Absolute BEST PORTRAIT LENSES for Nikon DSLR! Best of the Best! ~Also very expensive

Absolute BEST PORTRAIT LENSES for Nikon DSLR! Best of the Best! ~Also very expensive

[MrK]

Best Portrait Lenses in no particular order
1. 85 mm f1.8g Nikkor
2. 85 mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar - Manual Focus
3. 105 f2 DC Nikkor
4. 135 f2 DC Nikkor
5. 58 f1.4 Voightlander - Manual Focus
6. 300 f2.8 AI-S Nikkor - Manual Focus

[johandenhertog]

You don’t mentioned the Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D. Which is also a beautiful portraits lens and it’s cheap.

[rydaug]

my 180mm 2.8 blew the pants off of my 105 dc in color saturation, contrast and sharpness. The dc did beat the 180mm in bokeh.

[tsdelaney]

I’ve got the 85 1.8 G and the limitation to it is my skill as a photographer. I’ll have to look at the 105DC and the 300 2.8 to see how much better the bokeh is. Thanks, Ken!

[twoblink]

Nikkor 180mm F2.8. The other cream machine. I own: Tamron 45mm F1.8, Nikkor 105mm F2 DC, Nikkor 180mm F2.8. Your conclusion on these three lenses are the same as mine!

[Narsuitus]

For half-length, head & shoulder, and face shots, here are my favorite prime lenses on Nikon F-mount full-frame cameras:
85mm f/1.4 Nikkor (my only auto focus portrait lens)
85mm f/1.8 Nikkor (the second Nikkor lens I purchased)
105mm f/2.8 Nikon macro (my personal favorite portrait lens)
105mm f/2.5 Nikkor (like the lens used by Steve McCurry to shoot famous Afghan Girl photo)
135mm f/2 Nikkor (great for portraits but not sharp enough for landscapes or other distance photography)

[fechetealex]

I really love you man, because you are very straightforward and honest, and I know you have knowledge about the obliques that you present
. Just as in Romania these objectives are not available at the moment

[wsteffen]

Thanks, what I was looking for! I bought a 105mm dc Nikkor and I love it! :)

[Narsuitus]

For half-length, head & shoulder, and face shots, here are my favorite lenses for portrait use on Nikon F-mount APS-C cameras:
55mm Nikon macro for half lengths and couples
100mm f/2.8 Nikon Series E (low-cost portrait lens)
75-150mm f/3.5 Nikon Series E manual focus for head & shoulders, head shots, and tight face (low-cost portrait lens)
80-200mm f/2.8 Nikon auto focus for head & shoulders, head shots, and tight face shots
28 to 200mm Tokina auto focus zoom for full length to tight face shots for use on beaches or situations where changing lenses is not recommended (low-cost portrait lens)

[fineartviewfotografie]

Ken, as a addition to my Voigtlander 58mm for portraits I want to buy another great portrait lens with great micro contrast for black and white. I am really doubting between buying the Zeiss Planar 85/1.4 and the 105mm DC Nikkor.
I have no issues with manual focusing.
What’s the best buy for portraits and artnude photography?

[kappakumplete]

I own the 85 1.8G for portraits on my D7100 but now have great interest in the Voigtlander. Do you think it would be silly to own both? There might be too much overlap between the two so I was thinking about selling the 85 but was curious if you think the Voigtlander is a big enough improvement to be worth the trouble.

[shineymcshine]

I've followed your lens recommendations and it's funny, but the portrait lens I've settled on didn't make any of your previous lists either. That would be the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 AI-s.


I really love the rendering from what i've seen. When comparing it to the f/1.8D, it really stood out to me as a step up. 7 elements, 9-blade diaphragm. Awesome creamy bokeh, and just a tiny step below the Zeiss 85 in colours & depth rendition at about 2/3 to 3/4 of the price. It seems to be a very popular choice among the Japanese sellers online because the prices just do not seem to budge. Been waiting to find a steal.

[us]

l am very happy with my portrait lenses :
- Zeiss 85/1.4
- Voigtlander 58/1.4
- Nikon 105/1.8 ais
- Nikon 135/2 ais
- Nikon 180/2.8 D

[timetradin]

Man the 85mm f1.8G must have gone down in price since when I bought it in Canada it was only 500$ new from Henry's! Great video as always!

[Flabeaches]

I have the 85mm Zeiss which I love but I also like using my Nikon 80-200 f/2.8d ed lens.
Sure the 80-200 is a heavy beast and requires a tripod, but it does a good job and gives you some zoom capability

.

[MsgtMelton]

I am confused. I just watch one of your videos calling Ken Rockwell all kinds of foul names because he liked the Nikkor 135 f2 and you basically said it was crap and said to get a cheap $120 lens instead. In this video you seem to have the same level of love for the Nikkor 135 f2 that Ken Rockwell does. What is going on? Too much coffee?

[rydaug]

I'd like to add the 200mm F2. expensive but best looking portraits I have ever seen.

[ChuckNorris-bfcj]

Hi Ken, what's your opinion on the Samyang 135mm F/2.0 ED UMC lens? 11
elements.... How does it stack up against the legendary Nikon's 135mm
F/2.8 AI-S?

[DSG]

I love the Zeiss 100mm f2 for portraits

[manuelodabashian]

What do you think of the new laowa 105 STF lens?