The Best Nikon Portrait Lenses in 2023 (Updated)

If you’re into shooting portraits and wondering what the best Nikon portrait lens is, you have found the right page! We’ll compare some of Nikon’s best optics and show you the best Nikon portrait lens for your photography needs.

Our favorite Nikon lens for portraits is the Nikon AF-S FX 85mm f/1.4. It ticks all our boxes and easily creates amazing portraits. The f/1.4 aperture is beautiful, allowing you to really separate your subject from the background with beautiful bokeh.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Nikon Portrait Lens

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm F/1.4G

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm F/1.8G

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR

What is the Best Nikon Portrait Lens?

Before we get into more detail, here is a quick roundup of our favorite Nikon portrait lenses. Read on to find out even more about each lens and why we picked them for portraiture.

Our Top Choice

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm F/1.4G

Beautifully shallow depth of field
Outstanding optical performance
Nano Crystal coat reduces ghost and flare
SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for quiet and accurate autofocus

Best For Beginners

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm F/1.8G

Great everyday lens
Extremely lightweight for its size
Best portrait lens for price

Best For Photojournalism

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR

Amazing vibration reduction
Manual focus priority setting
Lightweight for its size

Best Zoom Lens

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR II

A selection of buttons on the lens for ease
Fast autofocus motor
Great vibration reduction

Best For Bokeh

Nikon AF DC-NIKKOR 135mm F/2D

Defocus image control
Large maximum aperture
Beautiful Bokeh

Best Nikon Lens for Portraits

1. Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.4
Focal Range	Focal Range 85 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Special Features	Special Features Nikon's Nano Crystal coating
Top Selling Points	Top Selling Points Amazing clarity in an ideal focal length for portraits
Best For	Best For Photographers looking for shallow depth of field

The Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G is the best Nikon lens for portraits for many reasons. For one, it’s the ideal focal length. It allows you to take tight shots of the face without visible distortion. It also allows you to be far enough from your subject and still achieve intimate results.

The 85mm bokeh qualities are what makes it a favorite among portrait photographers. It creates sharp photos even when shooting at its maximum aperture of f/1.4. As a result, it creates a creamy background blur that makes the subject pop.

Another benefit of using the 85mm is the fact that it’s not a big lens. That means it’s easy to transport and it doesn’t weigh you down when you’re shooting all day. It’s no wonder it’s the go-to lens of many wedding and event photographers. And for the price, it’s not a bad investment at all.

2. Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.8
Focal Range	Focal Range 50 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Special Features	Special Features Redesigned for size with aspherical lens
Top Selling Points	Top Selling Points Great value for money, perfect for a lightweight set up
Best For	Best For Beginners and photographers on a budget

Want to get serious about portraiture but don’t have enough money to buy a professional portrait lens? Well, you can always start with the 50mm f/1.8. What makes this a fantastic option is that it’s cheap. You can get one for about $200 brand new, and less than $100 for a used lens.

Another advantage of the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G is that it’s an all-around lens. You can use it for anything from street photography to portraiture. Its focal length is short enough to get you really close to your subject. But it’s also long enough that it doesn’t have the distortion shorter lenses such as the 35mm or 24mm have.

The downside is that it’s plasticky and not weather sealed. So you’ll have to keep it safe from the elements to use it for a long time. And although it doesn’t have the amount of distortion of other lenses, it can still cause some minimal warping.

3. Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4G ED VR

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 3.5-4.5
Focal Range	Focal Range 24-85 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Special Features	Special Features Vibration Reduction II system
Top Selling Points	Top Selling Points All-round lens that covers crucial focal points
Best For	Best For Photojournalists

Not used to prime lenses or crave the convenience of a zoom lens? Then the Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4G ED VR is for you. It’s not a kit lens per se—it produces better-quality photos. But at the same time, it feels familiar to most beginners because it’s so easy to use.

From another point of view, the 24-85mm is not the best lens for portraits. It has a maximum aperture of f/3.5, which makes it terrible for low-light situations. And it starts at 24mm, which distorts people’s faces.

So why is it on our list then? Because it’s affordable at less than $500 brand new and as low as $150 used. It’s also a quality portrait lens if you only shoot between 50 and 85mm.

If you don’t have enough money to buy expensive optics, you’ll realize the Nikon 24-85mm is a great choice.

4. Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm F/2.8E FL ED VR

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Range	Focal Range 70-200 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Special Features	Special Features Superior AF tracking and exposure control
Top Selling Points	Top Selling Points Portraits from a distance, telephoto all-rounder
Best For	Best For Photographers who want zoom options

Don’t like the fact that you can’t go any lower than 50mm when using the 24-85mm? If you want more flexibility with your portraits, then take a look at the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E lens.

The 70-200mm is more expensive than the 50mm or the 24-85mm. But the price is justified because this is one of the best zoom lenses available on the market today. And if it’s way beyond your price range new, you can buy a used one for much less.

The 70-200mm is a workhorse. Its zoom function lets you get close to your subject without much distortion. And because it can get up to 200mm, it’s capable of creating creamy bokeh for your portraits.

5. Nikon AF DC 135mm f/2D

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2
Focal Range	Focal Range 135 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Special Features	Special Features Telephoto lens with Defocus-image control
Top Selling Points	Top Selling Points Beautiful bokeh backgrounds
Best For	Best For Specialist photographers

The DC on this Nikon AF DC 135mm f/2D lens stands for Defocus Control, which is a fancy way of saying that it allows you to manipulate bokeh. So if you love background blur, this should be a part of your collection. It’s a one-of-a-kind lens, so it’s mind-boggling that it isn’t more expensive.

The Nikon 135 DC has a unique ring that can control the bokeh of either your background or foreground. And you can even manipulate it to soften your main subject if you wish.

If you don’t want to use Defocus Control, you can always set it to zero and keep it locked. Once you disable this feature, it becomes an ordinary lens that creates sharp results.

People tend to misuse DC a lot because they think it is only for soft-focus images. What they don’t realize is that it’s one of the best Nikon portrait lenses they could ever own.

What to Look for When Choosing a Nikon lens

There are a few crucial elements that you need to consider when you’re looking for the best Nikon portrait lens. Let’s go through each of them to help you decide which option to buy.

Distortion

Most lenses suffer from one type of distortion or another. Even some of the most expensive lenses have it.

Ideally, you need to find the best optics with minimal warping. After all, you wouldn’t want your subject’s face to end up looking disfigured.

Sharpness

Every photographer wants their lens to be as sharp as possible. But the reality is that the quality of the optics varies a lot, even if it comes from the same manufacturer. The best way to figure this out is to replace the lenses you’re into, and find out if they’re prone to soft focus.

Bokeh

When shooting portraits, it’s essential to separate your subject from the background. And the best way to do that is to blur whatever is behind them. Each lens produces a distinct background blur (a.k.a. bokeh).

In most cases, the fuzzier the background looks, the better the photos it creates. Always look for options that can create that specific effect.

Size/Weight

The size and weight of your portrait lens can affect the way you work. You don’t want it to be too heavy because it can get tiring lugging it around all day.

But you also don’t want it too light because it could easily break while you’re working.

Price

In general, portrait lenses are expensive. Most of them cost between a few hundred to several thousand dollars. If you are planning to do professional work, invest in a high-end lens. But it’s okay to buy an affordable lens if you’re starting out and want to dabble in portraiture.

We’ll show you different options to help you decide which one you want no matter your budget.

Conclusion

The best portrait lens for Nikon depends on the type of photography you do. If you’re a hobbyist eager to take photos of people, you can start with either the 50mm or the 24-85mm. Once you’re ready to step up your game, you can invest in the 85mm, 70-200mm, or the Nikon 135mm.

I would say that the Nikon AF-S FX 85mm f/1.4 is particularly well suited for portraiture. So, if you can’t make up your mind, that’s the lens for you!

Before you shell out some money, weigh the pros and cons of each option. That way, you get the most out of whichever best Nikon lens you choose.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Nikon Portrait Lens

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm F/1.4G

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm F/1.8G

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR

What is the Best Nikon Portrait Lens?