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Hi Maria,

One of the many camera/lens in my collection of fine Nikkor equipment. Just recently, I had another photographer ask me which is the better camera line, Nikon or Canon. I answered him, I can not answer that since I own all the Nikkor lens made and most of the Canon lens made with all the DSLR and film camera bodies made. I have to remain neutral ! Then I joked and said "of course their is always my Leica, Hasselblad, Pentax, Mamiya, Contact, Bronica and other one of a kind systems in my complete collections to compare as well.

Best Regards,  Mike

Hi Mike,

this is a cheap Nikon Nikkor combination, I strongly doubt that it is the best. My thought was that in 5 years it will be anyway old, and then I will buy something much better much cheaper.

I was at a Nikon workshop trying out lenses: 40 macro, 85 macro, 18-105 and a portrait lens. Of course, you can photograph much better flowers with the macro lens. For architecture (which I photograph much more) I did not work out which is better. 

But I am wondering if the portrait lens isn't the best investition, to get some nice photos of myself before I get old, instead of taking photos. The ones made with the portrait lens were quite nice, although on that day I was not prepared that photos of me will be taken. I have a link on the profile page.

Hi Maria,

Most DSLR cameras have adequate features and good sensors to do the imaging task. I would much prefer to invest in good lens, since any Nikkor will mount onto any Nikon DSLR body.

The term "portrait" lens references the typical working distance that a photographer uses in a studio or in a setting. Any normal lens can be used for portrait work, too. There are no specific "designed' lens for portraits only.

Now, for Nikon the 85mm F/1.8 or 85mm F/1.4 are excellent all around lens that have produced beautiful portrait work. On full frame body cameras, the Nikkor 105mm F/2 DC is outstanding, as well as the 135mm F/2 DC lens. 

Again, I have used lens as short as 21mm for portraits, as long as the subject is not uneasy with the close working distance that I am at. Lighting is important, and short working distances can pose certain problems that are avoided at longer working distance from the subject.

For the best quality, I would use a single focal length lens, rather than a zoom. While zooms do take good images, they are not at the level of a dedicated fixed focal length lens.

Nikon has released both the 35mm F/1.8 G lens and the 40mm F/2.8 micro lens for the DX format (like you have in your D3000). These are very good optics are very reasonable  for cost.

Best Regards,  Mike

thank you very much, Mike!

I am waiting for an interview, then I will know how I stay with finances.