Which lens is actually the best for portraits on a Nikon? I just got a D3500 and I have no idea where to start honestly, like everything online talks about millimeters and apertures and its all so confusing for me. I really want to take nice photos of my sister at her outdoor wedding in October but right now everything looks kinda flat and boring. Is there a specific one that gives you that really pretty blurry background? I only have about 250 or 300 dollars left in my budget so hopefully there is something cheap that still looks professional... sorry if this is a super basic thing to ask I just dont want to buy the wrong thing and waste my money.
TL;DR: Buy a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. It's a decent, cheap option. I used one for family events; the wider view works better outdoors and leaves room in your budget.
Re: "I highly suggest..."
- Be careful with Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G on DX. I once missed a wedding kiss because:
- 75mm crop was tight
- I shouldve bought used
I highly suggest you check out the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. It fits your budget perfectly, but make sure to:
- Watch your distance since it crop-zooms a bit on the D3500.
Re: "TL;DR: Buy a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR..."
- I actually agree with the 35mm choice for your D3500. Using a 50mm on that sensor makes the field of view super tight, which is a nightmare for group shots or candid moments during a ceremony. The 35mm just gives you way more breathing room when you are moving around. One thing to keep in mind, though: since you are shooting a wedding, make sure you practice focus tracking. The D3500 can be a bit tricky with moving subjects, so just getting familiar with your AF modes before October will make a massive difference in your hit rate regardless of which lens you end up grabbing.
TL;DR: dont rush into buying anything until you check if you have a comfortable strap, because carrying gear for hours is exhausting. Coming back to this, be super careful buying gear online. I once bought a lens that looked clean in the photos, but it arrived with a ton of dust inside the glass. Dealing with the seller was a nightmare and I lost like 50 bucks on shipping alone. Speaking of stress, are you definitely sure the wedding is fully outdoors? If it gets dark, you might run into issues regardless of the glass. Actually, reminds me of my sisters wedding back in 2018. We tried to do photos near this lake and my nephew dropped the lens cap in the mud. We spent forty minutes scrubbing it with a toothbrush before the ceremony started. It was absolute chaos trying to get the grit out of the tiny grooves, and honestly, I never got it perfectly clean again. Sorry kinda went off topic there.
