10 Best Portrait Lens For Nikon

Are you looking for the best portrait lens for Nikon? Portrait photography offers a unique opportunity to capture people in their true essence, allowing the photographer to emphasize beauty and convey emotion. To capture the most exquisite portraits, a good camera body and quality lens are essential components. Nikon is one of the most renowned and widely used camera brands in the world, offering an array of lenses that can be used for portrait photography.

In this article, we will present you with the ten best portrait lens options for Nikon cameras. We will discuss the pros and cons of each type of lens, so that you can make an informed choice and take the best shots possible with your Nikon.

1. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G is a wide-angle lens that is ideal for portrait photography. Thanks to its f/1.8 maximum aperture, it can capture stunning portrait shots with a nice bokeh effect. Furthermore, the lens features nine rounded diaphragm blades, allowing you to create beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds. Its lightweight and compact design make it portable and convenient for users.

Pros:

– Capture stunning portrait shots with a nice bokeh effect
– Nine rounded diaphragm blades for excellent background blur
– Light and compact design

Cons:

– Expensive
– Not suitable for full-frame cameras

2. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G lens is perfect for those who want a fast and versatile prime lens. It has an impressive maximum aperture of f/1.4, allowing you to capture sharply focused foregrounds and beautifully blurred backgrounds. This lens also has Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology, which ensures quiet and fast autofocus.

Pros:

– Fast and versatile prime lens
– Maximum aperture of f/1.4
– Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology for quiet and fast autofocus

Cons:

– Relatively expensive
– Not suitable for full-frame cameras

3. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G is a favorite among portrait photographers. This lens has a very fast maximum aperture of f/1.4, allowing you to capture beautifully blurred backgrounds with sharp foregrounds. The lens also features Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology for quiet and quick autofocus. Furthermore, the lens is incredibly sharp, producing crisp and detailed images.

Pros:

– Very fast maximum aperture of f/1.4
– Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology for quiet and quick autofocus
– Extremely sharp and produces crisp and detailed images

Cons:

– Expensive
– Not suitable for full-frame cameras

4. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED is a great option for those who are new to photography. This zoom lens has a wide angle of view, enabling you to capture a range of different compositions. It also has excellent sharpness and contrast, allowing you to take photos with great color and considerable detail. Furthermore, the lens has seven diaphragm blades that help to create beautiful bokeh effects.

Pros:

– Wide angle of view
– Excellent sharpness and contrast
– Seven diaphragm blades for beautiful bokeh effects

Cons:

– Not suitable for full-frame cameras
– Maximum aperture is not very fast

5. Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED

The Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED is a powerful lens that is perfect for portrait photography. As its name suggests, it has a maximum focal length of 200mm, allowing you to capture portraits with a telephoto reach. Moreover, the lens has a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8, enabling you to capture stunning shots with excellent background blur. Furthermore, the lens features Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) and Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which ensure quiet and reliable autofocus and image stabilization, respectively.

Pros:

– Maximum focal length of 200mm
– Fast maximum aperture of f/2.8
– Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) and Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) technologies

Cons:

– Heavy and bulky
– Expensive

6. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED is a great lens for serious photographers. This fast-aperture lens has excellent sharpness and contrast, allowing you to take sharp and detailed shots, even in low light conditions. Furthermore, the lens features Nikon’s ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass, which helps to minimize chromatic aberration.

Pros:

– Fast-aperture lens
– Excellent sharpness and contrast
– Nikon’s ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass for impressive color and detail

Cons:

– Expensive
– Heavy and bulky

7. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G is a great option if you are looking for a wide-angle lens for portrait photography. This lens has a wide field of view and a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, allowing you to capture stunning shots with beautiful background blur. Furthermore, the lens is designed to reduce flare and ghosting, ensuring crisp and clear images.

Pros:

– Wide field of view
– Fast maximum aperture of f/1.8
– Designed to reduce flare and ghosting

Cons:

– Expensive
– Not suitable for full-frame cameras

8. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II is a great all-in-one lens that is perfect for those who want to take a variety of photographs in different scenarios. Despite its range, the lens offers excellent sharpness and contrast. Moreover, the lens features Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) technology for image stabilization.

Pros:

– All-in-one lens
– Excellent sharpness and contrast
– Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) technology for image stabilization

Cons:

– Not suitable for full-frame cameras
– Maximum aperture is relatively slow

9. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR is another great option for those who are on a budget. This lens has a maximum focal length of 200mm, allowing you to take telephoto shots with beautiful bokeh effects. Moreover, the lens has Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) technology for image stabilization.

Pros:

– Maximum focal length of 200mm
– Good budget option
– Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) technology for image stabilization

Cons:

– Maximum aperture is relatively slow
– Not suitable for full-frame cameras

10. Nikon PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED

The Nikon PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED is a great choice for those who want to take more creative portraits. This lens has a tilt-shift feature, allowing you to adjust the angle of view. Furthermore, the lens has Nikon’s ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass, ensuring impressive color and sharpness.

Pros:

– Tilting feature for more creative portraits
– Nikon’s ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass for impressive color and detail
– Fast maximum aperture of f/2.8

Cons:

– Expensive
– Heavy and bulky

Final Thoughts Best Portrait Lens For Nikon

The lenses presented in this article are the best portrait lens options for Nikon cameras. Each lens has its own pros and cons that you should consider when choosing the right lens for your needs. The lenses range from wide-angle to telephoto and from affordable to expensive, so you should make sure to pick the lens that best suits your budget and needs. Whatever lens you choose, we are sure it will help you take stunning portrait shots and bring out the beauty of your subjects.