So I just got this Nikon camera a few months ago, it is the one with the mirror inside, a D5600 I think? I have been trying to take pictures of my kids in the backyard but they just look like normal cell phone photos and I want that blurry background look everyone has. I started looking at lenses and honestly my head is spinning. There are so many numbers. I see people talking about a 50mm lens and then some people say an 85mm is better but then someone else said because my camera is a DX it changes the number? I dont really get that.
My logic was that a bigger number means it zooms more but maybe that is bad for portraits? I have about 350 dollars saved up from my birthday and I really want to get something before my sisters wedding in July so I can take some nice shots of her. I looked at the Nikon 50mm f1.8 because it is cheap but then I saw a Sigma one and a Tamron one and now I am just stuck. Is the Nikon one the best or should I look at the other brands? I am just a total beginner so sorry if this is a really basic question but I really dont want to waste my money on the wrong thing...
I totally get the confusion with those numbers. When I first started, I bought a long lens thinking more zoom meant better blur, but I ended up trapped against a wall trying to fit my kids in the frame. Since you have a D5600, you have to be careful with the crop factor. That 1.5x multiplier means an 85mm lens behaves like a 127mm lens... way too tight for most backyards. I would suggest the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G for your 350 dollar budget. It is usually around 220 dollars. Just make sure you get the AF-S version specifically. If you buy an older AF-D lens, it wont autofocus on your D5600 because your camera body lacks the internal focus motor. Stick with the G series and you will be fine for the wedding. It gives that blurry background without you having to stand a mile away.
