Good indoor portrait lens...any suggestions?

I have a 400d (XTi), 50mm 1.4, 100mm 2.8 and 70-200 f/4 L (Non IS) (and a crappy kit lens). I’m really enjoying doing indoor portraits now, and I’m ordering some studio lights as well.

I’m just wondering if anyone can recommend another good portrait lens (ideally under 50mm for the cropped sensor).

I have been thing about the 17-40 f/4 L, but I’m not sure how good this would be for portraits and if the f/4 would do well indoors (albeit with studio lights). Ideally I’m looking at that sort of budget (the 16-35 is out of my league at the moment!)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for any help!

Maybe the EF 35/2 or the EF 28/1.8, with a 270ex flash

I have studio lights at home.. have both FF and Crop bodies & 17-40. In 5 years, I used 17-40 once for indoor portrait.. and it was for 9 kids in a group.

I do use 85mm f1.8, Nifty Fifty, and Tamron 28-75mm often with FF and crop for family portrait. What's wrong with your 50mm f/1.4? I would think that would be a better lens than the zooms unless you're really fighting for space.

Here is a pretty good read on choosing a portrait lens.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …/Canon-Portrait-Lens.aspx

Keep in mind you run a risk of perspective distortion if you go much wider than the 50 and then work close.

Sigma 30 or Canon 35L or even 24L

gonzogolf wrote in post #12483144
Keep in mind you run a risk of perspective distortion if you go much wider than the 50 and then work close.

+1....

Whats wrong with your 50 1.4?

My 35L works great for indoor portraits. Though if you are doing head-only shots you may get a little bit of distortion if you are too close. I rarely do those so it's not an issue for my shooting needs. You have a 50 1.4 which I would think would be pretty good for indoor portraits. Is there something you find lacking with that lens?

themadman wrote in post #12483200
Whats wrong with your 50 1.4?

What is wrong with the 50mm?

I had the 30mm 1.4 for a long time on my 30D as my main indoor lens. Also paired with the 50mm 1.4 and the 60mm macro (for babies toes etc.).

If your 50 is too long, try the sigma 30 1.4, great lens. Cheaper than the canon 28 1.8, and better IQ.

Curiousanderson wrote in post #12482859
I have a 400d (XTi), 50mm 1.4, 100mm 2.8 and 70-200 f/4 L (Non IS) (and a crappy kit lens). I’m really enjoying doing indoor portraits now, and I’m ordering some studio lights as well.

I’m just wondering if anyone can recommend another good portrait lens (ideally under 50mm for the cropped sensor).

I have been thing about the 17-40 f/4 L, but I’m not sure how good this would be for portraits and if the f/4 would do well indoors (albeit with studio lights). Ideally I’m looking at that sort of budget (the 16-35 is out of my league at the moment!)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for any help!

Tamron 28-75 2.8 and more lights instead of one 17-40 f/4 L which is strictly landscape lens for FF and nothing else.

I have the 28/1.8 for my indoor and walk-around on my 1.6x crop body. It crops nicely, but if I had a 50/1.4 I'd sure try hard to use it for portraits. Look around here for 50/1.4 portrait pics - they're pretty nice.

Can you tell us what's wrong with your 50? ... is it only not enough space for you to frame your shots? If so, the 28 or (sigma) 30 or 35 would probably satisfy.

On a crop..... Tamron 28-75

ni$mo350 wrote in post #12483160
Sigma 30 or Canon 35L or even 24L

If you shoot head shots with a 24mm you'll get distortion galore! You'll get some at 30mm as well. A previous post here said he even gets a little distortion on head shots with his 35mm L. Personally, I wouldn't go wider than 50mm.

I have to ask the same question others have asked... what don't you like about your 50mm 1.4?