-=Top 10=- Recommended Portrait Lenses

[CyberDyneSystems]

-=Top Ten=- Recommended Portrait Lenses

The second in a series of -=Top Ten=- recommended lens lists.

We move on to the best choices for portrait work (o-kay so there's twelve! ;) )

Here in the EOS forum some of the most often asked questions are what lenses work best for a specific task.

After research into dozens of past threads and some further discussion,
...these are the lenses that were selected by our forum members as -=Top 12=- Recommended Portrait Lenses


Please vote,.. feel free to add to the thread why you like the lenses you do in the list,. and or add in an additional lens if it is not on the list and say why!

-=More Lens Polls=- (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=86975)

F.Y.I. This is a Public POLL. This means that if you click on one of the numbers in the poll,. you will be able to see who voted for what lenses. This may or may not seem helpfull to you. But it may be a benefit for various reasons.

This "Thread" is a forum informational thread and subject to extreme editing and deleting. Any OT discussion, issues etc should be taken via PM or another thread.

[wintoid]

I voted for the Tamron 28-75. The other lens on that list I've had is the 50mm f1.4 but I find the Tamron zoom to be sharper, even if the prime had better colours and bokeh.

[timmyquest]

I know it's long, but the 135 f/2 has created some portraits that have simply made the bottom of my chin sore from it hitting my desk.

I also had to put the 50mm f/1.8 in there because i've gotten my best portraits from this lens, and it's pocket change.

[Longwatcher]

For me it depends,
For APS-C format the 50/1.4 wins in the studio (the 50/1.8 should be almost as good)
for FF format the 85/1.2 or 135/2 will win when I can get them and compare.

For location and until I can get the 85 and/or 135, I love my 70-200/2.8L IS as it gives me a great lens with flexability. On location you can't always pick exactly where you need to be to get that great shot. But with a zoom, where you need to be is a much larger area.

But just my opinion,

Update (19 Dec 2006): I now have the 85/1.2 and it is the best portrait lens I have producing beautiful pictures (have had for a year now)

[flyfisher]

I agree with Longwatcher for pretty much the same reasons but I like the 85 for studio work and the zoom for location.

[cactusclay]

What about the 17-40, not so much for studio stuff, but gets a lot of use at weddings.

[HKFEVER]

Hard to choose between 85 f1.2 L & 135 f2.

85 has the perfect distance but the AF is a bit slow, heavy, it render creamy & sharp picture.

135 is abit too long but first AF, razer sharp also render creamy picture.

[schmoelzel]

This one is easy for me......135F2 L; yes, it's long but the sharpness, contrast, colour, and bokeh is truly amazing. I've recently started using the 85F1.8 and while it is very good, I like the length of the 135F2......to each his own I guess!! For those who don't own this lens (135F2), do yourself a BIG favour and get it!!:lol:

[gulogulo1970]

I love my EF 85mm f1.8. It is fast, quiet and not that expensive.

I've never taken a picture with it and thought, "I wish this image was sharper." It does what I need with a moderate price.

[MarkH]

You can't beat the 50 f1.8 for the money, best budget portrait lens for those that are poor after buying the D-SLR.

Of course the 50 f1.4 and 85 f1.8 are great value for those that have a higher budget and want higher quality.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the lenses in the list as long as you bear in mind the suitablility of the focal length of each lens and the slow AF on the Tamron 28-75 and the really slow AF on the Canon 85 f1.2L

[Alexandre Gabriel]

Nifty fifty. Why?
Because it's my only portrait lens ;) and because it's a wonderful lens given the price. Period.

[Sydor25]

I went with the 50mm f/1.8 because it is the only one that I have. I don't really like taking portrait pictures, but the 50mm is so cheap that my wife bought it for our anniversary.

[roanjohn]

OMG!!! NOthing beats the 85 f1.8 in terms of speed/value/sharpness/bokeh/build. If you guys have any doubt..............DONT!!! GO ahead and get it!!!

Ro1

[pcasciola]

I'm very happy with my 85 f/1.8 and 50 f/1.8 for portraits, given their low cost. But since price was not mentioned, I just want to add that if I needed a better portrait lens, I'd probably go with 85 f/1.2 or 135 f/2L, although the 135 might be a little long on the 20D. The portraits I see see done with those two L lens just make my jaw drop. Both are sharp as a razor and have excellent bokeh.

[Sydor25]

If someone would like to buy me the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM, I'm sure I could find a use for it. ;)

[WestFalcon]

I like the 28-135IS but it wasn't on the list.

[lmelendez]

50mm f1.8

I was going to get the 85mm f1.8, but also wanted a zoom. Got the 70-200 f2.8L instead. A few portraits taken with the zoom came out really nice.

Leo.

[scottbergerphoto]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the 24-70 f/2.8 . I love it for portraits on my 10D and 20D with the 1.6 crop factor. That gets me to the sweet zone of 85-105.
Scott

[Nic]

I love my 85mm f1.2 on both my MkII and 20D for portraits.

[HKFEVER]

I love my 85mm f1.2 on both my MkII and 20D for portraits.

I can't believe the keeper that I have with the 85mm f1.2mm and 135mm f/2, but you need a bigger studio for 135mm (Hong Kong's land value is around USD600-800 per square feet in regular c grade commerical building).

To take a full body said 6 feet model, I have to step at least over 14 feet away from the model with 135.

But 135 is a lot faster than 85 f/1.2.... hard to choose, So I bought both.

[HKFEVER]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the 24-70 f/2.8 . I love it for portraits on my 10D and 20D with the 1.6 crop factor. That gets me to the sweet zone of 85-105.
Scott

I love the 24-70 f/2.8 IS. But the white color barrel, the weight and length is too much for me. (I am wrong, when we use H1 with HC3.2/150, it is also big and hugh).

[cactusclay]

Where do you get those 24-70 2.8 IS lenses? Must be a new one and white ta boot. Where's that smily face?

[HKFEVER]

Where do you get those 24-70 2.8 IS lenses? Must be a new one and white ta boot. Where's that smily face?
Sorry we are midnight here and my brian is gone to bed, I misstake it as 70-200 f2.8L. 24-70 is very good for wedding.

[pierrot]

I use (and like) the 100mm Macro and the 50mm f/1.8 since I have no 85mm... :?

[René Damkot]

Vote for the 85/1.2.... Although I dont have one.... Best bokeh on the line sofar I've seen samples.
I have the 50/1.4 and 100/2.0 (it's not an 'L' BTW) Former works perfect on a 1.6 CF body, or 1D2 when you crop a little, 100mm is very nice as well on 1.3 CF and FF. Little better than 85/1.8 when it comes to flare resistance. (as far as I saw)
My 100 is at Canon now for a cleaning (beer in the front lens element :o ) so I might be buying a new lens in the near future if the repair is impossible or uneconomic. :confused:
Anyone used the 85/1.2; 85/1.8 and 100/2.0 side by side? Mainly interested in bokeh and flare resistance...

[quickben]

I know it's not on the list, but these were taken with the 100-400L IS @ 400mm on my 10D. It's my son while he was playing football. I was about 20 ft away.

You'd need a big studio, however...

Gary.

[Halliday]

70-200 2.8. More versatility.

[Olegis]

I voted for three lenses -

1. The 50mm f/1.8. I like it for half-body / torso shots. IMHO it's "too wide" for closeup face shots.
2. The Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. As scottbergerphoto said, it has very useful range on a 1.6 crop body - 45-120mm.
3. The 70-200 f/2.8L - no explanation required :)

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

I use the 28-75 f2.8 for almost ALL my studio model work, it has never ever given me a reason to buy something else, it's razorsharp and most importantly it gives depth to my portrait, I find it strange that nobody else mentions depth ?
I love it when a model really gets loose of the background, and I do not mean only with lighting and position but when you have the print in hand or see it on your screen that you can almost feel the 3D look, the Tamron does this VERY VERY well.

Occassional I use a 90mm Tamron f2.8 macro, when getting to the real closeups I love this lens for the very short focusdistance and the fact I can stay a little further away from the model, I hate to stand on her toes for a real closeup :D.

Greetings,
Frank

[Andy_T]

As this is a multi selection poll (this time I found out before it was too late ;) ) I think that there will be a lot of lenses with many votes ... after all, most of them are wonderful lenses and very usable for portraits.

On the 1.6 crop factor, the 50/1.8 and Tamron 28-75/2.8 are my favourites among my own lenses, because I am most comfortable with the distance corresponding to 50 - 75 mm focal length for portraits.

I think that the 50/1.8 will be the winner in terms of votes/$ spent :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[JMA]

I love my 24-70 2.8 :lol:, because.... this is the only lens I have. :oops:

[ijohnson]

The 50 1.4 has improved my portrait work 300%. Its still probably not that good but you should have seen how bad they were.

Everything that comes out of that lens has been beautiful. I am working here in Korea with lots of little kids and that lens has made them look a LOT more beautiful than they already are.

Doing candids with 5 year-olds is very hard and I almost don't miss anymore with the 1.4. I had the 1.8 and didn't care for it. It wasn't expensive enough.

I'm shooting on an APS-C sensor so its not really the same. I would love to try out the 85mm 1.2 on my film camera.

[sGu]

Haven't tried 135mm f2, but dying to get my hands on one.

So far, all my portraits are shot on 70-200mm 2.8 IS, very versatile, tack sharp images, even when wide open, and lovely bokeh at the background, on a 1.3x body that is, sometimes I felt 24-70mm is a bit short. Ideally I'd use 135mm f2 and 200mm 1.8 for portraits, if I can't afford it. Also thinking about using 300mm 2.8 to see what's it like ;)

[chris.bailey]

24-70 f2.8L and the 50mm f1.4 are my two favourite studio lenses on the 1dMkII.

[Mike H]

I wanted to vote for the often overlooked 70-200/4L, but it was overlooked when the list was made!

This is my favorite lens for portraits since I like to shoot them tight, especially with kids. With this lens mounted on a monopod (via the tripod ring) it's easy to shoot tight shots from far away, important for helping people feel comfortable in front of the camera. The lens is very sharp, focuses quickly, and its bokeh is beautiful. It's also smaller, lighter, and cheaper than the other 70-200 Canon lenses (great lenses, too).

With shots done tightly I never like to use an aperture bigger than f/4, so I don't really miss the f/2 or f/2.8 setting. For shooting full body shots I switch to the 85/1.8 to get a larger aperture and reduced depth of field.

Mike H

[darkdrakon]

on my 10D I like my 50mm 1.8 if I where I using a fullframe camera it would be the 85mm 1.8 A LENS i HAVE NOT USED...personaly I used to ues a 90mm 2.8 tamron macro .

[gary_hendricks]

When shooting in the studio, I prefer to use the 85.

[rdenney]

The 85 is a wonderful lens, but I find the focal length a little long unless I'm just doing the face. My preference is for a lens that is about twice or a bit more the normal focal length for any given format. The 85, at more than three times normal, reaches out a bit far.

That leads me to the 50's. The other issues, easily and not too expensively resolved by the 50's, is the need for very narrow selective focus. The small format is already giving us more depth of field than I like. My favorite lens in any format is a 180mm F/2.8 Sonnar for medium format, and that has less depth of field in that format even than the 50/1.4. Everywhere I used to use 85's with full frame, I now use 50 with the smaller sensor.

Rick "at the moment trying out a nice old 50/1.4 Super Takumar with an adaptor" Denney

[Kennymc]

Because I mainly shoot digital now I use my 50 f/1.4 though I used to use a very old 135 f/3.5 FD lens (tack sharp) for tight head shots when I had my T90 and F1 cameras... I don't have the 85mm f/1.8 but do use a Sigma 105 EX f/2.8 in place of the old 135...

[Kennymc]

I agree, I used to use a 150mm on my Bronica Etrsi...

[Grimnar]

Am I the only one using the 200mm 2.8L at all? :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Am I the only one using the 200mm 2.8L at all? :)

Only one vote! Must be you! :)

I use 200mm every so often,.. but it would be either with the 70-200mm zoom or the 1.8,.. I don't have the 200mm f/2.8 ;)

I like the lens a lot though. It's funny that there's only one vote though,. as more than one member recommended it to be added to the list for the poll in he first place.

[tombryan]

Guys, forgive me for my ignorance. I'm a brand new Canon shooter after years of being a diehard Nikon shooter. Just couldn't ignore what Canon has been doing digitally any longer since it's my profession.

Anyway what the heck is "bokeh"..... Help me out, lol.


I just purchased two 20D's with the 70-200 L IS 2.8 lens, the 14-70L f4, the Tamron 28-75 XR Di 2.8, and the Canon 50mm 1.8.

Originally purchased the 28-135, but I don't like the variable aperture thing going on there. F5.6 minimum aperture at 135 is something I don't care for. So I'm going to go with the straight Canon 85 1.8 I think for portraiture.

TB

[Pekka]

Guys, forgive me for my ignorance. I'm a brand new Canon shooter after years of being a diehard Nikon shooter. Just couldn't ignore what Canon has been doing digitally any longer since it's my profession.

Anyway what the heck is "bokeh"..... Help me out, lol.

Bokeh is artistic quality of out of focus areas in a photograph. Good bokeh is smooth, round and unobtrusive, bad bokeh is disturbing, jaggy and punchy.

[HMetal]

The 24-70mm F2.8L is my primary portrait lens. I use it for portraits and full body photographs; mostly in the glamour genre. It was the lens used in this photo:

http://www.pbase.com/hmetal/image/40381288.jpg

[PixCasey]

Although I'm new here, I had to add my two cents. The Question was, "What is your favorite portrait lens"...? I have to say that with any shoot I do, you need to read the subject and what their comfort zone is. If they need personal space, you'll have to step away and yet zoom (1: 2.8 70-200 L IS USM). If the subject is tall and yet used to being in front of the glass well then, you'll want to be closer be able to zoom in for the kill shot. So, with that in mind I have to say give me all opportunities to maintain flexibility and give me nothing but the best glass! EF 24-70 1:2.8 L USM & 1: 2.8 70-200 L IS USM :)

[Andy_T]

I want to change my vote, now that I've seen Roanjohn's 85/1.2 thread :shock: (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=515263)

Best regards,
Andy

[Sean-Mcr]

I went for the 85 1.8, only had it a week i just love the results. I personally dont find
it too long on my 20D. These things are subjective though

Not had a chance to use the other lenses apart from the 50 1.4

[Rokkorfan]

I have quite a few Canon lenses including several that cover the portrait range, but on a whim I recently purchased the 85mm f/1.2 to see what the difference was from the others I normally used. Well all I can say is that this lens is probably the ultimate portrait lens for any system. It is truly astonishing, and is enough reason in and of itself to buy a Canon body. Sure it costs money, but the results achieved with this are different from any other lens I have ever used (and that's a lot!). Highly recommended.

[roanjohn]

. It is truly astonishing, and is enough reason in and of itself to buy a Canon body. .

AMEN!!! And congratulations...

Ro1

[grego]

70-200 f/2.8L IS is great for outside with 1.6 crop. Inside, You need some space if you want a lot of body. Head shots defintely though.

[schmoelzel]

After using the 85L last week for the first time, I must say that this thing is the ultimate!!

[racketman]

EFS 60 macro should be on list too. F2.8 and very sharp.

[Mark_Cohran]

OMG!!! NOthing beats the 85 f1.8 in terms of speed/value/sharpness/bokeh/build. If you guys have any doubt..............DONT!!! GO ahead and get it!!!

Ro1

Yep, this is my favorite for portraits. It might be the 85mm 1.2L if I had one, but since I don't.........

I love the perspective this lens gives me for a portrait shot. The bokeh is great, and it plenty sharp. I don't think you can beat the price either, which makes it a great value.

Mark

[alsphoto]

I was in the market for a good studio/wedding lens. L lens out for right now. Was looking at the Tameron 24-70 F2/8. What is anybodys thought on the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 EX DF. Wondering

[2001storm]

Hi I'm very new I have a canon 20d with a EF 50MM 1:1.4 Ultresonic Lens I would like to start taking alot of portrait photo's what do you think about the Sigma 24-70mm F/2.8EX lens Any help would be great :? Thanks!!

[One Eyed Jack]

Can anyone explain to me the reason why the 1.8 is ahead of the 1.4? I understand that the 1.8 is cheaper but if for no other reason, the 1.4 gives you the added advantage of using it at 1.4 and every report and post I have seen say the 1.4 has better built quality and colour, usm and ftmf. I only ask this as I am looking to buy the 1.4 for portraits but am starting to wonder if I should save some $$$ and get the 1.8. :confused:

[Kennymc]

Can anyone explain to me the reason why the 1.8 is ahead of the 1.4? I understand that the 1.8 is cheaper but if for no other reason, the 1.4 gives you the added advantage of using it at 1.4 and every report and post I have seen say the 1.4 has better built quality and colour, usm and ftmf. I only ask this as I am looking to buy the 1.4 for portraits but am starting to wonder if I should save some $$$ and get the 1.8. :confused:

Probably because more people own the f/1.8... I have both and the f/1.4 is definitely better...

[CyberDyneSystems]

EFS 60 macro should be on list too. F2.8 and very sharp.

A little late,. but yes a good addition to the poll.

[splitfyre]

Deciding between the 85mm f1.8 or the 100m f2. Had the 50mm f1.8 but sold it and upgraded to the 50mm f1.4. I'm so happy I upgraded. Because my work is with portrait work I'm thinking of going with the following setup of lenses:

EF50mm f1.4
EF85mm f1.8
EF100mm f2

[Mcary]

Love the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 on a 1.6 DSLR If I was using a FF DSLR would likely use the 85 1.8 and 135 2.0 and more then likely replace the 85 1.8 with the 85 1.2

Mike

[ray_lam5]

How can anyone vote for the 50 f1.8 in comparison to the 85L??

Theres no comparison, I have the 50 its good but just because its the only lens i have used for portraits i cant really compare it to a lens like the 85L... I know the 50 will be vastly inferior so people seem to be voting for their own kit without experience of the best stuff out there...

[Mcary]

How can anyone vote for the 50 f1.8 in comparison to the 85L??

Theres no comparison, I have the 50 its good but just because its the only lens i have used for portraits i cant really compare it to a lens like the 85L... I know the 50 will be vastly inferior so people seem to be voting for their own kit without experience of the best stuff out there...

Well if money was no object I'd choose an H-3 with a 39MP back and a nice 120 and 150mm Lens to shoot . But since it is I voted for the 50mm 1.4 and 85 mm 1.8 because thats what I use :)


Mike

[splitfyre]

I wish I had the coin to afford the 85L but instead I am now shooting portrait work with the EF50mm f1.4 and the EF85mm f1.8. ;)

[rdenney]

How can anyone vote for the 50 f1.8 in comparison to the 85L??

Maybe they tried it and kept running into the back wall of their studio.

Rick "who has an 85/1.8 and thinking it's longish for indoor portraits on an APS sensor" Denney

[jesusdelallata]

I'd have to say that the 50mm f1.4 and the 85mm f1.8 are my favorites. If I had to pick one...the 85mm f1.8

[grego]

50 1.4 indoors, 85 1.8 outdoors.

Full frame: 85 1.8, 135 2

[Cathpah]

on a full frame or 1d2....85 1.2 ALLLLLLLLLLLL the way.

sometimes a 24-70 or 35L if it's gotta be nice and up close (for instance travel photography when every kid comes running at you)

Also the 135 is delightful.

If you're using an APS-C sensor then it may be more like the 50 1.2

[grego]

on a full frame or 1d2....85 1.2 ALLLLLLLLLLLL the way.

sometimes a 24-70 or 35L if it's gotta be nice and up close (for instance travel photography when every kid comes running at you)

Also the 135 is delightful.

If you're using an APS-C sensor then it may be more like the 50 1.2

I'm going with reasonable prices. For the 75 1.2, you can have both the 85 1.8 and 50 1.4. And 135 f/2

[Cathpah]

I'm going with reasonable prices. For the 75 1.2, you can have both the 85 1.8 and 50 1.4. And 135 f/2

yes, the 85L is one darn expensive lens, but if you watch the buy/sell forums for a bit you can certainly pick one up for $1200 in great shape. I know I spent almost that on most of my other lenses but none of them make as radical a difference as the 85L. It was the lens I always lusted after and now the lens I think about in my dreams.... :)

oh, and I should add that I'm just a lowly social worker so I'm not wealthy at ALL...just knew that I just had to have that lens.

[jcw122]

Sigma 24-70 would be nice too.

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

I have to change my vote :D
On 5D Canon 70-200F2.8 L USM IS
I just love the lens, it's razor sharp and you get a wonderful bokeh and contrast/color even when used wide open.

In the studio and on location it's almost glued to my body :D

[jcw122]

OK let's forget about wider angle primes than stupid 50mm. /sarcasm

[Olegis]

I have to confess - last time I used the Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro for portrait shoot, and when I reviewed the images on the screen, I simply fell in love. Very sharp at 2.8, excellent bokeh - what else can you ask from a portrait lens ? :D

[splitfyre]

After two photo shoots, I've decided that I'm going to stick with my EF50m f1.4 for indoor and the EF85mm f1.8 will be used outdoor as it's so long on a 1.6 body. :|

[splitfyre]

What I've found what works if you are in studio on a crop body is:

85mm f1.8 for face shots
50mm f1.4 for half body
35mm f2.0 for full body

Just in my experience but it works for me. :)

[Stan43]

85 1.2L, 135L on FF. 35L and 50 1.4 on Crop.

[Bill Roberts]

85mm f/1.2 without a doubt.

[dpastern]

I'm really surprised that the 50mms are in the lead, would have expected the 85mm f1.8 and 70-200 to be in the lead, at least from my experience.

Dave

[Kennymc]

I'm really surprised that the 50mms are in the lead, would have expected the 85mm f1.8 and 70-200 to be in the lead, at least from my experience.

Dave

It could all depend on peoples budget, the nifty fifty is a multi-purpose lens, and therefore may be owned by more photographers...

[SunTsu]

My guess is that the results would be different if the poll also took into account:
- crop vs FF
- budget constraints

[Dragos Jianu]

This pool is kit-based.
The 85L and 135L are no-brainers. Sweet heaven 85L on APSC and135 on FF. At least for my FoV preference. 100 f/2 , 85/1.8 and 50 1.4 coming second by a BIG margin (make no mistake about it)

[SunTsu]

This pool is kit-based.
The 85L and 135L are no-brainers. Sweet heaven 85L on APSC and135 on FF. At least for my FoV preference. 100 f/2 , 85/1.8 and 50 1.4 coming second by a BIG margin (make no mistake about it)

If you don't take into account price and base purely on the merits of the lens, the 85L is a no-brainer. The 135L is a bit long for me on FF and on crop, I'd think it's definitely too long.

[CyberDyneSystems]

In looking at the poll results years later, it seems to me to be quite evident that people voted what they knew fro 1st had experience, rather than what they had heard or read else where. A lot more poeple have access to and have used the 50mm than the more costly options.

It may mean odd results, but it is at least more honest and "scientific" than voting for an 85mm L when you have never even seen one.

[IndyCanonUser]

I chose the 50 1.8. One of these days I will have the 50 1.4 and will choose it. I also use the tam 28-75 for some portraits becuz of its sharpness.

[Gilly B]

85 1.8 for me every time for single portraits. If however, it is a family group and I am unable to get back far enough to fit them in - then it is the 50mm 1.4.

[dem_trang]

85/1.8 on my 30D

It's cheap, it's fast, it's small & light
It's great for me

[buzzyrabbit]

I went for the 85L because it's what i use mostly for face / top body shots. I use the 35L for full body shots.

[cherrymoon]

I did not have one but the best is really 85L

[nightcat]

There are things here that don't make sense, and the reason is that some lenses far outsell others. The best example is the 100mm 2.0 and the 100mm 2.8 macro. I have both lenses. Bang for the buck, the macro is the best lens I have, but it doesn't come close to beating the 2.0 when it comes to portraits. But the macro does take decent portraits, so if you only have the macro, you might vote for it. The macro far outsells the 2.0, so its going to get far more votes. A newbie looking at the poll would get the wrong information of which of these 100mm lenses does portraits better.

I voted for the 100mm 2.0.

[daugirdas]

I am not sure how this could represent the selection of the best lens. People, including myself, have voted for what they have. So at best it shows the average of optical quality, affordability (varies dramatically), and personal style. So I am not surprised to see the cheap and inferior 50mm lens on top, with 135mm L at the bottom. So take this with a pinch of salt.

[daugirdas]

P.s. 100 f/2 is not an L lens. Please correct.

[JORDANSonME]

voted for nifty fifty

[tupper]

Where is the 50L? :(

[Marloon]

I voted for the 85L and the 135L because i believe these two lenses offer the sharpest photo out of them all... i could vote for the 24-70 and the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS, but i believe they are not as sharp as the primes (obviously) but offer great versatility which is what most photographers would rather look for than sharpness. i tend to shoot a lot of portraits at wider apertures than f2.8 which is why i picked the 2 primes.

[JelleVerherstraeten]

I would voted the 30mm sigma if it was between them

[Kilua]

I habe been using 28 70L and now i want to buy one 85 1.8. I thinks 85 1.8 very well when u Portraits pistures.
I voted for 85

[Octowl]

i had to choose my 85 1.8 because it is the best one for portraits i own in my lineup

[Combatmedic870]

I think we should make another one of these but of only primes and adding the sigma 30mm and 50mm

[westernminnguy]

I think we should make another one of these but of only primes and adding the sigma 30mm and 50mm

I would second this.

I would vote differently if it were a prime lens poll that if it were a zoom lens poll.

:D

[airfrogusmc]

Wheres the 200 2L? Not a bad portrait lens.

[silverant]

200 L IS and 100 L IS :)

[rad doc]

I vote for the Canon 85mm 1.8

[DetlevCM]

Grr lost my post (typed then voted...)

I've only got the 50 1.8 II and 24-70 - but they both work great :)
I am sure some more L glass would be great... but money is the problem here ;)

The 50 1.8 II is definitely a very good start for everybody :)

[Pedro XT]

Canon EF-70-200mm f4L USM

[Pedro XT]

I Choice 50mm 1.8 II, cheap, excellent, fast, and have a great bokeh for portrait.

[banpreso]

why is the nifty fifty getting so many votes... i don't understand!

i think this poll reflects "who owns what" as much as "what's a good portrait lens"

[joosay]

add the new sigma 24-70 HSM :)

[DetlevCM]

why is the nifty fifty getting so many votes... i don't understand!

i think this poll reflects "who owns what" as much as "what's a good portrait lens"

Why?
Because it does a very good job at 50mm :)
And not everybody has the money to spend on a more expensive lens - the pros can buy the L, the other people are mainly fine with it.

[rg6guy]

Would'nt a 30mm work better than a 50mm on a 1.6x crop camera? It would give you 48mm.

[dmcnelly]

Would'nt a 30mm work better than a 50mm on a 1.6x crop camera? It would give you 48mm.

For portraits you want longer than normal, so 70mm and greater is where you want to be. So, with the crop factor, you're right around 80mm.

[wrxrocks]

1. 85 1.2
2. 85 1.2
3. 85 1.2
4. 85 1.2
5. 85 1.2
6. 85 1.2
7. 85 1.2
8. 85 1.2
9. 85 1.2
10. 85 1.2