After the 50mm, the 85mm what is the next step for closeup Face Portraits? (Nikon)

Noob · 05-03-2011, 05:22 AM

Okay, I am interested in buying a lens which i can get pretty close with without breaking the bank. 200mm or 300mm lenses are soooo damn expensive. I'd use my 85mm if I could get close enough but I can't. I want to capture the eye, nose mouth area of a person's face for real close beauty shots. Any advice? Thanks.

Oh and I shoot Full Frame by the way.

K-9 · 05-03-2011, 05:48 AM

180mm will get you real close. Nikon makes one (non macro) and Sigma and Tamron make macro versions. The Nikon goes for $900 new, but you can find them used for around $550. The Sigma has recently been discontinued, so you will have to look for it used or new from someone on ebay. The Tamron goes for $689 new with a current $50 rebate.

If you don't mind heavy zooms, you can go for the 80-200mm f2.8 ED lens by Nikon. You can probably find those used for around $550 as well. There were two versions. The first had a single zoom/focus ring, and later versions featured dual focus/zoom ring, which can go for a little more.

Nesster · 05-03-2011, 06:58 AM

You might look at the 90-105mm macros.
The Nikkor 105/2.5 is a fantastic lens, but won't focus close enough (I'm thinking manual focus here, which may be a bad assumption; at any rate the 105 won't suit your close focus need)

Noob · 05-03-2011, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by K-9

180mm will get you real close. Nikon makes one (non macro) and Sigma and Tamron make macro versions. The Nikon goes for $900 new, but you can find them used for around $550. The Sigma has recently been discontinued, so you will have to look for it used or new from someone on ebay. The Tamron goes for $689 new with a current $50 rebate.

If you don't mind heavy zooms, you can go for the 80-200mm f2.8 ED lens by Nikon. You can probably find those used for around $550 as well. There were two versions. The first had a single zoom/focus ring, and later versions featured dual focus/zoom ring, which can go for a little more.

Nice, thanks! How does it compare with the 200mm?

K-9 · 05-03-2011, 06:35 PM

Which one? The Nikon 200mm is still $500-$700 more than any of the lenses I listed, even brand new.

dylansalt · 05-04-2011, 01:56 AM

Like him or hate him, Ken Rockwell has some pretty good reviews on the Nikon lenses - hope over to his site and have a look

jogiba · 05-04-2011, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by Noob

Okay, I am interested in buying a lens which i can get pretty close with without breaking the bank. 200mm or 300mm lenses are soooo damn expensive. I'd use my 85mm if I could get close enough but I can't. I want to capture the eye, nose mouth area of a person's face for real close beauty shots. Any advice? Thanks.

Oh and I shoot Full Frame by the way.

Crop the image. Here is an old shot with my *ist DS2 w/85mm F1.4 @1m cropped:

deadwolfbones · 05-04-2011, 09:52 AM

Dunno what your price range is, but the 105/2 and 135/2 Defocus Control lenses are perfect for this.

K-9 · 05-04-2011, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

Dunno what your price range is, but the 105/2 and 135/2 Defocus Control lenses are perfect for this.

Are you sure the 105mm would be able to get only the eyes or mouth in the photo like OP wants? Maybe the 135mm, but I didn't think the 105 could get in that close.

deadwolfbones · 05-04-2011, 11:58 AM

MFD is 3ft on the 105/2, 4ft on the 135/2.

jogiba · 05-11-2011, 05:23 AM

Any 105mm macro should work also.

Ratmagiclady · 05-16-2011, 11:30 AM

105 would be the next step, maybe try the 100mm Series E. I'll ask my Nikonian friend if he's been using his/what the close focus distance is, if he's got it with him. Got a look you're going for?

Another idea, (a little out of left field) the old Tokina RMC 80-200 F4: I've used that extensively in film and it does pretty pleasing long-portrait shots. Not razor-razor sharp but you tend to not want that for this sort of application anyway.

Noob · 05-18-2011, 03:04 PM

I made a new thread. I changed my mind I need a beauty lens before I get such a lens. :ugh:

05-03-2011, 05:22 AM	#1
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127	After the 50mm, the 85mm what is the next step for closeup Face Portraits? (Nikon) Okay, I am interested in buying a lens which i can get pretty close with without breaking the bank. 200mm or 300mm lenses are soooo damn expensive. I'd use my 85mm if I could get close enough but I can't. I want to capture the eye, nose mouth area of a person's face for real close beauty shots. Any advice? Thanks. Oh and I shoot Full Frame by the way.

05-03-2011, 05:48 AM	#2
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	180mm will get you real close. Nikon makes one (non macro) and Sigma and Tamron make macro versions. The Nikon goes for $900 new, but you can find them used for around $550. The Sigma has recently been discontinued, so you will have to look for it used or new from someone on ebay. The Tamron goes for $689 new with a current $50 rebate. If you don't mind heavy zooms, you can go for the 80-200mm f2.8 ED lens by Nikon. You can probably find those used for around $550 as well. There were two versions. The first had a single zoom/focus ring, and later versions featured dual focus/zoom ring, which can go for a little more. Last edited by K-9; 05-03-2011 at 05:55 AM.

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05-03-2011, 06:58 AM	#3
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	You might look at the 90-105mm macros. The Nikkor 105/2.5 is a fantastic lens, but won't focus close enough (I'm thinking manual focus here, which may be a bad assumption; at any rate the 105 won't suit your close focus need)

05-03-2011, 08:07 AM	#4
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127 Original Poster	Originally posted by K-9 180mm will get you real close. Nikon makes one (non macro) and Sigma and Tamron make macro versions. The Nikon goes for $900 new, but you can find them used for around $550. The Sigma has recently been discontinued, so you will have to look for it used or new from someone on ebay. The Tamron goes for $689 new with a current $50 rebate. If you don't mind heavy zooms, you can go for the 80-200mm f2.8 ED lens by Nikon. You can probably find those used for around $550 as well. There were two versions. The first had a single zoom/focus ring, and later versions featured dual focus/zoom ring, which can go for a little more. Nice, thanks! How does it compare with the 200mm?

05-03-2011, 06:35 PM	#5
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	Which one? The Nikon 200mm is still $500-$700 more than any of the lenses I listed, even brand new.

05-04-2011, 01:56 AM	#6
dylansalt Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Durban, South Africa Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,052	Like him or hate him, Ken Rockwell has some pretty good reviews on the Nikon lenses - hope over to his site and have a look

05-04-2011, 08:57 AM	#7
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Originally posted by Noob Okay, I am interested in buying a lens which i can get pretty close with without breaking the bank. 200mm or 300mm lenses are soooo damn expensive. I'd use my 85mm if I could get close enough but I can't. I want to capture the eye, nose mouth area of a person's face for real close beauty shots. Any advice? Thanks. Oh and I shoot Full Frame by the way. Crop the image. Here is an old shot with my *ist DS2 w/85mm F1.4 @1m cropped:

05-04-2011, 09:52 AM	#8
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451	Dunno what your price range is, but the 105/2 and 135/2 Defocus Control lenses are perfect for this.

05-04-2011, 10:11 AM	#9
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	Originally posted by deadwolfbones Dunno what your price range is, but the 105/2 and 135/2 Defocus Control lenses are perfect for this. Are you sure the 105mm would be able to get only the eyes or mouth in the photo like OP wants? Maybe the 135mm, but I didn't think the 105 could get in that close.

05-04-2011, 11:58 AM	#10
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451	MFD is 3ft on the 105/2, 4ft on the 135/2.

05-11-2011, 05:23 AM	#11
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Any 105mm macro should work also.

05-16-2011, 11:30 AM	#12
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	105 would be the next step, maybe try the 100mm Series E. I'll ask my Nikonian friend if he's been using his/what the close focus distance is, if he's got it with him. Got a look you're going for? Another idea, (a little out of left field) the old Tokina RMC 80-200 F4: I've used that extensively in film and it does pretty pleasing long-portrait shots. Not razor-razor sharp but you tend to not want that for this sort of application anyway.

05-18-2011, 03:04 PM	#13
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127 Original Poster	I made a new thread. I changed my mind I need a beauty lens before I get such a lens. :ugh: