10 Best Nikon Lenses For Portrait Photography 2025 in the United States

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens is a high-quality prime lens specifically designed for portrait photography, compatible with Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras. It offers an impressive f/1.2 aperture, which allows for beautiful background blur and striking separation of the subject from the background. This makes it ideal for portraits, where a smooth and natural blur is essential for highlighting the subject.

The lens features 11 rounded blades that enhance the quality of the bokeh, ensuring that out-of-focus areas appear soft and pleasing to the eye. Autofocus performance is robust, with near-silent Eye-Detect AF that works effectively with Nikon's Z 9, Z 7II, and Z 6II cameras, thus providing accurate and controlled focus transitions. Additionally, manual focus pulling is precise, thanks to linear focusing capability, which is crucial for achieving dramatic focus shifts in portrait shots.

The lens is also equipped with a customizable Control Ring and L-Fn button for adjusting settings like aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation, offering photographers greater control over their shooting parameters. Build quality is solid, and the lens is weather-sealed, ensuring reliability in various shooting conditions. However, it is a relatively heavy lens at 2.56 pounds, which might be cumbersome for extended handheld use. Also, it comes with a significant price tag, reflecting its professional-grade features, which may not be suitable for amateur or casual photographers. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens is highly recommended for professional photographers who demand top-notch image quality, exquisite background blur, and precise focus control in their portrait work.

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens is a top-notch choice for portrait photography, offering several key strengths that make it stand out. With a focal length of 135mm, this telephoto lens captures subjects beautifully, creating a pleasant background blur (bokeh) that enhances the artistic quality of your portraits. The wide f/1.8 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and creates a shallow depth of field, making your subject stand out against a soft, creamy background. This is particularly useful in portrait photography where you want to emphasize the person you are photographing while minimizing distractions in the background.

The lens features advanced autofocus performance with Nikon’s Multi-Focus System, which uses dual stepping motors for precise, fast, and nearly silent focusing. This is great for capturing sharp images of moving subjects without any distracting noise. Its advanced anti-reflective coatings help reduce flare and ghosting, ensuring high-contrast, clear images even in challenging lighting conditions. Build quality is solid, and it includes weather sealing, making it durable and suitable for various shooting environments.

Users will appreciate the customizable control ring, which can be adjusted for smooth settings changes during shooting. Despite its strengths, this lens is relatively heavy at 2.19 pounds and large in size, which could be a drawback for photographers who prefer lighter gear for extended hand-held use. Additionally, it carries a premium price tag, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious buyers. Essentially, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens is an excellent tool for serious portrait photographers looking for high-quality, artistically pleasing results.

The Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED Zoom Lens is a wide-angle zoom lens designed for Nikon DSLR cameras. With a focal length range of 17-35mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, it is versatile for various photography needs, although it may not be the ideal choice for portrait photography, which typically benefits from focal lengths between 50mm and 85mm for a more flattering perspective. The f/2.8 aperture allows for good performance in low-light conditions and creates a decent background blur, but it may not achieve the same level of subject isolation as lenses with longer focal lengths and wider apertures (like f/1.8 or f/1.4).

The lens features 2 types of aspherical lenses and 2 ED glass elements, which help reduce distortions and chromatic aberrations, ensuring sharp and high-quality images. The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides quiet and accurate autofocusing, which is beneficial for capturing spontaneous moments without disturbing the subject. However, the lack of image stabilization may be a drawback for handheld shooting, especially in low light. The build quality is robust, with a 9-blade rounded diaphragm contributing to a pleasing out-of-focus background (bokeh).

Measuring 3.2 inches in diameter, 4.2 inches long, and weighing 26.3 ounces, it is relatively compact and portable. While it has strong optical performance and features that suit professional use, its wide-angle nature makes it more suitable for landscape, architectural, and event photography rather than traditional portrait photography. If you primarily shoot portraits, you might want to consider a lens with a longer focal length and image stabilization for better results.