What prime lens should I buy for my Nikon D850 for a portrait gig I have coming up in literally four days? I'm kind of panicking because my zoom lens just bit the dust and I need something sharp for a professional headshot session. I did some digging and everyone keeps pointing toward the 85mm f/1.8G saying the bokeh is incredible but then I read a bunch of reviews saying the 105mm macro is actually better for skin tones and now I'm just lost. I'm worried the 105 is gonna be way too long since I'm working in a pretty small living room setup in Seattle and I won't have room to back up enough to get the shots I need.
My budget is strictly under 500 dollars because I'm just starting out and honestly the 85mm fits that but the 50mm f/1.4 is also right there and people say it's more versatile for indoor stuff. I'm doing mostly half-body and tight headshots so I need something that wont distort the face too much but still gives me that blurry background everyone wants. Should I just stick with the 85mm and hope the room is big enough or is the 50mm a safer bet for a cramped space? I need to order this tonight to get it here in time...
Honestly, i have been shooting with the D850 for years and i am always so satisfied with the results when i pair it with the right prime. You are right to be worried about space in a small Seattle apartment, but for professional headshots, you really want that 85mm compression to make the facial features look flattering. The 50mm is okay for half-body stuff, but it can make noses look a bit larger than they are when you are shooting tight headshots... definitely not ideal for a paying gig. I would definitely go with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G. It is basically the gold standard for budget-friendly portrait glass on an F-mount system right now. Here is why i think it works well for your situation:
- Sharpness: This thing is crazy sharp even at f/1.8, which you absolutely need for that high-res sensor.
- Working distance: In a living room, you will probably have to stand against the far wall, but the compression is worth the squeeze.
- Bokeh quality: The fall-off is super smooth and i have no complaints about the background blur. Tbh, just move a couch out of the way and use the 85mm. You'll be happy you did when you see how the skin tones come out compared to the 50mm. It is easily the best bang for your buck under 500 bucks and it should arrive just in time for your shoot.
