Best lens for newborn photography on a Nikon D7200 (APS-C)?
Asked 1/19/2020
7 views
2 answers
0
I want to start photographing newborns with my Nikon D7200 and I’m unsure which lens would be a good choice on a crop-sensor camera. A lot of recommendations I find are for full-frame bodies. I first considered a 24-70mm zoom, but now I’m not sure. I’d like a lens that gives sharp images and pleasing background blur for newborn and baby portraits. What focal lengths or lenses make the most sense on APS-C?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
2
I have D7200, I am shooting with Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art. The pictures which are coming from this lens are superb. Super sharp even wide open, it really took me by surprise how good it is. At 35mm you have equivalent of 50mm FF. It is a bit heavy lens, around 810 g. A bit more expensive, but the build/image quality is totaly worth it.
Another one would be Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2,8 XR Di II VC. It is much cheaper, build quality is a bit less. Not as sharp wide open, but you have more range. At f8 it is as sharp as the Sigma.
I am sure if you look these up, you will find a lot of sample pictures and reviews.
If you need more range. Than the Sigma 50-100mm f/1,8 Art is super sharp. Same series as 18-35, a bit more expensive and the range is not the biggest. But for portraits it is all you need.
It mainly depens on you budget, but I have to say, Sigma 18-35 is just perfect for me. Bokeh would be better on some primes of APS-C 50mm+. But even the sigma at 35mm can do some nice bokeh shots, I am sure you can find some on flick Sigma 18-35 group.
Here is a shot (nothing great, just some plant shot at f1.8. iso 280), as you can see it is sharp wide open and even some small bokeh.
Originally by user88983. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user88983
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For newborn photography on a D7200, a fast standard zoom or portrait lens can work well, but don’t expect strong bokeh in every setup. Newborns are often lying close to the background, so blur is limited regardless of lens choice.
Based on the suggestions here, good APS-C options are:
- Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art: very sharp even wide open, excellent image quality, and 35mm gives a roughly 50mm full-frame equivalent look.
- Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8: more affordable, useful zoom range, though not as sharp wide open as the Sigma.
- Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 Art: a strong portrait option if you want more reach and shallow depth of field.
A 24-70mm f/2.8 can also work on crop, but on APS-C it starts less wide than typical kit zooms, which may matter in tight indoor spaces.
If your main goal is sharpness and a soft background, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is the standout recommendation here for the D7200.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI6y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Best first lens for portraits and shallow depth of field on a Canon Rebel T6
Why are both 10-22mm and 24-70mm called wide-angle lenses on a Canon T2i?
Which walkaround travel zooms make sense for a Canon 5D Mark III?
Best first lens upgrade for a Canon 250D from the 18-55mm kit lens?
Which lens and settings are best for photographing a 3-week-old baby with a Nikon D40?