which lens?

[heksa]

I'm considering buying EOS D20. I like taking portraits with a very narrow deepness of field, which lens should I get? Telephoto? Standard one? The camera may come with a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens but is this lens going to give me this narrow deepness of field effect with an f starting only at 3.5? Do the telephoto lenses attach directly to the camera or need some kind of converter? Does the lens have anything to do with the speed of finding focus?

For the last year I've been using G5 and I'm new to the EOS cameras, so please excuse so many questions.

[Belmondo]

You're going to get a lot of differing opinions on this, but here's mine:

I'd go with the 50mm f/1.4 or the 85mm f/1.8. They will give you good optical quality, and tight depth of field at the larger apertures.

F/3.5 will probably not give you the DOF you're looking for, and the kit lens is not that great wide open anyway.

[roanjohn]

If you are on a budget, I would recommend the 50 f1.8.

If not..........I would get what Belmondo recommended.

If you're SUPER DUPER rich, I would recommend the 85 f1.2.

.................I luv spendin' other peoples money!!! FUN!!!

Ro1

[DocFrankenstein]

I'm with belmondo on 50/1.4 and 85/1.8

For shallow DOF they are excellent.

If you want to take pictures of people inside a building (most people do that from time to time), you'll need a lens in the range of 16-18 mm with the crop factor.

So that 18-55 zoom comes in handy as general purpose.

If you have money and want/need higher quality, go for 17-40 L

Other than that, we'd need to know what is it that you shoot.

Cheers :)

[heksa]

Thanks, the 50mm f/1.4 looks great. I thinks, that's what I was looking for!

[Andy_T]

Heksa,

the 50/1.4 sure is a very nice lens and I plan to have it among my next purchases.

Take also a look at the 300$ Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR DI.
It's a great walkaround lens with a constant 2.8 and sharpness that is likened to the 1200$ Canon 24-70/2.8 l when stopped down a bid (say, to 3.2 - 4.0)

3.2 @ 75 gives very nice DOF control.

Best regards,
Andy

[stckciv]

The 50 1.4 is a nice lens, but may be a little short for portrait. I would go with the 85 1.8 or the 135 2.
Try out the 18-55 and see what you get, you may want something a little longer.

Good luck, happy shooting!

[Belmondo]

The 50 1.4 is a nice lens, but may be a little short for portrait. I would go with the 85 1.8 or the 135 2.
Try out the 18-55 and see what you get, you may want something a little longer.

Good luck, happy shooting!

Heksa is asking about which lens to use for portraits on a 20D. There is the 1.6X crop factor to consider, and longer lenses like the 135 will likely be too long. The 50mm lenses will be the equivalent of 0f 80mm, which is a lot closer to what he probably wants. The 85s will probably also be good.

[stckciv]

Sorry!

I keep forgeting about the 1.6x factor. One day I will get it right. (i hope) haha

I think the 50 1.8 or 50 1.4 is a must have anyway.