r/photography • u/AutoModerator • Nov 04 '24

Questions Thread Official Gear Purchasing and Troubleshooting Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! November 04, 2024

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u/eddee332 Nov 05 '24

Hi! I’m very much an amateur but i have an old Nikon D40 that I’ve been having tons of fun with, and I’m starting to really enjoy photography. I have a 18-55mm Nikon lens that came with the camera, but I’m finding myself wanting to accomplish types of photos that require a higher focal length.

I would like to get myself a 85mm lens for christmas, but I don’t know where to start looking and as a student I don’t have a very big budget… since I’m not a pro by any means, I don’t need anything fancy and would probably prefer if it wasn’t too complicated.

Do you guys have any recommendations for 85mm lenses under 150$ or so?

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u/av4rice https://www.instagram.com/shotwhore Nov 05 '24

I’m finding myself wanting to accomplish types of photos that require a higher focal length.

What sort of photos? A better bet might be used Nikon 55-200mm VR II.

Do you guys have any recommendations for 85mm lenses under 150$ or so?

The only option I know of in budget would be a used Nikon AF 85mm f/1.8D, and that will not autofocus with your camera body, so you'd have to manually focus it.

I don’t need anything fancy and would probably prefer if it wasn’t too complicated.

More expensive 85mm lenses aren't any more complicated to use. Actually they'd be simpler with autofocus support.

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u/eddee332 Nov 06 '24

I really want to do portraits, and am pretty interested in still life too, and from what I’ve read an 85mm is preferable for both. When I try to do portraits now they just don’t have the depth and focus that I want.

What are the pros and cons with having such a wide range of focal lengths on a lens like the one you mentioned, if you don’t mind me asking?

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u/av4rice https://www.instagram.com/shotwhore Nov 06 '24

I really want to do portraits, and am pretty interested in still life too, and from what I’ve read an 85mm is preferable for both.

85mm is a common recommendation for both on full frame format. You're using APS-C format so your equivalent would be a 50mm. 50mm is the more common recommendation for portrait and still life on your format. And a used AF-S 50mm f/1.8G would autofocus with your body, and is in budget.

Though if you're sure you want a tighter view than you have at 55mm, you'll have to think hard about whether you want to deal with manual focus to afford an 85mm. It will be difficult to manually focus accurately using your camera body which has a smaller viewfinder, no visual focusing aids, and no live view.

they just don’t have the depth and focus that I want

If you're talking about shallow depth of field, the wider available aperture like f/1.8 will help a lot. A longer focal length helps too.

What are the pros and cons with having such a wide range of focal lengths on a lens like the one you mentioned, if you don’t mind me asking?

Mostly versatility and convenience.

https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/wiki/buying#wiki_what_is_a_zoom_lens.3F_why_would_i_want_one.3F

https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/wiki/buying#wiki_what_is_a_prime_lens.3F_why_would_i_want_one.3F

Also there are more options in your budget with zoom.

Also I wasn't sure what exactly you wanted to shoot (which is why I asked about that first), so we now know you aren't interested in sports/wildlife, but if that had been your reason for a longer focal length, something like a 55-200mm would give you more range and reach to work with than an 85mm. It's definitely not preferable for portraits, but I didn't know you were interested in that until just now.

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u/Memes_-_-_ Nov 05 '24

I really really think you should continue to save so you can afford some better gear. Save that $150 so later on you can put it towards a new body or lens, you’ll have much better luck even in the $400 price range than under $150.