Just got a Nikon D850 from my uncle to take photos of my kids graduation next month, but I have no idea where to start with lenses. My budget is around $500.
Sorry if this is a dumb question but what portrait lens should I actually get for this camera?
Honestly, you should just grab the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G. I have been using it on my own D850 for years now and I'm super happy with it. The background blur is lovely and it just works well without any fuss. You can easily find one brand new for under 500 bucks. Zero complaints here, it is a stellar portrait lens.
Re: "Just wanted to chime in quickly. Be careful..."
- Totally agree, the VC on the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD works incredibly well. Just be sure to test autofocus calibration beforehand so your graduation shots are actually sharp.
Just wanted to chime in quickly. Be careful with camera shake on the D850 because that 45MP sensor is brutal. I learned that the hard way. I ended up getting the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD used for around $450. The built-in stabilization saved so many of my shots from being blurry, especially indoors. You might want to consider that instead of the Nikon if your hands arent super steady.
Honestly, the D850 is a beast but I had issues with getting consistent focus when I first picked it up. Honestly, dont overthink the specs too much right now, just figure out what focal length you prefer for portraits.
- Check out some YouTube lens comparison reviews for the D850
- Search the Nikon forums or Reddit threads for portrait lens samples
- Look at the official Nikon site to see what they list under their portrait category There was this one video I saw ages ago that broke it all down, just search for best portrait prime for d850 on google and you will find it immediately. Its honestly way faster than waiting for replies here, plus you can see the actual image quality for yourself.
