what is the best l series portrait lens for 7D

I am looking for recommendations for a good portrait lens form the 7D. This is my wife's camera, she currently has the kit lens, a Tamron 17-50 F/2.8, and a Canon EF 75-300 4-5.6. We are looking at stepping up to a L-Series lens and wanted some feed back and opinions. Thanks in advance for any information and advice you can part with.

This all depends on your shooting style for portraits. Can you give us some info on how you currently shoot portraits? Studio/Indoor with flash? Outdoor? Full body? What focal length are you usually at for portraits? These all make a difference in which sort of lens you should purchase.

Project22a wrote in post #11469526
This all depends on your shooting style for portraits. Can you give us some info on how you currently shoot portraits? Studio/Indoor with flash? Outdoor? Full body? What focal length are you usually at for portraits? These all make a difference in which sort of lens you should purchase.

Thanks for the fast response. those are questions I will have to let her answer. She is the photographer of the family. I do know most of her work is done with no flash. She does indoor and out door work. Most of her shots are full body. She does a lot of shots with families any where from 1 to 8 or so people.

I know she was debating on going with a prime lens or a good all purpose zoom like the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM.

The best portrait lens is the the focal length that you prefer. There is a reason that the 85mm-200mm focal lengths are the most popular for portraits. I use my 70-200L and 85mm for outdoor work and 17-40 & 50mm for some indoor and outdoor work.

Some popular ones are the 24L, 35L, 50L, 85L, 135L and 70-200L f2.8. Pick your favorite FL.

Go with the 70-200 2.8 IS MKII

16-35 MK2 / 2.8L

Jardiniboy wrote in post #11470399
Go with the 70-200 2.8 IS MKII

What is the difference between the MKII and the original?

I would say 24L or 35L if its full body or group shots, on a 7D.

Not sure what is exactly wrong with the Tamron she already has? It should make for a good portrait lens. That and a good flash and she should be good to go.

I like the flexibility my 24-70 gives me. Outside though, the 70-200 wins every time. Nothing like backing way up and zooming in to get the subjects to pop.

if you are doing groups .... 24 or 35L
if you are talking portraits/couples - small families (4/5) 50mm L or the 85mm f1.8 (seriously)
wanting a little compression .... then either 135mm L or the 70-200mm

I have the 17-50 tammy .... prefer the 85mm f1.8.
I have the 24-70mm L and it rocks but i have been moving to primes for wedding work.

The EF 24-70 is a near perfect focal length range for most portrait work on a 1.6X sensor camera like the 7D. For a single L series lens solution for portraits on a 1.6X body this is a very good choice.

85 1.8 ....

I'd look at the 35L, the Sigma 50/1.4 and the Sigma 85/1.4.

85L f1.2
50L f1.2