Is the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G really that much better than the 50mm f/1.8G for taking portraits, or am I just buying into the hype? I finally saved up enough to upgrade my kit lens because I am honestly tired of my shots looking so flat and boring. Im shooting with a D7500 which is a crop sensor so I know that changes the effective focal length a bit but Im just so excited to finally get that creamy background blur that everyone talks about.
Im torn between three options right now: the classic 50mm f/1.8G, the 85mm f/1.8G, and maybe even the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art if I can find a deal on a used one somewhere locally. My budget is around 400 bucks total. I need to make a decision by next weekend because my sister is getting engaged and she basically volunteered me to take the photos. I really dont want to mess this up and I feel like the kit lens just isnt gonna cut it for the close-up shots she wants.
I guess my main concern with the 85mm is that I dont have a ton of room to work with since most of the photos will be taken in her living room, which is kinda cramped. Will I be backing into a wall the whole time if I go with the 85mm? On the other hand, Im worried the 50mm wont be flattering enough for faces. I feel like Ive watched every single youtube video on this but Im still so indecisive. Does anyone have experience with these on a DX body? Should I just stop overthinking it and grab the 50mm or is the extra cash for the 85mm worth the headache of having less space?
Look, shooting portraits on a crop sensor like your D7500 changes the game entirely. If you are stuck in a cramped living room, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is gonna be a nightmare. On DX, that focal length acts like a 127mm lens. You will literally be pressed against the back wall to get a decent frame, and honestly, that just isnt fun. I have used the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G for years on DX bodies. It behaves like a 75mm, which is the sweet spot for portraits. It is sharp, lightweight, and dirt cheap. The bokeh is plenty creamy for what you need for an engagement shoot. If you are worried about it not being flattering, dont be. The compression is way better than your kit lens. Now, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is a different beast entirely. It is significantly sharper wide open than the Nikon, but it is heavy and the autofocus can sometimes be finicky on older Nikon bodies. Given your budget and the deadline, skip the stress. Save your cash and grab the Nikon 50mm. Use the extra money for a decent reflector or a speedlight if you dont have one, because light matters way more than the tiny difference in optical perfection between these lenses. Just get the 50mm and practice your composition before next weekend. You'll be fine.
Building on the earlier suggestion, I totally hear you on the tight space struggle! I spent years shooting events in cramped apartments with a DX body, and back in the day, I relied on the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G for everything. It is honestly a legend for a reason! It feels like a 75mm equivalent on your D7500, which is just about perfect for portraits without needing to stand in the hallway to get a shot of someone's face. The 85mm is incredible, but honestly, in a small living room, you are going to feel like you are wrestling with the lens rather than capturing the moment. My best photos back then were always with a wider aperture, so if you can snag a used Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for a good price, the extra stops of light are gonna be a total game-changer for those indoor shots where lighting is usually rough. Two quick tips for the engagement shoot: First, focus on the eyes, always! If the eyes are razor sharp, the rest of the shot is forgiven. Second, move your subjects away from the walls. If they are right against the wall, that bokeh you are craving is going to disappear. Pull them into the center of the room and let the background fall away into that creamy blur. You are gonna do great, so dont psych yourself out. Just have fun with it!
Just catching up on this thread! Honestly, if you are doing engagement photos in a living room on a D7500, skip the 85mm. It is way too tight for DX indoor shots. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G is a fantastic value and gives you that perfect "normal" field of view on your sensor. It is razor sharp and light as a feather! If you can find a used Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art in your budget, definitely grab it. The optical performance is insane and that f/1.4 aperture creates such a dreamy, buttery blur compared to the f/1.8 versions. Just keep these things in mind:
- The Sigma is quite heavy, so keep a steady hand.
- The 50mm focal length on a DX sensor is roughly 75mm equivalent, which is perfect for flattering portraits without major distortion.
- Shoot at f/2.0 or f/2.2 if you want the best sharpness while keeping that lovely background separation. You are going to do amazing!
