Best Portrait Lens? [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

CaseyScofield

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 20:26

So, using the 20D, what would you say is the best all around portrait lens? I’m getting more and more calls for family pictures, senior pictures…and the dreaded wedding pictures…eeeek!

Any advise (other than a good lawyer)?

Eric DeCastro

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 20:32

50mm 1.8/ 85mm 1.8/100mm 2.0

and pass on the weddings.

KevC

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 20:33

50mm f/1.4. Or 85mm f/1.8. But I can't afford that, so I'm using the 50mm f/1.8. Can't wait till it gets here! :D

kwang0429

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 20:33

50mm 1.8/ 85mm 1.8/100mm 2.0

and pass on the weddings.

agree! or 50mm 1.4

Eric DeCastro

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 20:34

agree! or 50mm 1.4

I said 1.8 cuz it's cheaper. not that a 1.4 won't do a good job, but with the cost of a 1.8 he can get both that and the 85mm

CaseyScofield

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 20:44

Thanks All for the advise.

after checking $$ I think I'll skip the lawyer and check out the 50mm 1.4

Belmondo

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 20:48

Possibly not in your budget, but the 'holy grail' of portrait lense IMHO is the 85mm f/1.2L. Very pricey, but beautiful bokeh, and very tight DOF.

CaseyScofield

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 21:01

the 'holy grail' of portrait lense IMHO is the 85mm f/1.2L. Very pricey, but beautiful.

NICE! Does it come with a tripod, a back drop or a small 3rd world country? :) I'm having to breath into a paper bag thanks to the price tag!

jbradc

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 21:08

I use my 24-70 F2.8L for 80% of my portrait work, 50 F1.4 for the rest.

Jim_T

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 22:52

I use my 24-70 F2.8L for 80% of my portrait work, 50 F1.4 for the rest.

Yes.. For head shots, the 50 f/1.4 does a great job. But if your indoor portraits are of more than one person (families etc), I found you need to be in a fairly large room to get back far enough when you use lenses of 50mm and longer.. This is because of the darn 1.6 crop..... 50mm gives you an 80mm FOV.

If you plan on taking group shots indoors and you don't have a huge studio, the 35mm f/1.4 is a good choice..

kb244

25th of January 2005 (Tue), 22:57

Pretty much what everyone been recomending, 50mm 1.4 or 1.8, 85mm 1.8 (or 1.2 if you got the money), and that 100 2.0, I dont know about using something like a 35mm 1.4 except in situations like Jim_T mentioned ( group shots ). From friends and such 80mm is the ideal portrait FOV. Making the 50mm f/1.8 / f/1.4 the ideal portrait lens on digital SLRs.