DX options

Something a little shorter is more ideal

Fast prime lenses with a focal length of around 85mm to 105mm are perfect for portraiture with full-frame bodies, but are a little on the long side for DX format cameras. Taking the 1.5x crop factor into account, a 50mm lens is generally a better fit, with its ‘effective’ focal length of 75mm. You’re best off buying an FX format standard prime. For DSLRS, one of our favourites is the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, but it’s big and weighty, as well as being rather pricey at £599/$799. We’d go for the relatively lightweight and affordable Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4g at £389/$447 or, on a tighter budget, the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8g at £199/$217. For the mirrorless Z 50, both of these lenses work well via an FTZ mount adapter but, ideally, go for the excellent Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S.