller!

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1435728



Jun 17, 2016 at 06:27 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


Granddaughter rearranging the brewpub...SOOC
The D500's Jpegs are tasty.







Jun 17, 2016 at 07:42 AM
Berschwinger
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


trenchmonkey wrote:
Granddaughter rearranging the brewpub...SOOC
The D500's Jpegs are tasty.


How would you compare D500 Jpegs to D810 Jpegs, particularly higher iso?



Jun 17, 2016 at 07:55 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


^PM sent


Jun 17, 2016 at 07:58 AM
j.curtis
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


I ended up grabbing a Sigma 24-70 2.8. After trying a few lenses on the camera I felt 70 was on the long side of what I would want to shoot with. 85 & 70-200 were out for me. The Tamron 60 was a close 2nd but I really liked having some flexibility in a zoom.

Here is a quick shot taken minutes after leaving the camera shop. The only post processing was converting to B&W, levels, and resizing.


JAC_5429 by jmws_curtis, on Flickr



Jun 17, 2016 at 11:27 AM
RSHPhotography
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


trenchmonkey wrote:
If by chance you come into some money...
the 50-100 f1.8 A is blowing my mind on the D500.


I think a big piece of lens development is the focus motor. Canon and Nikon spend big $$$ to make them silent and fast. I have yet to see Sigma, Tamron match the big 2 in terms of autofocus speed and accuracy.

The 50-100 is super lens. I tried it at a store and it sharp with nice bokeh but the focusing speed can't hang with its Full Frame 70-200 2.8 counterpart.

But a great lens nonetheless




Jun 17, 2016 at 11:57 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


trenchmonkey wrote:
If by chance you come into some money...
the 50-100 f1.8 A is blowing my mind on the D500.

RSHPhotography wrote:
I think a big piece of lens development is the focus motor. Canon and Nikon spend big $$$ to make them silent and fast. I have yet to see Sigma, Tamron match the big 2 in terms of autofocus speed and accuracy.

The 50-100 is super lens. I tried it at a store and it sharp with nice bokeh but the focusing speed can't hang with its Full Frame 70-200 2.8 counterpart.

But a great lens nonetheless


A large part of AF is the body, the shooter's skill level, and commensurate settings.
My 70-200 doesn't do f1.8 and I have no trouble nailing the action with the Sig glass.
100% crop. I bought it for portraits and rodeo under the lights but as you can see....

OP: glad you found your lens






Edited on Jun 17, 2016 at 02:42 PM · View previous versions



Jun 17, 2016 at 02:37 PM
mp0363
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Portrait Lens to go with D500: Updated


j.curtis wrote:
I ended up grabbing a Sigma 24-70 2.8.


Wow. Would never have even crossed my mind. Good luck with that



Jun 17, 2016 at 10:22 PM
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