What's your favorite INDOOR portrait lens?

[NatsRoses]

....and can you show me a pic :) I'm actually getting decent results with the Tamron but I want a new lens. I'm doing mostly in studio portrait work. The studio is about 20 feet long.

Thanks!!

[cdifoto]

24-70L plus flash. :)

[mebailey]

I dont shoot in the studio but my favorite portrait lens is the 85 f/1.2 for FF and the 50 f/1.2 for 1.6X crop.

[20droger]

Since you have a fixed studio size, map out your preferred camera and subject positions, measure the distance between them, then choose fast prime lens(es) that will give you the desired angle(s) of view over that distance.

You can get these angles of view most easily by using your existing zoom lens to get the framing(s) you want, and then reading the approximate focal length(s) from its scale.

Or you can compute the focal length(s) using basic geometry.

Suggest framings are: waist up; head and shoulders, and head shots.

[AmpedPhoto]

well my nifty fifty has worked wonders and also I love my tammy 28-75....much sharper then my old 24-105 f4 IS L

[Halliday]

My 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM

http://lanceshuey.smugmug.com/photos/123802610-M-2.jpg

[calicokat]

85 F/1.2L

[Roy Mathers]

24-105 f/4 IS L

[condyk]

No reason why the Tamron won't give great shots. I would be very tempted to look at lighting if you have some spare cash. Light rules! Ideas plus exposure are the foundations. If you want a lens for more general use too then I would define what that use is likely to be and buy accordingly.

[markbluemica]

135 f2L but if its too long i use the 24-70

[Tony-S]

EF 85 f/1.8. Exceptionally priced ($360) and razor sharp.

[liza]

Right now, I'm using the Tamron in my sig, but I have a 28-70L ordered to replace it. :)

[NatsRoses]

Thanks for all your replies and advice! Thanks for the pic Halliday! :)
You're right Condyk, maybe I should spend the $ on upgrading lights or adding on, I just have my heart set on a new lens. It's purely a "I just want a new lens" reason.
Because of this, last month I bought the 100mm macro, but it's too long for my studio and I don't do much macro work so it sits in my bag a lot and I still don't feel like I have "new lens to play with", knwim?
I was think of the 50mm f1.4 ... I would have to give it more thought and study if I were tomak the $ investment on the 1.2 or the 85mm f/1.2L.
I just want to get on the B&H website and buy a lens today, so I can play with it in my studio this week.
Thanks again!

[Stan43]

85 1.2L indoors on 5D, outdoors, 135L.

[MikeMcL]

I use the 28-75L for 99% of my studio shots. I have the 50/1.4 and it just never comes out of the bag. can't beat the focal length of the 2?-75 IMO, either one of the canons, or the tammy will do well. - cant beat the primes for super low light though

[quickben]

If you can use most of the 20ft of space in the studio, I'd consider the Canon 135mm f2.0L. At that distance you'd get anything from head+shoulders to a very close head crop.

You'd also have one of Canon's best lenses for sheer image quality. It's also much cheaper than the 85L.

Gary.

[Steiglitz]

Body shots: 35L
Torso shots: 50L
Head shots: 85L
Make-Me-Skinny shots: 15mm Fisheye

[Steiglitz]

Right now, I'm using the Tamron in my sig, but I have a 28-70L ordered to replace it. :)


Liza, you mean 24-70L....or are you buy a used 28-70L? Either way, it will be a great lens...best in class in that focal range.

[liza]

Liza, you mean 24-70L....or are you buy a used 28-70L? Either way, it will be a great lens...best in class in that focal range.

No, I mean the 28-70L. They had several on the KEH site, so I bought one. It's supposed to be a great lens and doesn't have as many issues as the 24-70 that replaced it.

[Steiglitz]

Congrats on choosing a great lens...actually however my 24-70L is better then my now replaced 28-70L but only by a few split hairs ;-) The 24-70L is sealed for moisture and dust...I was not aware of any issues with the 24-70L...hmmm...

[steved110]

Congrats on choosing a great lens...actually however my 24-70L is better then my now replaced 28-70L but only by a few split hairs ;-) The 24-70L is sealed for moisture and dust...I was not aware of any issues with the 24-70L...hmmm...

If i was using a full-frame the 24-70 would certainly be on my list, but i'd buy from a place that had a good returns policy. It might be no more than the fact that unhappy users make a lot of noise, but plenty of people on POTN had problems with this lens. Of course they can be fixed, and on the whole canon service centers do good work.

i do think though that shooting wide open at f/2.8 or lower is HARD and it is easy to have focus a bit off, and this may well be why so many people struggle with fast lenses.