The best nikon lens for the money

What lens should I buy first for my Nikon DLSR?

I shoot with a Nikon D7100. This is a crop sensor, DLSR, and is a great camera. I've moved up from the D60 originally, to the D3100 and now the D7100. Now you might notice a pattern, I like Nikon. Not because I dislike other brands, but because Nikon is what I have used, and gotten used to, and all my gear fits Nikon. So, for all you Canon lovers, I'm not knocking your camera! I just like mine. 

I shoot mostly portraiture and even my outdoor wildlife photography is more portraiture of the subject. I don't do a lot of wide open landscapes and sweeping views of the countryside. I typically pick a subject that I want to capture and focus on that. For the kind of photography my favorite lens is my 50mm prime. It stays on my camera most of the time and is my go to for a quick snapshot or for my client sessions.  It gives great focus, great bokeh, and the open aperture makes shooting on darker days easier. 

Now, there are more expensive 50mm lenses. They have larger apertures and may have even better focusing. But, when you can get a 1.8 aperture for as reasonably as you can, it is a great option. Especially for learning your new DLSR and experimenting with new forms of photography. It can help you turn out beautiful images. It has been a great addition to my gear. 

This lens has really upped my photography game and I love experimenting with it. 

The images below are just some examples of pictures that I have taken with my 50mm on my D7100.

This shot was in low light at night in my living room. You can see the nice bokeh in the background and the clarity of focus on her eyes.

This picture was taken on a grey gloomy day without flash. You can see the nice bokeh.

This is a ring shot I did for a wedding. I love the softness of the background and the detail of the rings.

My first self portrait.

Full disclosure: The above is a link to my amazon affiliate link. I can make profit from your purchase of the lens using the above link. Keeping a blog going is a time consuming venture, so I chose to become an amazon affiliate to review products that I use. Thank you for using this link if you are interested in a 50mm lens! 

Tell me what your favorite lens is and why!