Im looking to upgrade my portrait game on my Nikon D750 but honestly the research is just frying my brain right now. I keep seeing people swear by the 85mm f/1.8G because its sharp and affordable, but then I read a few threads saying the 105mm macro is actually better for bokeh and tighter headshots... its super confusing because I dont know if the extra focal length is gonna be a pain in smaller rooms. Im based in Chicago and need something before a shoot in October.
- Budget: around 450 bucks max
- Use case: outdoor portraits and maybe some indoor family shots
- Preference: sharp eyes are a must
Is that 85mm actually the sweet spot or should I just save up for the 105mm instead?
Honestly, grab the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G immediately! It is the absolute king of portrait value. For your D750, that focal length is just perfect for compression without needing a massive studio space.
- Sharpness is insane wide-open
- Super light for long shoots
- Save that extra cash for some nice lighting gear The 105mm is amazing but honestly overkill if you are working in tighter Chicago apartments. You will love the 85mm!
I totally get why you are stressed about this, picking glass for a D750 is a big move. Before you pull the trigger, just be careful about the focal length if you are doing much indoor work. Using a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED in a smaller Chicago apartment might actually make you feel a bit trapped. It is a stunning lens, but you really need some room to back up if you want a full frame shot of a family group. If you go with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G, you have to be super careful with your focus points. At f/1.8, the depth of field is paper thin, so if your subject moves even an inch, you might miss the eyes entirely. I would suggest practicing with your current zoom set to 85mm for a full afternoon before buying anything. Make sure your shutter speed is high enough to avoid camera shake, too. Honestly, if you are doing mostly headshots, that 105mm is legendary, but for general family stuff, the 85mm is just a safer bet for beginners. Just dont rush it, spend that extra cash on a decent SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SDXC UHS-I Card so you dont lose your shots in October.
Saw this earlier but just now getting to my laptop to type this out. Honestly, stick with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Prime Lens for your D750. I used that exact combo for a wedding last year and the results were super crisp. The 85mm gives you that perfect working distance where you arent in the subjects face, but you also dont have to yell across the room.
- Low light performance: That 1.8 aperture is a lifesaver when you cant bring extra flash gear.
- Weight: You can carry that lens all day in Chicago without your wrist dying.
- Cost: Staying under your 450 limit leaves room for a decent filter or an extra battery. I was actually shooting in a cramped apartment the other day and the 85mm was pushing it for group shots, but for portraits, it hits that sweet spot perfectly. Speaking of small rooms, I also started getting into building my own furniture recently because buying a decent bookshelf is surprisingly expensive these days, and finding decent wood in the city is a whole other headache. But yeah, keep it simple with the 85, you wont be disappointed.
Exactly what I was thinking