So I finally decided to stop being cheap and actually get a dedicated portrait lens for my D7500 because my sister's wedding is happening next month in San Diego and she actually asked ME to take some of the official-ish portraits lol. I'm super excited but also lowkey freaking out because I've only ever used the 18-55mm kit lens that came with the camera.
I did a ton of digging online and people keep fighting over the 35mm f/1.8G versus the 50mm f/1.8G. I read that the 35mm is the standard for DX but then a bunch of YouTubers are saying the 50mm is better for headshots because of the compression or whatever. But then there's the 85mm f/1.8 too which looks amazing in sample photos but I'm worried it'll be way too long since I'm on a crop sensor and I might have to stand a mile away just to get her in the frame.
My budget is pretty firm at $400 max since I also need to buy extra batteries and a faster SD card for the big day. If I'm mostly doing half-body and headshots outdoors at a park, which one is actually considered the top-rated choice for a DX body? Like is the 50mm gonna be too tight or is the 35mm just too wide for flattering faces...
Like someone mentioned, the 50mm is a safe bet, but i actually prefer going longer for that real professional look. I remember shooting my cousins engagement photos at a park with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G on my D7200. I was worried about the space too, but that 127mm equivalent reach is what gives you those buttery backgrounds you see in magazines. Technically, the compression on an 85mm makes features look way more flattering compared to the 35mm. Youll be standing maybe 10-15 feet away for a half-body shot, which isnt a mile away at all. It gives the bride some breathing room so you arent right in her face during the big day. TL;DR: Hunt for a used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G. It is the gold standard for headshots even on DX. Use the leftover cash for an extra Nikon EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery.
the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G is unfortunately not as good as expected for portraits... i had issues with faces looking weirdly wide. honestly, just stick with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. it's the safest budget pick for a D7500 and leaves you enough money for a SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC card. 85mm is too tight for a first timer anyway.
