Better for portraits?

[bartoj11]

I'm in the process of upgrading my equipment. I've finally settled on biting the bullet and getting the 5d. :lol: Which lens is more useful for portrait photography. I'm looking between the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8. Ideas, examples, practical advice???

[Nightcrawler]

Depends what kind of portraiture you are into. If you like the headshots or head and shoulder, I would recommend the 85mm. But if you are into more full length shots, I would suggest the 50mm. The 135mm f2L would also be a great portrait lens for head shots.

[Tareq]

50mm 1.4
85mm 1.8
100mm 2.8
24-70mm 2.8
70-200 (could be used in some situations)
135L

[quickben]

200m f2.8L. Even on my 1.6x 10D, I find it is a cracking portrait lens.

This shot was taken from about 8-9 feet away with a 100% crop. Obviously, for full-length body shots you'd need something shorter.

Gary.

[In2Photos]

Depends what kind of portraiture you are into. If you like the headshots or head and shoulder, I would recommend the 85mm. But if you are into more full length shots, I would suggest the 50mm.

I second that since you are getting the 5D.

[jj1987]

I'm in the process of upgrading my equipment. I've finally settled on biting the bullet and getting the 5d. :lol: Which lens is more useful for portrait photography. I'm looking between the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8. Ideas, examples, practical advice???
85L would be my first suggestion, followed by the 85mm 1.8, then lastly the 50mm if you HAVE to. Lost of 20/30d users on here use the 50 for group shots, so the 85 would be wide enough as long as you aren't relying on the camera's flash, or just one external unit.

[SilentBob]

That 85mm 1.8 is one sweet lens and its doubtfull that you would not enjoy using this guy. I love it on a cropped sensor and I imagine it would be even better on a full frame.
A few samples here (http://www.pbase.com/carltibbitts/canon_85mm_f18_photos)

Regards,

[roanjohn]

85 for sure!!!

Ro1

[BearLeeAlive]

Another vote for 85mm on the 5D, I often find it a bit long with my 1.6 crop, but as I like 50mm best on my 20D, if I had the 5D I am sure that 85mm would be my fav there.

[AeroSmith]

I like 85mm so much for portraits on my 5D that I have two 85s.

The EF 135L is a prince for head shots.

The EF 100 f/2 is fantastic too.

And the EF 50 f/1.4 is a great option for full length and when shooting more than one person.

[Maureen Souza]

My 85mm/1.2 is the lens that lives on my 5D. The shots are amazing!

[steved110]

Why not get both? 50mm is great on 35mm/ full frame, and the 85 gives nice tighter portrait shots. i think the 85 is too long for general use though, so unless you have other focal lengths covered the 50 is proabably better.

[Denise40]

I have the Canon EOS Digital Rebel, would this lens work good on that body? I am new to this, sorry if it is a dumb question.

[jefftaz]

On the XT I would go for the 50 1.4 before the 85 1.8. Due to the crop sensor on the XT the 50 turns out to be about an 80. I have both but use the 50 1.4 more often on my XT.

[SkipD]

Due to the crop sensor on the XT the 50 turns out to be about an 80. The correct way to express that is: The field of view of a 50mm lens on the XT is the same as the field of view of an 80mm lens on a 35mm film (or "full-frame" DSLR) camera.

Lenses do not change their focal length just because you put them on different format bodies. The field of view is all that changes, and that is totally due to the film/sensor format (size).

[basroil]

if it's portraits (just upper third or two thirds), the 70-200f2.8 is great. even on my xt, the 70-200 makes a wonderful portrait lens, much sharper than my 17-85IS, and more useful than my 50mm 1.8. on a 5d, the 70-200 range would be great, since i take group shots on the 50mm 1.8 (equivilent to about 80mm on your 5d), the 70-200 CAN take groups and full body shots, given enough distance that is.

[bartoj11]

well, I think I'm going to get the 85 f/1.8 and the cheaper version of the 50. i think it's the 50 f/1.8. seems to me that you can't go wrong with that kind of setup.

- bart

[bobscape]

hmmm, let me see if I have this right. The EOS 300/350 have a CMOS which has a smaller surface area than the 35mm film which these lenses have traditionally been made to accommodate. The field of view therefore, spills beyond the area that the CMOS "sees" which results in a cropped image and the 1.6 conversion ie: a 50mm lens on a 350D is the equivalent to an 80mm lens. On more expensive cameras such as the 5D, the sensor has a surface area which is the same as 35mm film so the full field of view is captured by the CMOS and no cropping occurs. So now I know why my 350D has problems! It has a small CMOS and I thought it was me!

[Tareq]

hmmm, let me see if I have this right. The EOS 300/350 have a CMOS which has a smaller surface area than the 35mm film which these lenses have traditionally been made to accommodate. The field of view therefore, spills beyond the area that the CMOS "sees" which results in a cropped image and the 1.6 conversion ie: a 50mm lens on a 350D is the equivalent to an 80mm lens. On more expensive cameras such as the 5D, the sensor has a surface area which is the same as 35mm film so the full field of view is captured by the CMOS and no cropping occurs. So now I know why my 350D has problems! It has a small CMOS and I thought it was me!

ِAn old NEWS, thats why i want to upgrade to FF sooner or later (1Ds Mark2)

[Denise40]

Thanks everyone for the info. I just received my new lens today. I havn't really had a chance to play with it. With this lens, how close do you need to be when taking pics of flowers? Any hints before I start to play with it?

[grego]

Thanks everyone for the info. I just received my new lens today. I havn't really had a chance to play with it. With this lens, how close do you need to be when taking pics of flowers? Any hints before I start to play with it?

You got the 85?

You can use extension tubes by Kenko for macro abilities for those close flower shots.

[Denise40]

Ooops sorry. No, I got the 50mm 1.4 lens.

[spitstickler]

200m f2.8L. Even on my 1.6x 10D, I find it is a cracking portrait lens.

This shot was taken from about 8-9 feet away with a 100% crop. Obviously, for full-length body shots you'd need something shorter.

Gary.

Holy Smokes! Great tonal range and super sharp. Nice capture, sir.

[greg76]

well, I think I'm going to get the 85 f/1.8 and the cheaper version of the 50. i think it's the 50 f/1.8. seems to me that you can't go wrong with that kind of setup.

- bart


I got those 2 lenses, they work great in tandom ..

[gcobb]

The correct way to express that is: The field of view of a 50mm lens on the XT is the same as the field of view of an 80mm lens on a 35mm film (or "full-frame" DSLR) camera.

Lenses do not change their focal length just because you put them on different format bodies. The field of view is all that changes, and that is totally due to the film/sensor format (size).

I'm glad I read this. I was also wondering how the focal length was increased. So it's just the angle of view....gotcha!