Ive been shooting with my trusty D750 for years now but my old 50mm f/1.8 took a serious tumble at a wedding last weekend and the autofocus motor is basically dead. Im feeling pretty gutted because I have a handful of senior portrait sessions booked for next month and I need a replacement asap. Im trying to keep this under 300 bucks if possible. I know the 85mm f/1.8G is a classic but maybe there is something else out there that wont break the bank? Is the viltrox or something similar worth looking into or should I just hunt for a used Nikon prime?
Man, that sucks about your 50mm. I feel for you. Honestly though, for senior portraits on a D750, you really need that compression an 85mm gives you. I wouldnt mess around with the third-party stuff if you have clients waiting. Just grab a used copy of the Nikon prime. Youll be way more satisfied with the reliability.
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G If you really want to stay cheap, the 50mm G is super easy to find used for like 150 bucks. But if you can stretch to find a used 85mm G, it just works so much better for portraits. No complaints from me on that lens, it is sharp as a tack. Dont risk a weird autofocus issue with a budget brand when youre getting paid.
To add to the point above: you should honestly look into the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD if you can find one used. It is technically a macro lens, but the rendering for portraits is super smooth and that vibration compensation is a lifesaver when the light starts dropping during a shoot. I have used a bunch of glass over the years and keep coming back to these:
- Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
- The older version is built like a tank and fits your budget, tho its a bit heavy.
- Tokina AT-X 100mm f/2.8 Pro D Macro
- Razor sharp and super affordable if you hunt around, but the AF is kinda noisy. Basically, dont stress the third-party stigma too much. These older lenses are tanks and honestly punch way above their price point compared to the newer stuff. Just make sure the focus motor sounds healthy before you buy it.
Big if true
