24-70 or 70-200?

Hello all! I will be having a sweet 16 portrait session this Friday. I use my Canon 24-70 2.8 IS when I shoot portraits but more and more I see photographers using the Canon 70-200 2.8 IS lens for portraiture work. I own a 70-200 2.8 IS but use it mainly for outdoors or gyms.

Would like to know which one you use or prefer and why. Advantages/disadvantag​es on one over the other?

Thanks!

Mike

Correct me if I'm wrong but should this post be in the "Lenses" forum?

If you own both lenses, why not take both and see which you like better? Either will work and the 70-200 will get you into the typical portrait focal lengths, assuming you have enough room to work.

mgnike1 wrote in post #12253633
Correct me if I'm wrong but should this post be in the "Lenses" forum?

Yes, this should be posted in the lens forum. For head and shoulder shot, I like to use the 70-200. Last weekend, I used the 300 2.8 for some portrait work and came out great. It all depends on how much space you got to work with.

I do portraits in my living room, about 16x18, I will be shooting 1/2 to 3/4 shots

My bad, it's more like 18x20...those couple square feet make a difference!

mgnike1 wrote in post #12253614
Hello all! I will be having a sweet 16 portrait session this Friday. I use my Canon 24-70 2.8 IS when I shoot portraits but more and more I see photographers using the Canon 70-200 2.8 IS lens for portraiture work. I own a 70-200 2.8 IS but use it mainly for outdoors or gyms.

Would like to know which one you use or prefer and why. Advantages/disadvantag​es on one over the other?

Thanks!

Mike

My preference for a single subject is the 70-200 whereas I prefer the 24-70 for multiple subjects.

kb

mike_d wrote in post #12253657
If you own both lenses, why not take both and see which you like better? Either will work and the 70-200 will get you into the typical portrait focal lengths, assuming you have enough room to work.

Exactly what I was going to say.

How do you move this thread to another forum?

mgnike1 wrote in post #12254389
How do you move this thread to another forum?

A mod has to do it for you. You can contact them with the little triangle icon.

The 70-200 is a very pleasing range for portraits, nice pleasing perspective and space compression, if you have the space to use it.

I wish my 24-70L f2.8 had IS, was the IS an aftermarket add-on?

say_cheese wrote in post #12255894
I wish my 24-70L f2.8 had IS, was the IS an aftermarket add-on?

I think that was a typo. AFAIK, there isn't a 24-70 2.8 IS.

say_cheese wrote in post #12255894
I wish my 24-70L f2.8 had IS, was the IS an aftermarket add-on?

Yeah. They paint the body white too...you don't have one yet?

What camera are you using it on?
If on a crop, 70-200 may be a little too tight, so it would have to be a 24-70.
Bearing in mind your subject needs to be about 6 foot away from the wall, and if you have your back against the other wall (12-14 foot away) the 70 end of the scale will be cutting it close.

say_cheese wrote in post #12255894
I wish my 24-70L f2.8 had IS, was the IS an aftermarket add-on?

Thank goodness someone commented on this Personally, I like to take a dremel to my non-IS lenses and stick an IS motor inside