I've been shooting with my D750 for a couple years now but I really need to step up my portrait game before my sisters wedding in June. Right now I'm just using the 24-120mm kit lens and while it's okay, the bokeh just isnt doing it for me especially when I'm trying to blur out those messy backyard backgrounds.
Im really torn between three specific lenses that seem to fit my budget which is around $500 max.
- Nikon 85mm f/1.8G: Everyone says this is the gold standard for value and weight.
- Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art: I found a used copy near me, but I wonder if that extra weight is worth the better glass?
- Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Micro: A guy local to me in Chicago is selling one and he swears it's the sharpest thing he owns even for faces.
I'm a bit worried the 105mm might be too long though because I often work in a pretty small living room setup when I do indoor headshots. The Sigma looks amazing but its a literal brick and I dont know if my wrists can handle that for a 4 hour event. If you had to pick one for a mix of outdoor shots and tight indoor spaces which one would you go for?
Yeah honestly I gotta agree with the others here. Ive been super satisfied with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G for ages and it really is the king of value. Its so light you barely feel it on the D750, which is a life saver for long days like a wedding. Ngl the bokeh is plenty creamy for those backyard shots you mentioned. I actually tried using the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED for a bit but it almost felt too sharp? Like, it picks up every single tiny skin blemish which isnt always what people want for flattering bridal shots lol. Plus if youre in a small living room, that extra 20mm is gonna have you backing into walls. For under $500, that 85mm is basically a no-brainer. Its worked so well for me that I havent even thought about upgrading to the Sigma.
> The Sigma looks amazing but its a literal brick Quick question, are you shooting handheld most of the wedding? If you go for that Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, be careful because it often needs a calibration dock to get the focus right. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is usually more consistent out of the box. Also, the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED is almost too sharp for skin... youll spend way more time retouching blemishes.
Like someone mentioned, the 85mm focal length is usually the sweet spot, but I have a slightly different take on what makes a lens reliable for a big event. In my experience, shooting weddings is mostly about managing fatigue while making sure you dont get blurry shots when the light gets low.
- Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD for Nikon F: This is often overlooked but the built-in stabilization is a total game changer for the price point. It is usually around $400 used and the build feels more professional than the Nikon 1.8G.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G: Since you mentioned small living rooms, 85mm might honestly be too long sometimes. This lens is so cheap used that you could basically buy both this and the Tamron and stay right around your $500 budget. I've tried many different primes over the years and while that 105mm is sharp, it is just not practical for tight indoor spaces. Having two lenses gives you way more flexibility than carrying one heavy brick like the Sigma Art.
@Reply #1 - good point! Everyone loves the 85mm and for good reason, but I am gonna go against the grain here. Over the years I have shot dozens of weddings and the one thing I value above all else is reliability and safety. If you are in a tight living room or a chaotic backyard, being stuck at 85mm can actually be a bit of a nightmare if things move fast. I once spent a whole reception swapping between a 50 and an 85, and I honestly missed the best candids because I was fumbling with lens caps. For $500 used, you can usually find a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR. I know f/4 sounds slow compared to the others, but the VR on this thing is rock solid and at the long end (200mm), the bokeh is creamy enough to make any messy background disappear. Its a much safer bet for a wedding because you get the flexibility of a zoom without the back-breaking weight of the f/2.8 version. Plus, the autofocus is snappy and doesnt hunt like some of the older primes do. Ngl, its basically my insurance policy lens when I dont know exactly what the venue layout is gonna look like... better to have the shot at f/4 than a blurry mess at f/1.8 because the AF missed or you couldnt back up far enough.
Id suggest the 85mm 1.8 lens.
- 105mm is too tight indoors
- Heavy glass causes wrist fatigue Its easily the most balanced choice for a wedding...
Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷
