Im stressing out because my sisters wedding is in three weeks and I promised to handle the portraits but my kit lens just isnt cutting it anymore. Ive been looking at the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G versus the 50mm f/1.4G and honestly im paralyzed by the choice. My budget is pretty tight at around 400 bucks and since im shooting on a D7500 in a small apartment space I keep worrying the 85mm is gonna be way too tight for indoor shots. But then I see everyone saying 85 is the holy grail for portraits so maybe I should just make it work? Is the 50mm sharp enough or am I gonna regret not going for the 85...
To add to the point above: snag the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G instead. It saves you cash and gives you way more breathing room in that small apartment than the 85mm.
On a crop sensor like your D7500, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G will act like a 127mm lens, which is way too long for a cramped apartment. You should definitely go with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G instead. It gives you a 75mm equivalent field of view, which is much more manageable indoors. It is plenty sharp for portraits and that wider aperture helps with low light too.
Coming back to this, I totally get why you're stressing. Honestly, shooting a wedding in a tight apartment on a DX sensor like the D7500 is a nightmare scenario if your focal length is too long. I spent years dragging my gear into tiny spaces, and I learned the hard way that reach is your enemy in cramped quarters.
- The 85mm is incredible, but in a bedroom or small living room, you'll be backed into a wall trying to get a head-and-shoulders shot. It just wont work.
- You should seriously look at the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G DX. It is way cheaper than the 1.4G lenses, leaving you cash for maybe a Godox V860III TTL Flash to help with the indoor lighting.
- The 35mm on your crop sensor gives you roughly a 50mm field of view, which is honestly the gold standard for indoor versatility. I remember shooting a reception in a tiny hotel room once with an 85mm and I basically ended up taking photos of people's ears because I couldn't step back any further. Save yourself the headache and go wider. You can always crop in post, but you cant walk through a wall to get the shot. Grab something around 35mm, keep it wide enough to handle the room, and dont sweat the sharpness too much—modern glass is plenty sharp even at f/1.8.
