> ...excited to finally ditch this heavy lens and get some real bokeh... Saw this today! For that high-res sensor, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is a legendary budget pick. Its sharp and lightweight. But honestly? If you want the ultimate bokeh, snag a used Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Nikon F. Its a heavy beast but the detail is just mind-blowing! Either way, you will love the results.

Late to the party but honestly... dont make the same mistake I did. Unfortunately, I wasted so much time with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G thinking it would be fine. It wasnt. On a high-res sensor like the D850, it just looked muddy and soft wide open. Total letdown for my last portrait gig. If you want sharp results for those Chicago shots, try to find a used Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD. I found one for around 500 bucks and the difference is night and day compared to the cheap stuff. Its got built-in stabilization too. That helps a ton when youre shooting handheld in the city. I also had issues with a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art backfocusing constantly... it drove me crazy until I sold it. Not as good as expected for the price. Go used. Save your cash for the trip. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is also a solid budget pick if you want to stay first-party. Just dont expect much from the older D-series primes. They really cant handle that 45MP sensor.

^ This. Also, those 45 megapixels on the D850 really put glass to the test. If you want something that stays sharp edge-to-edge, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is usually the winner over the native Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G because it handles purple fringing way better, even though it weighs as much as a small brick. The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is the sleeper hit tho because the vibration compensation is a lifesaver when youre shooting at slower shutter speeds. I remember shooting in Chicago a while back... man, the wind was so brutal we had to duck into a random bar just to thaw out. I ended up talking to some guy about the Cubs for three hours instead of actually finishing my set. Pretty sure I spent more on Old Style beer than I made on that gig lol. Good times but definitely pack some hand warmers because the lakefront is no joke in the wind. But yeah, the Sigma Art is basically the king of sharpness for that budget if you find a good used copy.

Look, before you drop almost a thousand bucks on a new piece of glass, you really need to be careful. Portraits in Chicago sound like a big deal and you dont want to end up with something that backfocuses or just feels off on a high-res body. I would suggest you head over to YouTube and search for Nikon D850 prime lens comparisons or shootouts. Honestly, there is a great video that breaks down the sharpest options for high megapixel sensors and it is basically the first result when you look it up. You might want to consider checking Reddit threads for long-term reliability too because people there are brutal about gear flaws. Just make sure to look at real sample files before buying anything... you really dont want to rush this and waste your budget right before a big trip. Better to be safe tho.

Did this last week, worked perfectly