Advice: Best "L" series lens for portraits for the

[clarkkent]

Do you have a recommendation for the best portrait lense I may buy for under $1300? I prefer the L series by Canon but I would be up for other suggestions.

Thanks Everyone!

[psk4363]

Hi Superman,

Take a look at this link: -

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=34&sort=7&thecat=2

It reviews the Canon 135L f2 prime lens - ideal for indoor portraits and sports photography and well within your budget.

Hope this helps,
Barry

[scottbergerphoto]

The 135mm on a 10D or 300D is equivalent to a 216mm lens. I was taught that the standard portrait lens is about 85-105mm. You are going to need a pretty large room to do indoor portraits with that lens.
Scott

[psk4363]

Hi Scott,

Your point is, of course, accepted but such a focal length would not,in itself, bar that lens from being used as a portrait lens - particularly for close-in head shots - and it is (one of) the best lens(es) of that focal length, it fits the criteria in that it's a 'L' lens under $1300.

Cheers,
Barry

[scottbergerphoto]

Hi Scott,

Your point is, of course, accepted but such a focal length would not,in itself, bar that lens from being used as a portrait lens - particularly for close-in head shots - and it is (one of) the best lens(es) of that focal length, it fits the criteria in that it's a 'L' lens under $1300.

Cheers,
Barry
I use my 100-400 IS L as a portrait lens outside and get good results.

http://www.pbase.com/image/22395552.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/20905224.jpg

I just wouldn't call it a traditional portrait lens.
Scott

[kanwingshing]

When you talk about "Portrait Lens" .. Perspective is more important than FOV. What I am saying is.... Even if what you are using is 10D.. and a 100mm len would gives you a 160mm FOV, the perspective on the lens would still be correct... just stand a further back to give you enough content in your frame.
Vince

[nosquare2003]

Vince, I don't understand. The perspective will be different if you walk backwards to fill the frame.

Sorry, no idea for the best L portrait lens because I don't have any.

[kanwingshing]

The effect of the perspective is very subtle if you only want a few steps backward. But if you look at a person in a wide angle lens comparing to a tele (under similar FOV), you would see the perspective difference between different len more clearly.

[Yance]

Using a lens longer than around 200mm tends to compress the features too much. It is preferable to use a mid-range focal length and is much more attractive. Traditionally, 85mm to 135mm for 35mm cameras is ideal. So use the conversion factor to pick the equivalent focal length. An 85mm f1.8 would probably work best for digital.

[kanwingshing]

If you really want to be picky on it, the rough rule of thumb is 3 times the height of the frame size the lens is made for. For example, for 35mm lens, the ideal would be 3X35mm... and that is 105mm. For example for a lens on 645 cameras, the ideal would be 45mm X 3... 135mm.

[DaveG]

If you are thinking about a studio or in home portrait lens then the maximum focal length for a 10D would be about 60 mm. That lens - if it existed, would give you a 96 mm (effective) focal length. So the lenses that spring to mind would be the 50 mm f1.4, the 24-85 f3.5-4.5 and the 24-70 f2.8 L. I use both the 50 and the 24-85 and they're fine. I would assume that the L lens would focus more quickly and would be sharper.

The conventional 35 mm focal length portrait lenses like an 85mm lens are just too long. They convert to focal lengths like 135 mm (85) and a 100 mm lens is a 160. Now you can use these lenses effectively for many things - Sports Illustrated has done a lot of their swimsuit ****s with 300 mm f2.8's - but you will need one huge studio or be satisfied with extremely close crops, if you try these lenses inside.

I shoot a lot of weddings and subsequently I do a lot of living room/hotel room portraits. I can assure you that the longest lens I can get away with for a 645 camera is 150 mm (85 for 35 mm and about 80 mm for a 10D). Would I like it to be longer? Sure. But there is never enough room.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Do you have a recommendation for the best portrait lense I may buy for under $1300? I prefer the L series by Canon but I would be up for other suggestions.

Thanks Everyone!

Clark,

Seeing as how you never mentioned what Camera you were buying for,. :wink:

...most of this thread is a little off course,. our apologies! :roll:

The most common Portrait lenses in the Canon line are the two 85mm... the "standard" 85mm f/1.8 has a USM motor like the L but costs about 1/5 the price.

The "L" is the 85mm f/1.2.. a legendary lens... but side by side reviews have insisted that the f/1.8 is the real bargain boasting all the sharpness,. faster AF and still wonderfull "bokeh" (in fact the f/1.2's claim to fame seems to be "The Bokeh Master")

IF you are using a camera with a 1.6X crop factor,. then I would still look at the 85mm's but I would also consider the 50mm f/1.4

Between the two focal lengths.. you may have everything covered.

[Yance]

Sports Illustrated has done a lot of their swimsuit ****s with 300 mm f2.8's

:shock:

Talk about a Freudian slip Dave!

[dennykyser]

Not enough people are looking at the 50mm f/1.4 or even the 50mm f/1.8 (under $100.00) You wont get a much sharper picture and using the 1.6 factor you have a 80mm portrait lens which is ideal. I had the 100 f/2.0 and it was great for film but with the 10D needed to be to far away. The 85mm lens is a great lens but still pushing it when you use the 1.6 factor making it 136mm thats at the extreme end of a portrait lens.

[yalemba]

I use my 24-70 f/2.8L for portraits, and have also used 50mm f/1.4. The L lens gives me more flexibility, given my small studio, and produces crisp professional pictures.

[clarkkent]

:D
Thanks psk4363, scottbergerphoto, kanwingshing, Yance, DaveG, yalemba, and CyberDyneSystems. You guys are awesome! I love this forum! Your advice is valuable to me.

Yes, I do own the 10D. I did not mention it because of the this particular forum. Sorry.

This is tough choice to make. I like the 50mm and the 24-70mm sized lens. I will have to do a little more research. Have any more ideas? Please post them.

Clarkkent