what's a good lens for taking portraits?

[gail]

I know this has probably been ask many times before.

I have the Drebel and would like to buy a lens for taking portraits shots of family and friends. And don't have lot of money to spend around $200.00 are maybe a little more. So what would be a good lens for that price?

[kufel]

You've already got a portrait lens (75-300). For $200 you will not buy anything more spectacular. Keep saving for an "L", but you need a lot of 200's...:)

[Alexandre Gabriel]

Try the 50mm f/1.8 MarkII, you can find it for $70-$80 @bh.

[gail]

ok thanks appreciated. :P

[drisley]

Yes, definately the 50mm F1.8 MKII.
YOu will be totally shocked by the image quality of that lens.
It costs less than $100, but has image quality that rivals/surpasses $1000 zoom lenses.
Every Canon owner should have one of these.

[polloloco81]

Definitely the 50mm 1.8 MK II. It is the one of the best investment you can have. After that, save up for an L lense.

[ron chappel]

Totally agree :D

[chris.bailey]

And another for a 50mm (1.8 or 1.4) but the 85mm 1.8 is also a nice lense giving much better background seperation (narrower DOF) than the 50. I use both.

[Alexandre Gabriel]

And another for a 50mm (1.8 or 1.4) but the 85mm 1.8 is also a nice lense giving much better background seperation (narrower DOF) than the 50. I use both.


ditto. 85mm USM f/1.8 sells for $320 @bh.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=12182&is=GREY

this should be your second portrait lens, given your budget.

[timmyquest]

Agreed, every shot here is with the 50mm f/1.8

http://www.pbase.com/timmyquest/portraits

[dixielandcandles]

Grab the 50mm 1.8 for $75. The only problem with the 85mm is that your camera adds 60% zoom to the lens so that will put you at about 140mm and that might be a little strong for portraits. BETTER HAVE SOME ROOM to work in.
Hey, I sent you a PM on here. I live in MS too! Email me please at dbruce@vikingrange.com

[roanjohn]

Ditto for the 50 f1.8.

For the price and image quality........it just can't be beat.

http://www.pbase.com/image/30616146.jpg
Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel ,Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
1/400s f/2.8 at 50.0mm iso100

OTOH, for more than double the price........you can get the 85 f1.8. This lens is better built (metal vs plastic) and gives a smoother, much more pleasing bokeh.

http://www.pbase.com/image/28550906.jpg

Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel ,Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
1/1000s f/1.8 at 85.0mm iso100

If you want to do serious portraitures.........I would go for the 85 f1.8.

Ro1

[Lamplight]

Here are two of my shots with the 50mm 1.8. :)

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=36178

My biggest problem in those was that the background wasn't very appealing, but I was just messing around anyway so no biggie.

[CyberDyneSystems]

50mm or 85mm! Dfinately! :)


... not too sure about the 75-300mm though :?

[blinking8s]

the 50mm F1.8 MKII...uff...so fresh and so clean clean

http://www.blinking8s.com/photos/c_02.jpg

http://www.blinking8s.com/photos/c_04.jpg

[roppelt]

I would also go with the 50.mm. I have a 90.mm that I used to use a lot, but with the crop factor on my 10D I like the 50mm much better

[toddb]

I agree too, that nifty fifty (50mm f1.8) is the most bang for the buck you can get. The focusing ring sucks and you have to make sure you turn the AF off on the lens so that the ring will move more freely, but the images are great and you'll get to see what a FAST lens is like (which is the main reason I initially got it, never knew it would actually take great portrait shots).

http://www.toddburke.net/images/2004_04/images/CRW_0465.jpg
[50mm, f/3.5, ISO 200, 1/180sec, natural light]

[gail]

Thanks Y'all well it's Definitely,, going to be the 50.mm F1.8 to start with.
And then I will be saving for the others ha. I appreciate all the replies and BTW lovely pictures from every one. Thanks :D