quang_tran3

Shun Cheung and all,

I think I'm going to get the 85mm, and maybe I'll get the extension tubes for occasional macro shooting as Elliot

suggested.

The 105 seems to be a very good lens, too, but I may not use it up to what it is worth, at least for now. Maybe, some

times in the future...

Thank you very much for your responses.

Shun Cheung,

You're right in assumption of the DX camera. I have the D5100. I know it's a little odd to mount the big lens to it, but I've found

no problem with it so far, and I have no budget to upgrade the camera in the near future.

Actually, I really meant "candid" shooting instead of formal "portrait" as I wrote in original post. You can tell I'm still

learning to use the proper terms here :-)

Thank you so much for your invaluable advice.

Thank you all so much for your knowledgeable answers!

My current budget is really about $500 for the nikkor 85 afs 1.8; but since I saw the 105 vr, I was wondering if I should just

man up a little and get that and I can play with micro photography when I have nobody to aim at. Not that I have no

problem with spending more than $800. I know I would be made to sleep with that 105 lens on the sofa for some times,

but it's ok if it is the right choice :-)

Elliot Bernstein shared a very interesting option. I'm very impressed with the sample pictures you showed. Could you tell

me a little more about the extension tube you used? What brand would you recommend? How does it affect the effective

focal length?

Thank you all again for your knowledge.

I'd like to have them both if I can, but for now, my wife would treat me badly if I did that :-) so, I may only get one.

I think I will shoot portraits more often (family, friends, etc.), but macro is a bonus. I almost bought the 85mm 1.8 af-s, but then I saw the

105mm 2.8 vr micro used for only $300 more ($820). I read people reviewed the 105, and it sounds like a very good portrait

lens beside being a superb micro lens.

Please give me some advice which one would be a better choice if I can get only one. Also, can any body give a comparison of bokeh

between the two? How much better does the 85 1.8 isolate the main object from background compare to the 105 2.8 at max aperture?

Currently, I have nikkor 17-55mm 2.8, and nikkor 35mm 1.8, and I hate to get too close, destroying the natural expression on people face.

Thank you very much in advance.