Prime time
Ready for your close-up?
For most digital photographers, zoom lenses win out for their versatility. But there are times when prime lenses come into their own, especially for portraiture and macro photography. For portraiture on an FX body, an 85mm lens with a fast aperture of f/1.4 or f/1.8 enables a natural shooting distance, a flattering perspective, and the ability to blur the background with a tight depth of field.
Our favourite portrait lens is the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art. On a tighter budget, go for the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8g. For a DX body, the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4g is a good choice. Our top recommendation for a macro lens that’s compatible with DX and FX DSLRS as well as Z-mount mirrorless bodies via an FTZ mount adapter, is the Sigma Macro 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM.