So I have been shooting on my Nikon D750 for a few years now but mostly just landscape stuff and some street photography with a basic zoom. My younger sister is getting married this September at a farm out in Oregon and she asked me to take some formal-ish portraits of the family and her and the groom since they are on a tight budget. I really want to get a nice prime lens for this but I am stuck.
I spent hours reading reviews and everyone says the 85mm f/1.8G is the absolute gold standard for Nikon DSLRs because of the bokeh and the way it compresses everything but then I saw a few videos saying it is way too long if you are working in tighter spaces like a barn or a small reception room. I also looked at the 50mm f/1.4G because it is cheaper and more versatile for general use but people on some forums say it makes people's noses look bigger if you do headshots? I dont know if that is just people being picky or if it is a real issue.
My budget is probably around $550 and I am fine with buying used gear from MPB or KEH but I just cant decide which one will give me those dreamy blurry backgrounds without me having to stand a mile away from the subject. Which one do you guys actually think is better for a wedding setting on an older DSLR?
I spent way too much time worrying about this same thing when I shot my cousins wedding in a tiny, dark cellar a few years back. Honestly... I almost tripped over a chair trying to back up far enough with an 85mm. It was a mess. If you are worried about space but still want that bokeh, you might want to look at some alternatives that give you a bit more breathing room. Some tips from my own mistakes:
- Look for stabilization. Since it is a farm, lighting might get tricky fast as the sun goes down. I would suggest the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD. You can usually find it used for about $480 and that VC is a total lifesaver when your hands get shaky from the stress of the event.
- If the barn is really cramped, consider a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED used for around $300. It is wide enough for family groups without the weird nose distortion you see on wider lenses.
- Be careful with shooting at f/1.4 or f/1.8. Getting both the bride and groom in focus at the same time is way harder than it looks if they are standing at slightly different angles... better to stop down to f/2.8 sometimes.
Ngl, definitely get the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G!
- Internal Focusing motor
- 28-degree angle of view
- Super Integrated Coating Technically, the compression is amazing. Love that crisp resolution!
I've been using the D750 for ages and it's basically the perfect body for this kinda thing. When I did a barn wedding a few years back, I found that having stabilization was a total game changer since I didnt want to lug a tripod around while people were dancing.
- Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD: This lens is a beast. I've been incredibly satisfied with it because the Vibration Compensation (VC) lets you shoot at slower shutter speeds when the barn gets dark. It's sharp as a tack and way more reliable for handheld work than the Nikon G version.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G: If you're worried about space, just get the 1.8 version instead of the 1.4. In my experience, the 1.4 is kinda soft wide open, whereas the 1.8 is punchy and works well for half-body portraits without the weird distortion people talk about. If you can find the Tamron used within your budget, go for it. That extra stabilization makes a huge difference when the sun goes down... you wont regret it.
> people on some forums say it makes people's noses look bigger if you do headshots? I would suggest the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G. Be careful with 50mm focal lengths for tight portraits because perspective distortion is a real optical issue, not just forum talk. On your D750, the 85mm provides superior compression and isolation. You can find used copies for around $315. Make sure to test for back-focusing issues tho, as primes on DSLRs sometimes need AF micro-adjustments.
