What do YOU find to be the best portrait lens?

[kindollfamilly]

Hello all.

I was just wondering what you all used the most for your portraits. I shoot a crop frame camera, and have been using the 50mm 1.8 a lot.

I was just wondering what you guys are using, and what camera you are using it on too.



Thanks



Brandon

[Jamesino]

I shoot with a 70-200 also on a crop body as it allows for tight-portraits and good image quality.

[woodmen]

I love my 135mm f/2. It can't be beaten!

[Cuervo79]

The first thing is what do you shoot mostly, do you shoot outdoors, do you shoot in studio, if you shoot in studio how big or small is yours? Mostly I have read that a longer lens is better for portraits since it distorts less, on my crop body (xt/350d) I use a combination of the 50mm 1.4 for mid body shots and the 85 1.8 for portraits. in a crop those two become like an 85 and a 135. You can go longer but then you need to have room to step back in order to crop the way you want it, in my home studio if I have a longer lens than the 85 I wouldn't have any space and the crop would be much closer than I would like. If space is no problem then you could go longer

[S-S]

85L (on 40D)

dont have one yet but have used for about a week

[lukeap69]

Sigma 50 1.4 on Canon 40D

[OneEyedJack]

70-200 and nifty fifty on a XT, then i have a sigma 18-200 on a nikon d70

[Tareq]

24-70/24-105, 135L, 85 1.8, 70-200, all om FF cameras [5D, 1Ds2, 1Ds3 soon].

[bradm77]

I love, love, LOVE my Canon 85 f/1.8 lens, especially around the 5.6-8.0 region - it is the shizzle! Also use my 70-200 2.8L for portraits from time to time.

Brad
OhioValleyPhoto.com

[clarkkent]

85mm 1.8 as well... I also like to shoot at 200 mm with my 70-200mm L lens. The background kind of gives a fashion photoshoot look.

Brad... I shoot in Ohio (Columbus area)

[Moppie]

For those on a budget I find my sigma 17-70 to be very good.

[airfrogusmc]

85L on a FF....
Its almost the perfect focal length for portraits.

[Perry Ge]

What airfrog said. I don't think you can beat the 85L when it comes to portrait lenses. I want one so badly...:(

[SuzyView]

85 1.8 is what I have and use. If I had the 85 1.2, that would be good, but not fast enough. The 50 1.4 is my second choice. (I have both these lenses.)

[airfrogusmc]

Rumors of the 85L being to slow to focus are greatly over exaggerated ;)

[Tareq]

24-70/24-105, 135L, 85 1.8, 70-200, all om FF cameras [5D, 1Ds2, 1Ds3 soon].

That what i have, but i will say that my 24-70 and 70-200 are the best zoom lenses for the portraits, and 85 1.2 which i will add later and 135L are the best primes lenses for portraits.

[Galaxy99]

200mm f/2 plus 1DS mark III is magic!!!

[yogestee]

For sheer versatility the Tamron SP AF 28-75mm F/2.8..

[dave kadolph]

85 1.8 or 70-200 2.8.

Depends on the situation.

[EdBray]

I am amazed the number of people that quote a 70-200 in any form as the best portrait lens on a crop body, Yes, on a FF body the 70-150 length is useful but on a crop body the useful range is more likely 70 (112) - 90 (145). The 24-105L would be much more useful on a crop body offering the wider end for full length portraits and from 50-105 much more suited to half body and head and shoulders shots.

It all depends how much room you have to work in and how much you want to compress the perspective. But for portraiture on a crop body in a normal room (as the original poster stated he wanted to use some studio lighting) the 90-200 range on the 70-200 would be pretty much useless.

If he specifically wanted a prime, I would suggest the 60mm f2.8 macro. I often use my 100mm f2.8 macro on my 5D and the sharpness and bokeh is very nice.

At the distances you usually shoot a portrait f2.8 is fine and these lenses are remarkably sharp even fully open.

Plus it also doubles as a Macro lens strangely enough.

[Tareq]

I have crop bodies and FF bodies, i am not an expert but i always shoot portraits in studio when available by my 24-70 or 24-105 as zoom or with my 50 and seldom with my 85 as prime, so i am wondering how much room and space are there when people favoring 70-200 many times, seems they are working outdoors mostly or maybe they have so large studio.

[dave kadolph]

I have crop bodies and FF bodies, i am not an expert but i always shoot portraits in studio when available by my 24-70 or 24-105 as zoom or with my 50 and seldom with my 85 as prime, so i am wondering how much room and space are there when people favoring 70-200 many times, seems they are working outdoors mostly or maybe they have so large studio.

In my case we are close to beaches, lighthouses, and piers.

The compression factor works well in settings like this IMO

[eddie1]

the 85 L is great but it is a real pain to focus

results are stunning when it gets it right but I had a higher success rate on my 85 mm F 1.8
sometimes my sitters are left hanging whilst the autofocus makes its mind up what its doing

[Jun Madayag]

24-70 4L on 40D

[oval291]

What would be the best lens on a crop body if you were shooting portraits at the beach early morning?

[Gum6y]

What F stops are you all using? I know this depends on the amount of light but where would you want to be?

[Tareq]

What would be the best lens on a crop body if you were shooting portraits at the beach early morning?

Say between 24 up to 100, so 24-105, 24-70, 85, 100, 50 even 135 are all handy, i saw a video clip once a photographer using 300 f2.8IS for some beach shots.

What F stops are you all using? I know this depends on the amount of light but where would you want to be?

f1.2 up to f22, it is all in your hand, i can use f1.2 for the most bokeh for a reason, sometimes i want t use f22 if i shoot landscapes including human in the frame, so it is up to you to use whatever you want, but as a start, try to be in between f4/f5.6 and f11.

[Teachflute]

I love the 50L for indoors and the 85L for outdoors. I don't own either of these, but have rented both. I think the 50L has a slight edge if I had to choose.

[slimninj4]

Well last night had a photoshoot. Used the 17-55mm IS and he 70-200 L4. There were two rooms and one was big enough to use the 70-200 which I loved and got to get really close for head shots.

[eosrebelxt]

I love my 135mm f/2. It can't be beaten!

Are you using it with a full-size sensor'ed camera? Otherwise, isn't 135mm * 1.6 too long for portrait?

[eosrebelxt]

Hello all.

I was just wondering what you all used the most for your portraits. I shoot a crop frame camera, and have been using the 50mm 1.8 a lot.

I was just wondering what you guys are using, and what camera you are using it on too.

Thanks

Brandon

I use my Canon 50mm f/1.4 Prime lens with my 350D for portrait. Very cool lens, but I am only a newbie. Plus, I have no models to shoot. :cry:.

Maybe when I get more money, I can get a 70-200 and shoot people from afar so they don't know? :)

[Chet]

Canon 50mm f/1.4 on the crop bodied XTI. Excellent portrait lens!

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/403073745_poZBD-M.jpg

[Tandem]

The best... or the one I use the most? (all on a FF camera)

The best may well be the 300 f/2.8 outdoors. Awesome foreground/background separation with a creamy bokeh. If you can use some fall colors for the background the results are absolutely gorgeous.

The lens I use the most for portraits is the 85L although I often will exchange it for the 50L or 135L depending on the desired framing. The 200L [2.8] is also an excellent lens for portraits but doesn't get enough use. The 300 will win out over the 200 in many situations except where the weight of the lens becomes a factor.

[Tareq]

The best... or the one I use the most? (all on a FF camera)

The best may well be the 300 f/2.8 outdoors. Awesome foreground/background separation with a creamy bokeh. If you can use some fall colors for the background the results are absolutely gorgeous.

The lens I use the most for portraits is the 85L although I often will exchange it for the 50L or 135L depending on the desired framing. The 200L [2.8] is also an excellent lens for portraits but doesn't get enough use. The 300 will win out over the 200 in many situations except where the weight of the lens becomes a factor.

I use my 300 as a portraiture lens in sports.

[Mark_Cohran]

The 85 f/1.2L is great, even on a crop. The 135 f/2L is wonderful on any camera. The 50 f/1.4 is an excellent lens for portraits and if you prefer a little more focal lenth, the 85 f/1.8 has the most bang for the buck.

[Halliday]

Shooting with my 5D, I usually start with my 24-70 2.8. If that is not long enough then the 70-200 2.8 comes out. If it's available light inside shots then I'll use the 50 1.8 or 85 1.8.

5D, 85mm 1.8, 1/160, f2.8, ISO 400

http://lanceshuey.smugmug.com/photos/408378762_oL2qP-M.jpg