Wanting a new lens

I am thinking of purchasing a new lens, currently have the sigma 17-50 lens and am wondering if there is a better option for portrait and family shots?

Thanks

I have a feeling people will jump in here and tell you that a fast prime lens is the way to go.
Any of the 35mm, 50mm (nifty fifty) or 85mm f/1.8 primes will do - all depends on what distance you feel comfortable shooting.

You might want to consider either the Nikon 85mm, or the Nikon 70-20mm, depending on if you want a prime lens or a zoom.

The 35mm and 50mm really aren't good choices for portraiture work. A portrait lens doesn't need to be "fast" but a comfortable and flexible working distance is nice to have and compression is your friend.

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Good points Fish. I wasn't thinking!
Although a fast lens would help in indoor low light situations. (that is my weak defence)
Strangely enough I like my 70-300mm for portrait because of the compression and bokeh.

Thanks guys, I actually have a prime lens as well that I use for newborn shoots. I enjoy my sigma just wondering if there's something I'm missing I also have the 70-200 lens lol

I am going to look into the 85mm lens and see what it's like

Lawrence said:

Strangely enough I like my 70-300mm for portrait because of the compression and bokeh.

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Nothing strange about that at all... That's an excellent lens choice for portraits.

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picturegirl said:

I also have the 70-200 lens lol

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Which 70-200 do you have? If it is Nikkor f/2.8 then you don't need any other lens for portrait. For group/family shots Sigma 17-50 is a perfect complement to your telephoto.

Mine isn't nikor it's tamron and very heavy lol

And my 17-50 is tamron too

Well between your 17-50mm and your 70-200mm I'd say you're pretty well set. I guess what I'd need to know is, what is it your current lenses aren't doing for you?

Do you want better IQ, faster apertures or... ???

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List your lenses, what you use them for, and what you want a new lens for, oh and of course your budget.

That might help narrow down the kind of lens to recommend

I was quite happy shooting portraits with my 70-200 2.8 VRII until I got an 85 1.8. The 85 allows me to get closer and also shoot at 1.8 for better bokeh. Plus, it's less than 1/4 the weight. Now, I use both.

Thanks for all your responses they are helpful I have :
Nikkor 35mm 1.8 I use for newborn
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 that I use for everything else and
Tamron 70-200 2.8 that I don't ever use because it's so heavy for me :/

I don't "feel" like I am missing out on anything I was just wondering if I had everything right and it seems like I'm pretty much there.
Thanks again

98% of the time, my Tamron 17-50 is on my D300. I like ny AFD 50 f1.8 but when you need to be quick and shoot indoor, sometimes you can't get everything you want.

Hi
The 105 2.8 macro also makes a good lens
Harle

Picturegirl,
Have you looked at Nikon's 35-70 2.8 d af this is quite a fine lens. No plastic all metal with a macro giving almost 1to1 with a t6 closeup lens