best portrait lens?

[elhalman]

hi

planning to buy 20D, mainly for shooting portraits

I wonder which is the best lens mony can buy for this job?

:)

[Andy_T]

You might elaborate a bit more on the style of portraits you want to do.

Inevitably, the lenses suggested by people for portraits will be lenses in the 80-135 mm focal range (35 mm equivalent) which makes for about 50 mm to 85 mm on a 1.6 x crop factor DSLR.

It will be the faster lenses, as you need a large aperture for portraits to get a nice background blur.

That said, the lenses that cover these specification and most people will suggest are the 1.4/50, 1.8/85 and 2.8/24-70 L.

OK, you said 'the best money can buy' ... also include the 1.2/85 L :wink:

If you want a longer focal length, try out the 2/135 L and the 2.8/70-200 L.

If on a budget, also consider the 1.8/50 and the Tamron XR DI 28-75.

Is that sufficient for starters? :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

[scottbergerphoto]

You might elaborate a bit more on the style of portraits you want to do.

Inevitably, the lenses suggested by people for portraits will be lenses in the 80-135 mm focal range (35 mm equivalent) which makes for about 50 mm to 85 mm on a 1.6 x crop factor DSLR.

It will be the faster lenses, as you need a large aperture for portraits to get a nice background blur.

That said, the lenses that cover these specification and most people will suggest are the 1.4/50, 1.8/85 and 2.8/24-70 L.

OK, you said 'the best money can buy' ... also include the 1.2/85 L :wink:

If you want a longer focal length, try out the 2/135 L and the 2.8/70-200 L.

If on a budget, also consider the 1.8/50 and the Tamron XR DI 28-75.

Is that sufficient for starters? :wink:

Best regards,
Andy
Well said!
Scott

[roanjohn]

85 f1.8............would be my number one choice.

Ro1

[jgbeam]

I use the 85 f/1.8 on a 1.3 crop body. Ideal combination, IMO.

Jim

[CyberDyneSystems]

Depending on working distances;

50mm f/1.4
85mm f.18 OR 85mm f1.2L
135mm f/2 L

[Andy_T]

CDS ...

you, of all people, forgot the 1.8/200 L (for the very long portrait shots)!

The man said 'best lens money can buy' :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[roanjohn]

CDS ...

you, of all people, forgot the 1.8/200 L (for the very long portrait shots)!

The man said 'best lens money can buy' :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

.........come on, lets not scare the guy, its his first post.


:D

Ro1

[Andy_T]

.........come on, lets not scare the guy, its his first post.


OK, you are right.

Sorry for that.

Let's limit the lens discussion to lenses that are no more than twice as expensive as the 20D :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[CyberDyneSystems]

A 6.6 pound portraight lens that requires a distance of 25 feet?

If we are going to count 200mm as a portraight lens.. then why not 500mm :wink:

[chris.bailey]

You might elaborate a bit more on the style of portraits you want to do.

Inevitably, the lenses suggested by people for portraits will be lenses in the 80-135 mm focal range (35 mm equivalent) which makes for about 50 mm to 85 mm on a 1.6 x crop factor DSLR.

It will be the faster lenses, as you need a large aperture for portraits to get a nice background blur.

That said, the lenses that cover these specification and most people will suggest are the 1.4/50, 1.8/85 and 2.8/24-70 L.

OK, you said 'the best money can buy' ... also include the 1.2/85 L :wink:

If you want a longer focal length, try out the 2/135 L and the 2.8/70-200 L.

If on a budget, also consider the 1.8/50 and the Tamron XR DI 28-75.

Is that sufficient for starters? :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

Agreed. My picks would be the 85/1.8 or the 24-70/2.8. Dont forget the 17-40L though, the longer end of the range works well if your studio is cosy.

[Pekka]

hi

planning to buy 20D, mainly for shooting portraits

I wonder which is the best lens mony can buy for this job?

:)

Best lens suitable for portrait work money can buy is 85/1.2L and also 70-200/2.8L - but about any lens will do, depending on your style.

[drisley]

IMHO, for head and shoulders work, if you have the room, the 135F2L is in a class of it's own.
But the 50F1.8 (or F1.2), 85F1.8 (or F1.2), and 70-200F2.8 are all very good.

[blackviolet]

85mm f.18 OR 85mm f1.2L

omg how big would that lens be?!!!!! :oops: and what depth of field - tips of eyelashes in focus, cornea catchlights bokeh'd :shock:

[friscomgm]

I would definitely say the 50 f/1.8 or the 50 f/1.4 for sure...

[elhalman]

Wow!
A responsive forum with a sense of humor


Thank you guys for your help…. In fact, I was thinking of the 85mm f 1.2 but discouraged by all those reviews complaining about focusing speed.

So, my options now would be the 50mm f1.4 or the 24-70mm L (I guess the 135mm would be too much for me considering the 1.6 x)
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
500 X 1.6= :shock: :shock:

[chris.bailey]

Wow!
A responsive forum with a sense of humor


Thank you guys for your help…. In fact, I was thinking of the 85mm f 1.2 but discouraged by all those reviews complaining about focusing speed.

So, my options now would be the 50mm f1.4 or the 24-70mm L (I guess the 135mm would be too much for me considering the 1.6 x)
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
500 X 1.6= :shock: :shock:

The 24-70L is really nice (38-110 equivalent on a 10D) though quite heavy for long studio sessions

[Andy_T]

In fact, I was thinking of the 85mm f 1.2 but discouraged by all those reviews complaining about focusing speed.


The 85/1.8 is supposed to focus a lot faster than the 1.2 ... so this one might also be interesting for you.

Best regards,
Andy

[roanjohn]

Thank you guys for your help…. In fact, I was thinking of the 85mm f 1.2 but discouraged by all those reviews complaining about focusing speed.

:

........speed shouldn't be an issue with portraiture........unless you have a more candid approach......then the 1.8 is the way to go......

.........I still don't think the 1.2 is that slow though.

Ro1

[minatophase3]

I just bought the 85 1.8 and am in love with it! I like to do close up portraits though so it works very well for me. Here is one of my first shots with this amazing lens:

http://www.thenationfamily.com/images/girls/sept04/mackenzie1.jpg

I have 2 outdoor portrait photo shoots within the next week and will give this new lens a good test. I'll post some pictures next week.

Tim