im honestly so done with my kit lens its just blurry and trash for these headshots i gotta do this saturday. my logic was getting a 50mm 1.8 but then i saw the 85mm and now im just stuck and panicking because i only got $300 left. which one is actually gonna save me? help...
Make sure you check if your camera body has an internal focus motor. If it doesnt, stay away from the older D series lenses.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G: fits your budget, but beware of facial distortion on tight crops.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G: better compression, but usually runs over $300. Be careful with the 85mm... you need space to frame headshots.
Just saw this. Unfortunately $300 is a really tight spot for a brand new 85mm and its disappointing how expensive gear has gotten lately. I had issues with the 50mm for tight headshots because it just makes faces look slightly distorted since youre standing way too close. If you want that pro look by Saturday without going broke, you basically have to buy used. Check sites like MPB or KEH right now for faster shipping than eBay.
- A used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G usually sits around $320, might be worth stretching the budget if you can.
- The Yongnuo YN 85mm f/1.8N is within budget but the autofocus is kinda loud and honestly not as reliable as the Nikon glass.
- If you give up on the 85, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G is your only real choice for that price point. Skip the retail stores, theyll just overcharge you for stuff thats not as good as expected anyway. Good luck with the shoot tho.
Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.
This is exactly what I needed to hear. Youre a lifesaver honestly.
Came here to say the same thing lol. Great minds think alike I guess.
Honestly i went through this exact panic once. I bought the longer lens thinking it would look better but i ended up backing into a wall because the room was way too small. It was super awkward.
- make sure you check your shooting space
- be careful with distance
- i would suggest the shorter lens Youll do great tho, that wider aperture is basically a total game changer.
Interested in this too
Honestly i had this exact same issue when i started out and it was such a letdown. I wasted so much money on basic first-party glass thinking it would solve my problems but the results were just boring and kinda flat. Like i remember this one shoot for a friend where the lens just wouldnt lock focus fast enough and i ended up with a bunch of soft shots that were basically useless... super embarrassing. If you only got $300 left id say skip the official brand stuff for now. Just go with a third party option like Tamron. You can usually find their older prime lenses for cheap and they feel way more solid than those plastic kit lenses. I switched to a third party lens years ago and never looked back because the bokeh was actually smooth instead of that jittery mess you get on cheaper glass. Just grab any of their faster primes and youll be fine for your headshots. Just make sure it actually has an internal motor or youll be stuck manual focusing all day which is a total nightmare.
