Nikon 50mm f/1.8 G AF-S Nikkor

The shallow depth of field at f/1.8 gives portraits that creamy background blur I've been after for ages. It’s so compact I can slip it in a jacket pocket without any hassle.

I was honestly shocked by how light this thing is — I carried it around all day on a street shoot and forgot it was even on the camera. The f/1.8 lets me grab sharp shots in dim cafés without cranking the ISO, and the bokeh is creamy without being distracting.

The autofocus is snappy and accurate, even in the dim lighting of my living room. The f/1.8 aperture lets me blur backgrounds beautifully for portraits, and the whole thing weighs almost nothing on my camera body. I’ve already taken it on a weekend trip without noticing it in my bag.