Portrait Lens - Nikon D70

[chim_knee]

Hi,

In preparation of the arrival of knee-high I've decided I want to purchase a "portrait" lens. You know for those one in a million shots of how gorgeous mother and baby are.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm thinking Prime to give the best low/natural light response. Clearest image etc. Given the 1.6(?) cropping factor - what would be the best focal length(?). A 50mm?

I've seen (I think) a Nikon 50mm 1.4 prime lens. for not a great deal of money. What do people think of those?

Any advice/opinions/experience welcomed!

Thanks,
Phil.

[_dobbo_]

Phil, you probably mean the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 - it's about £60, and in terms of bang for buck you wont get much better. It's pretty sharp, and pretty fast.

the f/1.4 is a bit more cash.

I've got the f/1.8, before I sold my kidney to buy my 28-70 it was probably the most reliable lens I had, now it seems insane to use a £60 lens in favour of a £1260 one! Which is fine because it's good, but not that good.

Edited by _dobbo_ on Saturday 16th September 01:19

[poah]

the 50 or 85 f1.8 are good lenses. the f1.4 versions cost more

[chim_knee]

Thanks guys. I'm not sure about the f/1.8 - it could well have been the one I'm thinking of.

My budget is around £150 for the lens - so if it's worth the extra, maybe I should go for a 1.4? (definitely not £1260 though!! )

Do I take it that you'd pretty much say that these lens are the best (quality + value for money) option?

Thanks again,
Phil.

[poah]

both canon and nikon's 50mm f1.8 are extremely good value for money.

[mr noble]

I had the same decision and decided to go for a Nikon 60mm f2.8 micro.

Good for portrait work (about 100mm inc. crop) and also great for macro stuff too. Its got a handy setting on the AF that stops it hunting all the way through the focus field if you are not using it for macro stuff.

About £200 odd I think, but sigma do the equiv. for less.

www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/macro/70mm.htm

www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=1987#