[U/W Photographer]

Which Nikon Zoom lens would you recommend for taking quality portrait shots.
I have a Nikon D300 so its got a 1.5x sensor, I am wanting it to shoot head & shoulder shots to small groups (2-3 people).

[Dave]

17-55mm f/2.8 without a doubt. It was that good I sold my 50mm f/1.8.

Example shots taken with said lens on D200 :-

http://www.pixalo.com/community/phot...lub-17854.html
http://www.pixalo.com/community/phot...lub-23445.html
http://www.pixalo.com/community/phot...ude-25172.html
http://www.pixalo.com/community/phot...hic-21169.html

[U/W Photographer]

Great shots Dave,
Unfortunately that lens is a bit pricey for me (RRP £999.00) come to think of it a lot pricey for me, I was hoping somewhere in the region of about £200-300.
Any other recommendations anyone?

[Dave]

Well the Nikon 18-70mm kit lens was always very impressive & can be had second hand for between £100-£150. I've aslo seen good portrait work with the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8.

Note the Nikon 17-55 s/h is around £500-£600.

[U/W Photographer]

Is there anything in between the two, as I,m not sure on the quality of the kit lens.

[Dave]

Not in the Nikon range to my knowledge. You need around 20mm at wide end for full body shots & then around 50mm or more for head & shoulders. In Canon land you have the great 24-105 F4 L lens, but Nikon do not have an equivalent.

Maybe someone can suggest better with Sigma, Tokina or Tamron.

Re Nikon 18-70 lens it's a cracking piece of glass for the money. I would agree with concerns over 18-55 kit lens though.

If you had the time to change lenses , then for ultimate quality within your budget I would say use your 12-24 at long end for group shots, then a 50mm f/1.8 prime for top half shots & 85mm f/1.8 for tighter crops. You are not going to beat a prime for quality, especially at the prices. Look here for best prices :- - Onestop Digital

Example shot with Canon 50mm f/1.4 at f/1.8, which Nikon should be equivalent to :- Use shallow DOF for Portraits

[VinnyP]

If absolute quality of output is your goal and you want a zoom in your budget then I can recommend the Tamron 17-50 2.8 I had the old model of the Sigma 18-50 but I am sure the new one is also excellent. For me the Tamron just pips it on image quality and it is very close to to the Nikon 17-55. On handling/build quality though the Sigma may edge it and the Nikon is streets ahead.

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by U/W Photographer

Which Nikon Zoom lens would you recommend for taking quality portrait shots.
I have a Nikon D300 so its got a 1.5x sensor, I am wanting it to shoot head & shoulder shots to small groups (2-3 people).

You have two lenses listed in your camera gear that will do the job- the 60 and 105 mm.

[Dutchie]

Originally Posted by Dave

Well the Nikon 18-70mm kit lens was always very impressive & can be had second hand for between £100-£150. I've aslo seen good portrait work with the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8.

Note the Nikon 17-55 s/h is around £500-£600.

Uhmm Onestop-Digital advertising the lens for £790 S**t, that's where that lens is for. Another one on the list.

[U/W Photographer]

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

You have two lenses listed in your camera gear that will do the job- the 60 and 105 mm.

It is mainly for shooting portraits & family shots of my wife & two girls, one of which will not stay still long enough for me to take any decent pictures (she has learning dificulties), every time I move the tripod she wants to be behind the camera having a look at the picture, I thought being able to zoom in & out on them would make life a lot easier.

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by U/W Photographer

It is mainly for shooting portraits & family shots of my wife & two girls, one of which will not stay still long enough for me to take any decent pictures (she has learning dificulties), every time I move the tripod she wants to be behind the camera having a look at the picture, I thought being able to zoom in & out on them would make life a lot easier.

In that situation I'd agree, but thought you meant formal portraits rather than family stuff.

For formal portraits I'd not go under 60mm, and 85mm would probably be better.

[U/W Photographer]

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

In that situation I'd agree, but thought you meant formal portraits rather than family stuff.

For formal portraits I'd not go under 60mm, and 85mm would probably be better.

Some of them would be more formal portraits but mainly of family members, but who knows where it might lead to in a year or few, (I have my own very successful gardening business established in 1987, which started from a hobby).

Do you have any recommendations as to which Nikon zoom lens would do a excellent job, or is there no comparison to the prime lenses.